Warped Tour Move Over, When We Were Young Festival is Huge
The ’00’s emo scene is just as hot today as it was in the 2000’s. Grunge is still in, and
Ivy Griffith
The ’00’s emo scene is just as hot today as it was in the 2000’s. Grunge is still in, and Gen Z has warmly embraced the heavy eyeliner and glam punk/emo roots of their older siblings and parents. With the Warped Tour closed for good, the emo scene has been looking for a new home for music festivals – and the When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas is stepping up to the plate. With headliners that make you ask what year we’re in, it’s time to grab the eyeliner and ripped jeans – and head to Vegas.
Headliners Recall ’00’s Scene
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We’re not okay, we promise – but we will be soon. Headliners for the 2022 When We Were Young Festival is an ode to all things great about ’00’s music, and the emo world is rocking with joy. Here are some of the biggest headliners for this year’s festival:
- My Chemical Romance
- Paramore
- Dashboard Confessional
- Avril Lavigne
- Jimmy Eat World
- 3OH!3
- The Used
- We the Kings
- All-American Rejects
- AFI
- Jimmy Eat World
- Taking Back Sunday
- Hawthorne Heights
- Plus many, many more.
And the modern scene is dipping a toe in too, with TikTok stars Lil Huddy and Jxdn on the headliner list as well. Lil Huddy recently got extra face-time on Hype House – a Netflix series behind the scenes of the mega-collective of TikTok superstars.
If ’00’s emo and punk was your thing, this lineup sounds too good to be true. Tickets go on sale January 21 – but it looks like they’ll be pricey, so plan ahead. The festival kicks off October 22, 2022 at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds from 11AM to 11PM. How can they pack that much awesome into a 12 hours? We don’t know, but we can’t wait to find out.
The End of Warped Tour
Ever since Warped Tour wrapped in 2019 – well, technically 2018 – it’s been one long search for an heir. The When We Were Young lineup proves that the festival is ready to take the throne, and former emo kids everywhere are ready to commit.
However, the end of the Warped Tour was abrupt enough that it’s left some feeling a little lost and confused. So what happened? Ultimately it sounds like producer Kevin Lyman just got tired of the whole thing. As the beloved festival approached 25 years, organizers say they just weren’t having fun anymore. The weather was always bad, the crowds were always unruly (obviously), and the energy had changed over the years.
It was a devastating cancellation for diehard fans but as the MeToo movement kicked off in the mid-2010’s, bands like Brand New were thrust into the spotlight in the most unflattering way. It meant that the emo scene – often considered “woke” because of the fact that artists deal with mental health and issues like sexuality and relationships openly and honestly – was having to grapple with the skeletons in their own closet.
It’s unsurprising then that Warped Tour felt like it was time to wind things down in 2018, although they did celebrate their 25th in 2019. And then of course the pandemic hit, so they would have had to cancel the following year anyway – maybe it was good timing.
Festivals in 2022 – They’re Back
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But even with the Warped Tour in history, there’s plenty to look forward to in 2022. Joining When We Were Young on the West Coast this year is Coachella (April 15-17 and 22-24, Coachella Valley) – for which headliners have already been announced. Other festivals taking off in 2022 include:
- Super Bowl Music Fest (February 10-12, Los Angeles)
- Noise Pop (February 21-27, San Francisco)
- So What?! Music Festival (May 27-29, Arlington, TX)
- Electric Forest (June 23-26, Rothbury, MI)
- Lollapalooza (July 28-31, Chicago, IL)
- Bonnaroo (June 16-19, Manchester, TN)
- Plus more.
It should be noted that the organizers behind When We Were Young is none other than Live Nation – currently embattled for the tragedy at Astroworld where 10 people died and hundreds were injured. The November music festival saw a crowd surge turn into a stampede.
There is some concern about the scope of the When We Were Young Festival – given its lineup of over 65 acts – and the logistics of managing crowds of that size. Live Nation has not proven they are worthy of trust when it comes to managing large crowds, but this could be a chance for redemption.
It all kicks off this October – so get the combat boots and eyeliner ready, grab your chains and get your tickets – When We Were Young Festival is happening.