Though it’s no longer happening in OC, today The Growlers announced of the return of the Beach Goth 2018, raising its former name back from the dead. After breaking away from its former home at the Observatory and temporarily rebranding as The Growlers Six, the fest is officially back, albeit in slightly different form. Headlined by Brooks Nielsen and company, this year’s Beach Goth also includes sets from The Voidz (fronted by the Strokes/ City Club producer Julian Casablancas), The Drums, GWAR, ’80s rap legend Doug E. Fresh and more. Moving to L.A.’s State Historic Park near Chinatown after its one-off trip to San Pedro last year, the fest is paired down to a single day event on Sunday, August 5. Though it’s pretty far inland to be mistaken for a coastal fest, the vibe of Beach Goth is aiming to stay intact.
This year marks the return of two fan favorite experiences–the reggae inspired pop-shanty town Beach Goth Island and the demented drag shows of the Death of a Clown Cabaret.
Last year’s Growlers Six kicked off the band’s rebranded festival with a bang, featuring an earth shaking performance from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, as well as Modest Mouse, Danny Brown and Bad Brains. The two-day event managed to turn the Port of LA into an eclectic with the right amount of horror and hilarity that usually accompanies the annual bash, now in its seventh year.
In the wake of a lawsuit between its former presenters at The Observatory and subsequent move to work with Live Nation on the event, the band seems to have weathered the storm to produce something that is trying to recapture the spirit of the old festival while also filling the summer void left by the recently cancelled FYF. Though it’s a bit earlier this time around than their annual Halloween-themed bash, as long as GWAR is there to drench us in blood, we have no complaints. Tickets for are $66 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, June 15, at thegrowlersbeachgoth.com.
See the full lineup below:
