WWWY Festival Preview Guide: What You Need to Know

Only a few weeks until we will be reliving the golden era of emo at the highly anticipated When We Were Young Festival 2023 in Las Vegas on October 21 & 22nd! Get ready for a weekend of Y2K nostalgia, as this festival promises to transport you to the glory days of alternative, emo, and pop-punk music. With a stellar lineup and an atmosphere buzzing with energy, this event is not to be missed. Concert Crap is ecstatic to announce we will be covering this once in a lifetime experience! Read on for more about the festival as well as some tips and reminders for those attending.

This festival is filled with an artist lineup that promises timeless hits and emotional anthems that will transport you back to your teenage years. With a roster that defines the who’s who of the era, When We Were Young is set to be the ultimate music pilgrimage for fans of alternative, pop-punk and emo music. Dual headliners Blink 182 and Green Day are sure to feed your earlier 90s appetite along with 2000s bangers. The pop-punk and emo explosion during the early 2000s established many bands that are now posterchildren of that era — Good Charlotte, Simple Plan, New Found Glory, Yellowcard, and MxPx to name a few — all will be playing the fest. Other notable artists like Sum 41, The Offspring, Something Corporate, All Time Low, Rise Against and Thrice are also on the bill.

Fans have been buzzing about Michelle Branch‘s performance as well — one we didn’t see coming, but so glad she’s a part of the fest! There are a bunch of hidden gems from the MySpace years you won’t want to miss either: The Academy Is…, Finch, Say Anything, Motion City Soundtrack, The Movielife, Relient K and more. Of course WWWY wouldn’t be complete without mixing in a few more recently established artists like 5 Seconds of Summer, Waterparks, Magnolia Park and Kenny Hoopla. It’s safe to say there is something for everyone, despite your favorite subgenre.

Located at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on the north end of the strip, this area holds about 85,000 people. Brace yourself for predicted weather in the upper 70s, but expect the temperature to go below 50°F once the sun goes down. Throw a flannel or hoodie around your waist or pick up something warm at one of the merch stands. With multiple stages and widespread layout, wear comfy shoes. (Yes, we’re all old now, let’s face it… so if you’re busting out a fresh pair, play it safe and break ’em in a few days prior.) Lockers will be available to rent for $30 per day if you want to stash your layers until later. We highly recommend you reserve a locker ASAP as availability is limited and may sell out before the festival day arrives. You can reserve lockers by clicking here.

There is a clear bag policy that is limited to a maximum size of 12″ x 12″ x 6″ – please check this guide thoroughly to see exactly what is and isn’t allowed inside. The guide also has a lot of valuable information about transportation and accommodations in the area. Know before you go!

Many bands have announced sideshows before the festival, so if you’re planning to arrive earlier in the week, be sure to catch one! Check out the official sideshows below:

We can’t wait to be living up our best years all over again! If you are attending When We Were Young, let us know by reaching out through Instagram — we’d love to feature you in our upcoming gallery and other festival features including your favorite throwback fashion and memories of our era.

Until then, save our Spotify playlist to refresh and recharge — don’t worry, there’s no more than 4 songs per artist, so it’s manageable — we promise.