Music festivals have been no stranger to large-scale art activations, but an art-fair-meets-concert with everything from a sneaker shop and a Japanese streetwear pop-up to panels about wrestling, eSports and emoji? Count us in.
Pop culture mag Complex has tapped Skrillex, Pharrell Williams and artist Takashi Murakami to shape a world's fair-like assembly of cutting-edge brands, art, food and music at its inaugural ComplexCon. By day, the Long Beach festival will feature art, fashion and food pop-ups. By night, ComplexCon will transform into an arena-sized concert featuring the likes of Skrillex, Kid Cudi, Snoop Dogg, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Chief Keef and more.
The festival kicks off on November 5 at the Long Beach Convention Center with daytime programming block that promises Jay Pharoah, TJ Miller, Dennis Hayseburg, Sam Jackson, Snoop Dog and Takashi Murakami. In addition, Pharrell Williams and Scott Verner will be hosting their pop culture-focused Beats1 Radio Show, OTHERone, from the convention floor.
Here's the rest of the recently announced panels:
The Future of Our Schools with Marc Ecko and Jesse Williams
Sneaker of the Year with Joe LaPuma, Wale, Clark Kent, Russ Bengston, Benjamin Kickz and Jon Buscemi
A Manner of Speaking: Language in a Digital Age with Jesse Williams, Aryn DrakeLee-Williams and Glenn Kaino
Thread Trajectory: The Future of Sneakerwear with Rob Garcia, Chris Gibbs, Bobby Hundreds and Jeff Staple
WWE Nation: Has Wrestling Gone Mainstream? with Pete Rosenberg and Action Bronson
The Business of eSports with Steve Aoki, Imari Oliver, Tobias Sherman and Jace Hall
Wax on It: A Listening Session of Unfinished Work with Mike Will and Young Guru
The Collision of Design, Music and Entertainment with Daniel Arsham of Snarkitecture and Ronnie Fieg of Kith
Tickets to ComplexCon are currently available, though bear with us as we attempt to explain the pricing. Single day tickets to the expo portion of the festival cost $45 and also include access to the small-stage Pigeons & Planes musical lineup; a two-day pass costs $80. If you want a ticket to Saturday night's arena concert with Skrillex, Kid Cudi, Travis Scott and Virgil Abloh, reserved seats range from $75 to $150 and include access to the expo portion of the program. Sunday night's arena show with Snoop Dogg, 2 Chainz and Migo, is automatically included with any Sunday expo or two-day pass. Of course, if you want to cut down on the confusion and potential lines, there's always the $200 VIP pass.
ComplexCon takes place Nov 5 and 6 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Tickets range from $45 to $200.
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