For the first time ever, Tight Knight presented their Bleached Festival and to no surprise, left a great impression on both concertgoers and the Celeb Secrets team.
Held at the picturesque seaside venue, Waterfront Park, in San Diego, California last Saturday and Sunday (August 5 & 6), the two-day event was one that we hope will be on our festival calendar for years to come. Focused more on the music rather than photos ops or activations, fans were able to come together to watch artists like Joji, Omar Apollo, Caroline Polachek, Lizzy McAlpine, Leon Bridges, Remi Wolf, Stephen Sanchez and Jeremy Zucker take the stage to perform some of their biggest and most viral hits.
With two stages very close to each other, attendees had easy access to enjoy both sets without having to walk thousands of steps each day. With no division between general admission and VIP, the overall viewing experience was a melting pot for all onsite. The views were spectacular no matter where you stood, which is uncommon at a larger-scaled production like Bleached.
While Bleached will forever live in our minds rent free, the Celeb Secrets gals are sharing some of their favorite moments that can’t go unnoticed. Keep scrolling to see them below and let us know if you went to (and enjoyed) Bleached by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets.
Here’s to hoping Bleached returns in 2024 🤞…
Stephen Sanchez Performing “Until I Found You” with Lily Meola
Celeb Secrets had the chance to speak to Stephen Sanchez before his set, and we got to see a different side of him we don’t usually get to see when he’s performing. When asked if he puts on a different persona when he walks on stage, he replied saying he “definitely” turns it on and off, which we saw later in the evening.
Sanchez’s presence is like no other, as he had the crowd engaged throughout his entire set. The real show-stopper, however, was when he brought out Lily Meola for his final song “Until I Found You.” Every person at this stage screamed the lyrics back to him, which looked like it was straight out of a film.
Remi Wolf’s Vocals and Her Inspirational Speeches
Remi Wolf has always been known to put on a fun and unforgettable set, but this time around, her inspirational speeches and vocals really hit close to home.
She told the crowd to let everything go for one night and be in the moment as she used her unmatched vocals to sing some fun, upbeat songs. Remi even hit the drums as one of her tour mates read our manifestations that were very much needed.
Leon Bridges Performing “Texas Sun”
One of the most highly-anticipated performances of the entire festival was from Leon Bridges, and the GRAMMY-nominated artist certainly delivered.
Opening with his smash hit “Texas Sun,” Bridges had everyone vibing to his music from the moment he walked onstage to the second he took his final bow. People even took a dip into the ocean to make the end of the night a little more magical.
Lizzy McAlpine’s “Ceilings”
Whether you know Lizzy McAlpine or not, one thing that’s for sure is you know (and love) her viral hit “Ceilings.”
As we passed by the crowds, we heard so many people talking about how excited they were to finally hear it live and we couldn’t agree more! It was her second to last song in her set and as soon as she started playing the cords, the crowd went wild. Every single person was singing, swaying, and maybe even crying to this song, making it a moment we’ll never forget.
Omar Apollo’s Bleached Debut
Omar Apollo was the hot topic for day two of Bleached, as his fans showed up in droves waiting for hours to see him front row at the inaugural event. Representing his fellow Latinos, Apollo played everything from his greatest hits and his new album Ivory to his very first release. He even sang a “corrido” for his Latin fans and of course, sang “Evergreen (You Don’t Deserve Me).” The whole crowd yelled at the top of their lungs, while others like us…cried.
If you’ve never experienced an Omar Apollo set, we highly recommend doing so ASAP. It’s fun and emotional, plus his dance moves and funny bits are so much the cutest thing to watch from beginning to end!
Joji Closing Out Bleached Festival 2023
Another talked about moment throughout Waterfront Park was Joji’s epic closing performance as thousands were chanting his name throughout the night.
While most of his songs are slower with sad lyrics, Joji adds jokes and antics to lighten things up. With free merch being thrown into the crowd and fans on rafts and pool noodles, it’s hard to pick one moment from his set that really stood out because he’s just that good.
If we had to highlight something, it would be when the 30-year-old sang “Die For You” and his encore “Glimpse of Us.” During “Die For You,” everyone hugged their loved ones — whether it be a friend or a lover — which was both sweet and sentimental. During “Glimpse of Us,” everyone put their lights up, sang as loud as they could with tears in their eyes. It was a beautiful moment to end a wonderful night!
