As Pride Month prepares to sweep through West Hollywood this June, Outloud Music Festival is stepping back into the center of it all with one of its biggest lineups yet.
But beyond headliners, packed festival grounds, and pop spectacle, founder Jeff Consoletti says that the festival has steadily grown into something much larger: a space where queer communities gather, celebrate, feel visible, and fully be themselves.
“We need to be visible. We need to be at the forefront,” Consoletti expressed during a recent phone call.
Returning to West Hollywood Park June 5-7, this year’s festival lineup will be led by The Pussycat Dolls, marking both the group’s only Pride appearance and sole Los Angeles tour stop, alongside pop stars Jade and Ava Max. The three-day festival will also feature Ashlee Simpson, FLO, Melanie C, Blue Man Group, Confidence Man, Destin Conrad, and more.
For Consoletti, however, the larger mission sits beyond the headliners.
“Outloud is about championing our community and showing our strength in numbers and delivering joyful moments that connect our community in a very visible way,” Consoletti shared. “And we can’t shy back from that.”
The conversation arrives at a moment when queer visibility and LGBTQ+ spaces continue to carry heightened significance nationwide. For Consoletti, West Hollywood’s longstanding role within LGBTQ+ history makes the city a natural home base.
“It’s exciting that we’re get to do this in California and in a community like West Hollywood that stands behind and champions that same feeling,” Consoletti said. “West Hollywood stands at the forefront of the LGBTQ movement.”
Though Outloud has become one of the country’s leading queer music festivals, Consoletti admits growth has come alongside responsibility.
“When you’re doing this day in, and day out, it’s easy to put pressure on yourself and your team,” Consoletti said. “Are we hitting the mark? Are we delivering what the community expects? Are they proud of it?”
Originally launched to amplify queer artists and create opportunities within the LGBTQ+ music community, Outloud has steadily expanded beyond Southern California in recent years. The festival has grown into additional markets, including Boston, while developing touring concepts aimed at bringing queer visibility into spaces where it may not always feel as accessible.
“One of our foundations is ensuring that we can create a safe space for our community to be together,” Consoletti declared. “I wish we had hundreds of events because the amount of queer artists that reach out and are looking for opportunity, almost looking for their big break through Outloud, it’s humbling.”
The expansion has mirrored Outloud’s original vision: championing queer artists while building spaces where LGBTQ+ communities can gather openly and safely.
“Putting queer artists to work is a foundation of Outloud,” Consoletti said. “But our foundation has always been queer communities, queer people, and queer music artists.”
This year’s lineup itself reflects that mission. While major names top the bill, Consoletti said some of the festival’s most exciting moments often come from emerging artists still building their careers.
“We are part of these journeys for artists in really special ways,” Consoletti said. “It’s exciting for me to watch that trajectory rise and what these artists go on to do.”
One artist embodying that vision this year is Rossi, a Los Angeles-based queer pop artist and DJ whose appearance at Outloud marks what he describes as a “full-circle career moment.”
“I’ve been pursuing music and acting for 15 years,” Rossi shared over the phone. “The last two years I’ve really become a known DJ around the city, but my heart is in performance and making pop music.”
Initially turning toward DJing as a way to organically introduce audiences to his original music while navigating the realities of building an artist career in L.A., Rossi says community ultimately became everything.
“Community is the most important thing any of us can ask for,” Rossi said. “Especially as artists and especially living in Los Angeles.”
For Rossi, who grew up listening to artists now appearing alongside him on this year’s lineup, landing an Outloud slot carries extra meaning. “I’ve always known mine was to share joy in whatever way I can,” Rossi said. “I make music to get people dancing and give them an escape.”
Consoletti sees artists like Rossi as central to the festival’s long-term vision.
“Rossi is such a hardworking local artist that has really earned his spot on the lineup,” Consoletti said.
That philosophy also shaped this year’s broader musical direction. Consoletti described the lineup as tapping into what is currently happening across pop music while maintaining Outloud’s queer-forward identity.
“It feels like the kickoff to summer,” Consoletti said. “People want to come and feel great. It’s summertime. Let’s go. Let’s dance.”
Beyond the festival grounds themselves, Outloud will once again anchor WeHo Pride festivities alongside community programming, the WeHo Pride Street Fair, the Pride Parade, and other citywide celebrations.
For Consoletti, the larger purpose remains unchanged.
“It comes with a lot of responsibility,” Consoletti said. “But we really all show up to do the best we can for our community.”
Outloud Music Festival
When: June 5-7
Where: West Hollywood Park, 647 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood
Tickets: General Admission Weekend Passes starting at $214.58, VIP Pride Passes at $428.67, Super VIP Pride Passes at $972.30, and Saturday Single Day Passes available for $137.22 at outloudmusicfestival.com/weho