Celebrating 15th Years At Outside Lands Music Festival

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All Photos Courtesy of Alive Coverage

Found within the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, the Bay Area’s most prominent music festival, Outside Lands, just proudly celebrated its 15th year and is leaving behind a remarkable legacy. The festival’s allure consists of extraordinary moments, captivating music, incredible food and drink, sensational art, and profound experiences that have collectively shaped Outside Lands into the vibrant music & arts festival and dominant celebration of the Bay Area it is today. Deepening the experience is an additional layer of creativity that transforms the park into a living gallery of vivid street art through the expression of the Outsider Art installations. Throughout the park, a variety of captivating creations comes to life through the skillful hands of local street artists, infusing the park’s surroundings with color and an imaginative flair that compliments the festival’s grounds. With an impressive total of 225,000 attendees, the festival stands as a prominent gathering that brings together a diverse group of individuals in a collective celebration of music, art, culture, and the community of the San Francisco Bay.

Since its debut in 2008, Outside Lands has consistently delivered a diverse and talented lineup that caters to the music tastes of the entire community. Ranging from rock to pop, electronic to folk, and everything in between, this festival has become the Bay Area’s most anticipated and celebrated musical gathering, uniting music enthusiasts from all walks of life. Reflecting on the past 15 years, we are reminded of the incredible performances that have made Outside Lands the unforgettable and established festival it is today. Along with its extraordinary musical lineup, Outside Lands also offers a variety of experiences that are unique to the festival, ensuring that every moment spent within the park is one worth remembering.

Within the park’s main Polo Field, the festival’s newest dance club, Dolores, made its debut as an innovative space that serves to dedicate and honor the vibrant queer and trans communities that thrive in the Bay Area. With a nod to the history of San Francisco’s queer parties, performances, and advocacy, Dolores stands as a homage to the rich history of queer parties, performances, and activism. Curated by FAKE and GAY, OASIS, and Hard French, the stage welcomes a variety of talents, including Nina Sky, MS NINA, Princess featuring Adore Delano, Hard French x Brown Amy featuring CarrieOnDisco and Oscar (EW), among many others. Similarly to Dolores, the SOMA Tent is another non-stop dance party that is solely dedicated to house music. The lineup included acts such as BLOND:ISH, Claptone, WhoMadeWho, Tinlicker, Ame b2b Trikk, Sama’ Abdulhadi, and a lot of other exceptional artists who took the stage. The SOMA Tent is a lively and exhilarating experience where pulsating beats, electrifying performances, and a vibrant atmosphere create an unforgettable dance party.

Indulging in the full experience of Outside Lands is more than just soaking in the music and atmosphere. A central part of the festival is Taste of the Bay Area, where the best local restaurants come together to create a remarkable display of flavors. Throughout its evolution, Outside Lands has masterfully united an impressive ensemble of the Bay Area’s most creative and innovative restaurants, resulting in a fusion of diverse cuisines that effortlessly capture the essence of the Bay Area’s culinary scene. However, Taste of the Bay Area is only a fraction of the festival’s unique experiences. Outside Lands unfolds even more one of a kind experiences with Wine Lands, Beer Lands, and Cocktail Magic, where attendees are invited to experience California’s pioneering wineries and breweries, as well as custom cocktails. Wine Lands, consists of a selection of more than 100 unique wines, sourced from a variety of small-production Northern California wineries. What makes this experience truly special is that these wines are showcased by the very individuals who craft them, adding a personal touch to each pour. Similarly, Beer Lands displays 30 of the finest local breweries and cideries, from classic lagers to cutting-edge IPAs to one-of-a-kind botanical cider crafted from Golden Gate Park’s own ingredients. Cocktail Magic is its own special experience within itself. It mixes the art of craft cocktails with mesmerizing magic, and captivating music to create a truly unique environment. At Outside Lands, Cocktail Magic has become an enchanting experience, adding an extra layer of magic to the festival.

Throughout its 15-year journey, Outside Lands has remained committed to sustainability and positive impact. Initiatives such as the Refillable Water Program have helped reduce single-use bottle waste, while the festival’s Waste Diversion efforts have set new standards for responsible event management. Liquid Death, an upcoming canned bottled water company, has joined the cause by championing health and sustainability in a bold and entertaining manner, reflecting the festival’s dedication to making a difference. As the 2023 Outside Lands Festival celebrates its 15th anniversary, it stands as a testament to the power of music, art, community, and creativity within the Bay Area. The memories created in Golden Gate Park over the years continue to inspire and uplift, reminding us of the transformative and magic of this festival.

Kicking off the festival on the first day, multi-instrumentalist and producer Matt Hansen, took to the stage at 12:45 PM at the Twin Peaks Stage. Being from the Bay Area, he was brimming with excitement to perform his first festival in his hometown. With an air of excitement, Hansen launched into his set, bringing a variation of pop, indie, and folk genres to his performance. The audience was immediately captivated by the vulnerability of his melodies, and the familiarity and innovation that defined his artistic presence. As his set continued, it was evident that Hansen’s passion and creative spirit were contagiously shared with the crowd.

Former basketball legend turned multi-talented entertainer, Diesel, also known as Shaquille O’Neal, took the stage at 5:20 PM at the Twin Peaks stage. After arriving to the set late, he came out explaining to the crowd that he was hanging out with Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Even with the late start, the atmosphere was electric as his DJ set ignited the crowd into an immediate frenzy. Among the crowd of enthusiastic fans, there was an incredibly fun scene of joyful jumping and movement. The highlight of the performance was when Diesel organized an all-girls mosh pit, adding an extra dose of energy into the already hyped up crowd. The set was an absolute blast, a testament to Diesel’s ability to create an unforgettable and an extremely enjoyable experience for all.

Stepping onto the Sutro stage at 6:30 PM, WILLOW, the talented daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, showcased her artistry at Outside Lands. With a captivating fusion of alt-rock, alt-R&B, and alt-pop, she mesmerized the audience with an incredible performance. The setlist included crowd favorites like “Meet Me at Our Spot” and her finale “Wait a Minute”, drawing fans into her world with every note. Her genuine affection for the crowd was clear, as she shared intimate moments of sweetness, honesty, and connection throughout the performance on top of her friendly, sarcastic humor that paired well with the energy of the younger festival attendees. WILLOW skillfully wielded both the guitar and bass, adding a layer of depth to her musical presentation. WILLOW’s set was a deeply moving performance that served as a testament to her musical expertise and created a lasting impact on everyone in the audience.

Taking the headline spot on Friday, Kendrick Lamar dominated the biggest stage called Lands End at 8:40 PM, igniting the crowd with his powerful presence. The acclaimed hip-hop and rap artist delivered a mesmerizing performance that included an impressive 21 songs. The crowd responded with an uncontainable energy, creating an electrifying atmosphere that mirrored Lamar’s impressive rapping and vocals. A true master of his craft, Lamar’s stage presence was nothing short of captivating, effortlessly drawing every individual into his world. Kendrick had a very unique stage setup, consisting of paintings of Black figures by the artist Henry Taylor, a visual representation that added a thought-provoking layer to the performance. He was also accompanied by background dancers who added a delicate touch to the performance. As the night progressed, Lamar’s innate ability to connect with his audience shone through, solidifying his reputation as not just a talented musician, but also a truly exceptional performer who leaves a mark on the hearts of those who were at his performance.

As one of the artists starting off Day 2 on Saturday, Orion Sun took the stage at 2:20 PM on the Twin Peaks main platform. The Philadelphian singer-songwriter and producer enchanted the audience with her ethereal presence. Radiating a genuinely sweet demeanor, her performance was nothing short of captivating, and her remarkable voice resonated through the air. Orion Sun’s set was a delightful blend of musical prowess and joyful energy, setting a positive energy for the rest of the weekend.

Next up, taking the Twin Peaks stage at 3:55 PM, the youthful and dynamic Jesse Murph delivered an amazing performance at just 18 years old. A rising star who catapulted to fame through TikTok, Jesse effortlessly blended elements of country, pop, and hip-hop into her music, showcasing a genre-defying approach. What truly set Jesse apart was her unique voice, a captivating instrument that drew the audience into her musical world.

Even though he was an unexpected last-minute addition to the lineup merely a week before the weekend, pop singer-songwriter Conan Gray took over the Twin Peaks Stage at 7 PM for an incredible performance and drew an excited, never-ending crowd, which is extra impressive given that no one knew he was performing for months when tickets went on sale. Conan Gray not only delivered a performance that was nothing short of exhilarating with all of his hits, the Gen-Z popstar with his exponential 22 million Spotify listeners was overflowing with gratitude and relatable excitement for the opportunity to open for Lana Del Rey and expressed his love for San Francisco. With an infectious high-energy vibe, the crowd was swept up in a fun and enjoyable set that evening as he led everyone in dancing, laughing, and singing their hearts out to his relatable and catchy songs on longing for love, friendship, and family. Amidst the pop frenzy, Conan took a moment to slow things down and serenaded the audience with his heartfelt hit with almost 1.5 billion streams, “Heather,” tugging at heartstrings and creating an intimate connection with the expansive crowd. Conan also played the audience an unreleased song, “Winner,” leaving fans with a taste of the song that is now set to come out August 25th. He closed his set with another hit nostalgic song of his, “Memories”, leaving his unexpected Outside Lands appearance with one last chance for attendees to release all their emotion by screaming his lyrics.

Lana Del Rey‘s performance was a highly anticipated highlight of the entire weekend as she closed the Twin Peaks stage at 8:40 PM on Saturday night. Her household name has been so important to Outside Lands’ younger Millennial and Gen Z crowd as it was universal among Golden Gate Park that most of the hip, indie attendees grew up listening to her over the past decade. While her fashionably late entrance added to the crowd’s extreme anticipation, it was well worth the wait. The stage came alive with her enchanting presence, enhanced by a breathtaking production, stage design, and mesmerizing background dancers. With a voice of an angel, Lana Del Rey effortlessly drew the audience into her musical world, creating an ethereal atmosphere that competed with the Foo Fighters’ simultaneous performance at the other main stage. Lana played a total of 16 songs as well as a video monologue for her song “Ride”. She elegantly serenaded all of the Bay Area at her stage vanity mirror, sitting on her piano, while being lifted by her dancers, and on her iconic swing adorned with flowers. A standout moment was her beautiful cover of Tammy Wynette’s classic, “Stand by Your Man,” which showcased her ability to breathe new life into beloved classics as she is such an icon in music today. Going past her set time, she made amends for her delay and performed the title track of her new album, “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Boulevard,” bringing a spellbinding close to an absolutely unforgettable show and true highlight of the weekend.

On the festival’s final day on Sunday, alternative-indie artist Beabadoobee delivered a dynamic performance that showcased her impressive range of musical genres at 4:55 PM on the Twin Peaks stage. Although Bea Kristi’s clothing style is moreso sweet and feminine, Beabadoobee’s music is very diverse, spanning from invigorating, rock melodies to quite slow, introspective love songs. Armed throughout her 40 minute set with her fleet guitars that include her iconic hot pink and key lime green guitars, she infused the Day 3 atmosphere with an infectious high-energy vibe that resonated very well throughout the crowd. Beyond her musical prowess, Beabadoobee’s genuine sweetness radiated, creating an endearing connection with her audience as she smiled and blew kisses to the crowd on top of whipping her hair during her ruthless guitar solos. Her versatile set exemplified her ability to effortlessly transition between genres and appeal to a wide audience, leaving the crowd captivated by her artistry and complimenting the festival’s diverse musical lineup.

As the evening continued on, Cigarettes After Sex played at the Twin Peaks stage at 6:30 PM, enveloping the audience in their signature shoegaze sound that many attendees were familiar with. Comprising of three male members matching in their simple black outfits and black sunglasses, their ethereal melodies seamlessly intertwined with the natural San Francisco fog and towering trees of that edge of the park. Their planned fog machine and vague black-and-white visuals on the screen behind them were hardly even needed as the 60 degree fog perfectly assisted their performance, creating a stage ambiance that was nothing short of enchanting and providing the perfect environment for their performance. With a seamless blend of melancholic and mesmerizing tones, Cigarettes After Sex delivered a truly beautiful and captivating set.

Seamlessly following Cigarettes After Sex, the indie pop band The 1975 took center stage headlining the Twin Peaks stage at 8:20 PM. The 1975 as a band has reigned much of Gen Z’s pop discography during the past decade as we’ve grown and they are playing arenas for the first time this year on a tour rightly titled “At Their Very Best”, so they were also an amazing closing headliner for the festival’s age demographic. Playing a captivating set of 16 songs, their popular music created a contagious upbeat environment that invited everyone to dance, scream, and embrace the moment. The charismatic, unstoppable frontman Matty Healy was a dynamic force, commanding the stage with his animated presence and engaging the audience at every turn. They made sure to play all of their hits from their previously released album from last fall “Being Funny In A Foreign Language” that truly ascended their already impressive discography. Finally, they unexpectedly closed the set with the deep cut, high energy anthem “People” from their 2020 album “Notes In An Unconditional Form”. The cheers and screams of the crowd erupted just as loudly when the 1975 left the stage as when they had entered 80 minutes previously to start their set, showing the band’s ability to create a musical experience that transcends mere entertainment, transforming the night and entire weekend into a forever memory and acting as the perfect closing to Outside Lands’ 15th anniversary. Until next year!