Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA — August 9-11, 2024

Outside Lands Music Festival once again brought its vibrant atmosphere and eclectic lineup to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, marking its sixteenth year back. Taking place over the second weekend of August, the festival proved its place once again as one of the most anticipated festivals of the summer music season. Its blend of diverse talent that spans from country, indie, house, R&B, and pop genres created a magical experience (even under San Francisco’s infamous Karl the Fog) that had something to appeal to every attendee. Over the three days, more than 70 acts performed across seven stages. Headlining acts – The Killer’s electrifying performance on Friday, Sabrina Carpenter’s dazzling pop princess performance on Saturday, and Sturgill Simpson’s return to the stage after 3 years on Sunday – capped off each day at the main stage, Lands End. Subheadliners – Daniel Caesar, Gryffin, Chris Lake, The Postal Service, KAYTRANADA, and Slowdive closed out the other two larger stages, Sutro and Twin Peaks.

With well-known sub headlining acts JUNGLE, Daniel Caesar, Gryffin, Chris Lake, The Postal Service, KAYTRANADA, Slowdive, Chappell Roan, Teddy Swims, Post Malone, and Grace Jones at the top of the bill, as well as an incredible undercard, Outside Lands continues to impress each year with a stacked and diverse lineup that spanned all sorts of subgenres. The festival made it very walkable between stages, fully emerging attendees in between the lush trees of Golden Gate Park and allowing constant musical experiences with interactive art installations all around.

Music played from 12pm to 10pm each day. Opening day Friday saw up-and-coming artists The Last Dinner Party, Rochelle Jordan, and Rocco across the three main stages. The festival grounds started filling out towards the early afternoon with electronic duo Snakehips leading a dance party at Twin Peaks, rising country artist Shaboozey bringing some twang to Sutro, and rising indie/alternative act The Japanese House at Lands End. The newly designed open air SOMA stage cast a range of electronic, house, and techno artists leading back to back to back to back sets all day long. Broad-based indie rock band Young The Giant upped the energy with an epic set featuring songs across their nearly fifteen year discography, providing a perfect lead into British dance music group, JUNGLE, who have had quite the breakout year. Hip-hop artist Kevin Abstract and dynamic R&B singer-songwriter Daniel Caesar, brought in chilled out and soulful performances that paired perfectly with the rolling fog. Iconic rock band The Killers closed out the night with an electrifying performance featuring a laser show throughout their set with hits, “When You Were Young,” “Mr. Brightside,” and “Human.”

DAY 1

THE JAPANESE HOUSE

SHABOOZEY

YOUNG THE GIANT

DANIEL CAESAR

The music continued on Saturday, which brought in some sunny weather during the day – which for those familiar with San Francisco, is a rare sight on its own. Bay Area-bred hip-hop collective AG Club brought in the vibes and helped kick off the day at Lands End, emerging singer-songwriter Ryan Beatty delivered an ethereal performance at Twin Peaks, disco pioneer Grace Jones returned to the stage with an experimental performance featuring extravagant costume changes, and Allen Stone brought in his unique blend of soul and funk to the Panhandle stage. The Sutro stage had an incredible lineup to the day, with Romy delivering a jaw-dropping audio & visual performance getting the crowd amped for Channel Tres. House legend Chris Lake unleashed a set filled with hype drops and beats that sent everyone in attendance to a different dimension. The main event of the night was pop headliner Sabrina Carpenter. With her catchy taglines (I’m working late cause I’m a singer!! ), she brought in a crowd ready to sing along with her. You couldn’t help but notice the younger girls in the crowd eagerly awaiting to see their idol perform. Sabrina Carpenter delivered just that and brought in a surprise appearance from Kacey Musgraves, cementing her place as a well deserved headliner.

DAY 2

CHANNEL TRES

SCHOOLBOY Q

SABRINA CARPENTER

The weekend capped off on Sunday with Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club riding in and bringing in one of the biggest crowds I’ve ever seen at Outside Lands. The festival grounds were adorned with an influx of bedazzled pink cowboy hats as the crowd packed in awaiting one of the most highly anticipated sets of the festival. Chappell Roan delivered one of the most animated and mesmerizing sets of the day that even those that weren’t familiar with her music were stunned by. It was a giant dance party from beginning to end, and Post Malone’s special country set kept the energy high. The fog rolled in harder as the day progressed and brought in heavy mist, but that didn’t stop Grammy’s Best New Artist, Victoria Monet, from performing an intricately choreographed set on a wet stage. Frankly, the mist added a little something extra to KAYTRANADA’s vibrant set at Twin Peaks providing the perfect closing to the weekend.

DAY 3

BEN HOWARD

CHAPPELL ROAN

TEDDY SWIMS

POST MALONE

KAYTRANADA

Outside Lands delivered a weekend that properly and perfectly celebrated its sixteenth anniversary. It’s safe to say that this festival leaves all attendees eagerly looking forward to the next year and with newfound love for artists they already know and some new discoveries.

Outside Lands Music Festival returns August 8-10, 2025. For more information, visit the festival’s official website here. See you in the park!

Words & Photography: Sabrina Poei

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