Outside Lands is a three day musical festival hosted at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. This year, it is expected to be more house and electronics genre focused, incorporating multiple popular, well-known artists and smaller underground ones. House music originated in Chicago in the early 1980s, built on drum machines, synthesizers and a kick pattern. Its popularity is rising among teenagers.
The headliners for each day are Charli XCX on Friday, Aug. 7, The Strokes on Saturday, Aug. 8, and finally, at the end of the weekend, Rufus Du Sol performs on Sunday, Aug. 10. The headliners typically perform around 7:30 to 8:30 pm, which adds an aspect of thrill, a beautiful summer sunset in the background while listening to your favorite artist perform. The headliners this year sold out arenas independently, attracting many different types of people from all over the world.
“I’m most excited to see MPH”. Sophomore Eljiah Wertheimer said.
“I just really like that kind of music. I like garage music, and I’ve been listening to them for a while, so I just wanted to take the opportunity to see them live,” Although Outside Lands is focused primarily on music, it also brings people together. Outside lands also feature food vendors and activities alongside the music. Over 90 local businesses are featured in the festival, such as Hard Knox Cafe, Pink Onion Pizza, Da Poke Man, and Johnny’s Donuts. A perk of the festival are additional pop-ups because it adds an element of community to the festival. People attending move between food stalls and stages throughout the day.
During August, San Francisco is characterized by chilly temperatures and heavy fog, especially after sunset. Golden Gate Park falls in the heart of San Francisco, which can make the festival appear cold and gloomy due to the poor weather. However, the music, food, and overall experience of Outside Lands serve as the main attraction for the audience
Friday starts with headliners Charli XCX, Turnstile, Griztronics, and Labrinth. Charli XCX has recently been in the spotlight with her album Brat, released in 2024, reaching number one in several countries, such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. It hit number three on the Billboard 200 in the United States. The other artists performing are Glorilla, Modest Mouse, Tinashe, Sierra Ferrel, and Hyperbeam.
Saturday’s headliners are The Strokes, The XX, DJO, Dijon, and Pinkpantheress. Some of the other artists performing are Ethel Cain, Lucy Dacus, Malcolm Todd, Audrey Hobert, Its Murph, and Sienna Spiro. Sunday is supposed to be the most popular, most attended day, according to Miramonte students, with Rufus du Sol headlining and other very loved artists like Empire of the Sun, Baby Keem, and Discolines. Other artists performing will consist of Sosocamo, Boys Noize, Destin Conrad, Miss Monique, and Death Cab for Cutie.
Miramonte sophomore Tre Murphy is among those attending Outside Lands this summer.
“I’m excited to see Rufus du Sol and Empire of the Sun,” Murphy said, because I have been listening to their music for a while, but haven’t been able to see either of them.”
Outside Lands is an opportunity for people to see some of their favorite artists that they normally wouldn’t be able to listen to live. Many people also go for the environment and the social aspect of talking with friends and meeting new people while singing and dancing to their favorite songs.
Overall, Outside Lands is a big festival that brings communities together, whether it’s watching Charli XCX while the sun is setting, listening to the Strokes in the fog, or dancing to Rufus Du Sol with your best friends.
Outside Lands offers many kinds of inviting experiences that will be remembered for years to come.
