Music fans, social media influencers, Conan O’Brien and even the Governor of California all came out to the chilly but beautiful Outside Lands music festival amongst the trees at Golden Gate Park this year from August 8-10.
Headliners for this year included Tyler, the Creator, Hozier, Doja Cat, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, John Summit, Glass Animals and Vampire Weekend.
As always, the festival is the destination to try some of the best food, wine and beer while marveling in the fields of Golden Gate Park while listening to some of the best that music has to offer.
This year brought a new intimate stage in the trees called Duboce Triangle, a second year of weddings in the festival at Outside Lands City Hall, and plenty of activations and freebies throughout the park.
What it also brought was important figures of politics and comedy, Bay Area representation and incredible Latino music.
Famous Faces in the Park
U.S. House Representative Nancy Pelosi, Governor Gavin Newsom, and ex-late night host and comedian extraordinaire Conan O Brien were spotted over the three days of the festival, not there to get on stage or talk politics, but to enjoy their times with friends and family.
Several posts on social media from different users showed the famous faces enjoying the sights and sounds of the festival, and with it being Pelosi’s home, and Newsom’s hometown, it didn’t seem as surreal having them around despite the political battles being raged outside of the park. Everybody loves music.
Bay Area Business
The Outside Lands promoters tend to book local acts as much as they can, and this year was no different.
Having a first time slot at 2pm is a nice way to make your Outside Lands debut, and that was exactly the case for Vallejo’s very own LaRussell, who brought a massive crowd considering the time and that the peak crowds arrive at the festival much later in the afternoon.
LaRussell is an up and coming rapper who has over the past few years risen in popularity, starting off in backyard shows to the largest stage at the Outside Lands festival this year. His demeanor is boyish and fun, bringing to mainstream rap a joyous and unpretentious silliness and positivity that is infectious to hear live.
Just as most rappers will tackle hard issues and paint the pictures of their upbringings, LaRussell does so but doesn’t forget to party and bring everyone that has helped him on his journey for the ride.
From Mac Dre, Tupac, and Too $hort covers, hyphy music dance moves and a few energetic sprints down into the crowd from LaRussell kept audiences mesmerized for the 50 minute set, which included a choir, a full band with a harpist and a flutist. The eclectic sounds, local backup musicians and mixture of funky rap made it a fully Bay Area event, and that’s what most likely explains the large crowds he ended up drawing by the midpoint of his set.
Vallejo rapper LaRussell performs at the Lands End stage on day 2 of the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival in San Francisco, California. Photo Credit: Alive Co
LaRussell had several guests including his manager who did spoken word poetry recounting how many in the LaRussell camp had struggled prior to becoming part of the crew, and reflecting on their new opportunity and upward mobility, or the “come up” as the kids call it these days.
Also joining the joyful and very Bay Area set was a young girl in a hoodie with the word Vallejo on it, who was about 12 years old, and came on and went on an impressive rap flow to overwhelming cheers from the crowd.
Even with the energy at its highest level, There were several moments when LaRussell sat on a stool to contemplate the moment, smile out towards the thousands in the crowd and say his thank yous to all who helped him reach this highest moment in his career, so far.
Latino Sounds
This year was a great year for Latino representation in the festival’s many stages, with some highlights being Midnight Generation, a retro inspired funk and electronic pop band from the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. Their infectious sound had a large, fun after-lunch crowd dancing and others grooving and swaying while sitting on their blankets among the Panhandle Stage.
Another was the Two Lips, an indie pop duo made up of Jewlz and Andrea, who hail from Cerritos California and come from Mexican and Filipino backgrounds. They describe their music as “cute”, and have a soft, dreamy indie pop sound reminiscent of another Latina indie pop artist, María Zardoya of The Marías. And just like the aforementioned, the Two Lips also have songs in Spanish.
The Two Lips recently embarked on their first headlining tour, having only formed in 2022, and in between their tour opened up for Sabrina Carpenter in July at her two Hyde Park shows in London. At Outside Lands their dreamy, lush sound was a hit at the new stage this year, Duboce Triangle, a smaller and more intimate area where people are surrounded by Eucalyptus trees in a forestry atmosphere within McLaren Pass, just outside of the massive Polo Field.
By far one of the true highlights of the entire weekend was the Argentine duo Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso, who made headlines last year with their NPR Tiny Desk Concert performance on YouTube with a full band and a mixture of crooning ballads, reggaeton, rap and pop. Their demeanor is funky but silly, and their sound is ever evolving and borderless, easily and effortlessly switching genres and going in inventive new directions song after song.
Those at their performance saw the unique blend the two artists bring in their pseudo rockstar personas and give the audiences incredible songs with themes such as the importance of friendship (“EL DÍA DEL AMIGO”), and the silliest one of the night being about working out and specifically pectorals (#TETAS). Expect Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso to hit the mainstream in the next couple of years, and maybe even hit the Lands End stage in a future installment of Outside Lands.
If you weren’t able to make it, or have curiosity on who performed or what the 2026 festival might be like, check out https://sfoutsidelands.com. Next year’s Outside Lands is set for Aug 7-9, 2026.
