Originally an end-of-summer music festival, this year’s Outside Lands rendered San Francisco unrecognizable on the final weekend of October. Hoards of attendees — dressed in an array of Halloween costumes from Squid Game contestants to Spider-Men — traversed Golden Gate Park, roaming the long-awaited festival grounds after a nearly two-year absence. Other attractions such as “Grass Lands” and “Beer Lands” made their return to be gradually reembraced as staples of the event.
The misty fog that engulfed the park Friday and Saturday gave way to Sunday’s clear skies, serving as the perfect backdrop for an unusual yet truly memorable year for Outside Lands, which boasted a wonderfully diverse lineup of top-tier talent eager to play to festival crowds once more. Despite a few mishaps and last-minute lineup changes, Outside Lands ultimately came through, offering up one of the most satisfying festival experiences in recent memory. Read on for The Daily Californian’s coverage of — and superlatives for — some of the most exciting acts from this Halloweekend.
— Vincent Tran
Outside Lands 2021, Day 1: The Openers (Bartees Strange, Khruangbin, Remi Wolf, Flo Milli)
The first day of Outside Lands saw some of the most emo, jam-worthy, electric and lean sets of the festival.
Outside Lands 2021, Day 1: The Headliners (Glass Animals, Tyler, the Creator, The Strokes)
On Friday, Glass Animals, Tyler, the Creator and the Strokes boasted, respectively, the most whimsical, raunchy and nostalgic sets of the entire weekend.
Outside Lands 2021, Day 2: The Openers (Andrew McMahon, Angel Olsen, Dr. Dog, 24kGoldn)
The second day of Outside Lands experienced the most wholesome, emotional, graceful and brazen live shows of the weekend.
Outside Lands 2021, Day 2: The Headliners (Aminé, Vampire Weekend, Lizzo)
On Saturday, Aminé delivered a charming, gushy set, Vampire Weekend became the crowd favorites and Lizzo brought some of the festival’s best surprises.
Outside Lands 2021, Day 3: The Openers (Yves Tumor, mxmtoon, Nelly, Sofi Tukker)
On the final day of Outside Lands, artists brought on performances deserving of titles such as most affecting, youthful, best throwback and most majestic.
Outside Lands 2021, Day 3: The Headliners (Kehlani, Rüfüs Du Sol, Tame Impala)
The final night of Outside Lands saw Kehlani, Rüfüs Du Sol and Tame Impala live up to the hype with some of the most arresting, ethereal and psychedelic headline performances worthy of top-billing.