With three days, more than 90 acts and 225,000 concert-goers, Outside Lands is an outdoor music, food and art festival for the ages. Located in the historic Golden Gate Park, the San Francisco-based sonic celebration brought a lush lineup to celebrate its 15th anniversary, with artists ranging from prophetic rappers to Americana alt-pop stars to renowned rock bands.
Between Wine Lands, Grass Lands and psychedelic street art murals streaked across the park, Outside Lands truly has something for everyone. Vapes, empty beer cans and discarded trays of delicious (albeit overpriced) food littered the grounds as fans raced between Lands End and Twin Peaks to catch their favorite shows. Amid a sea of long skirts and cowboy boots, the park became a catwalk, fashionistas hustling frantically from set to set — spurred on by sheer exhilaration (and maybe a little molly).
Though fog descended over the stages as night set in, the chill proved no match for a plethora of dynamic performers, who charged the festival with palpable energy. Over the course of the three-day extravaganza, senior staffers Dominic Marziali, Vivian Stacy and Anne Vertin sprinted (and stumbled) across the park to capture Kendrick Lamar, Lana Del Rey, The 1975 and much more. Read on for their coverage of standout performances, and subsequent superlatives, from Outside Lands 2023.
— Anne Vertin, arts & entertainment editor
Outside Lands 2023, Day 1: Kendrick Lamar, Zedd, Janelle Monáe
Openers Janelle Monáe, Willow, Alex G and Ethel Cain filled Golden Gate Park with splendent soul before headliners Kendrick Lamar and Zedd took their stages on the exhilarating first night of the music festival.
Outside Lands 2023, Day 2: Lana Del Rey, Foo Fighters, Father John Misty
Before Lana Del Rey blessed Twin Peaks and the Foo Fighters battled Lands End, openers Father John Misty, Conan Gray, L’Impératrice, NIKI, Orion Sun, Alvvays and Wednesday delivered radiant performances that cut through the Saturday gloom.
Outside Lands 2023, Day 3: The 1975, ODESZA, Megan Thee Stallion
On the final day of the festival, openers Megan Thee Stallion, Noah Kahan, beabadoobee, Grace Ives and Inhaler stunned with swagger and playful charm as headliners The 1975 and Odesza conjured a breathtaking finale to Outside Lands 2023.
