This year, Outside Lands is officially celebrating 15 years since the festival’s first edition. The festival once again returns to San Francisco’s picturesque Golden Gate Park, with a wide array of major and up-and-coming artists on the bill. Here are five lesser-known acts and five classics taking place over August 11th and 13th you should check out:
The Rising Acts
Upsahl
Last year, Upsahl impressed in an opening slot for K. Flay. The singer, whose genre-bending style brings together brash pop with a punk edge, will kick off the main stage festivities on Sunday. Her latest single, a guest spot on K-pop group LE SSERAFIM’s “Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s wife” dropped this year. Upsahl is scheduled to perform on the Lands End stage on Sunday at noon.
Samia
If you like the emotional intensity and vibes of Mitski’s recent work, you’ll likely also dig Samia, whose sharp songwriting stood out on new album Honey, especially on cuts like “Kill Her Freak Out” and “Pink Balloon.” Samia is scheduled to perform on the Panhandle stage on Friday at 6:10 p.m.
Sour Widows
Sour Widows won’t have to travel far from home for Outside Lands; the trio hails from the Bay Area. Their lo-fi rockers – like “Witness” and “I-90” – lean on the deft vocal interplay between singers Maia Sinaiko and Susanna Thomson, before giving way to lively outbursts of crunchy guitar riffs. Sour Widows are scheduled to perform on the Panhandle stage on Saturday at 1:40 p.m.
The Dip
Bolstered by lead singer Tom Eddy’s sonorous vocals and a vibrant three-piece horn section, The Dip bring a delightfully throwback take on soulful rock ‘n’ roll, exemplified by tracks like “Sure Don’t Miss You” and “State Line.” The Dip are scheduled to perform on the Lands End stage on Friday at 1:25 p.m.
Zack Fox
You may recognize Zack Fox as Tariq from Abbott Elementary, the on-again, off-again rapper boyfriend of Quinta Brunson’s main character Janine. The comedian’s got bars IRL, too, though. His self-deprecating and winking viral rap hit “Jesus Is the One (I Got Depression)” was produced by Kenny Beats (producer for Vince Staples and IDLES, to name a couple) and has racked up over 45 million streams on Spotify. Zack Fox is scheduled to perform on the Sutro stage on Saturday at 2:50 p.m.
The Established Acts
Foo Fighters
Earlier this year, Foo Fighters played their first concert since the untimely passing of drummer Taylor Hawkins. (Josh Freese, who has also drummed for Devo and Guns N’ Roses, has been behind the kit for Foo Fighters’ tour dates in 2023.) How the band gels with a new drummer will be a thing to watch, along with what new tracks make it into the set from their latest album, But Here We Are. Of course, Dave Grohl & co. have plenty of crowd-pleasing hits to bring to the table, like “Learn to Fly,” “My Hero,” and “Everlong.” Foo Fighters are scheduled to perform on the Lands End stage on Saturday at 8:15 p.m.
Janelle Monae
Janelle Monae’s previous festival appearances – in support of the excellent Dirty Computer – were must-see events, filled with ambitious set pieces, energizing dance moves, and Monae’s powerhouse vocals. With acclaimed new record The Age of Pleasure releasing just a couple months ago, all eyes will be on how Monae brings the new album to life on stage in her only remaining festival date booked for the year. Janelle Monae is scheduled to perform on the Lands End stage on Friday at 6:55 p.m.
Lana Del Rey
2023 brought another well-regarded album, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, from singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. (Intriguingly, the new record features “Let the Light In,” a collaboration with Father John Misty, who happens to be playing Outside Lands the same day.) Her other festival appearances this year have been filled with hits like “Young and Beautiful,” “Summertime Sadness,” and “Video Games.” Lana Del Rey is scheduled to perform on the Twin Peaks stage on Saturday at 8:40 p.m.
Soccer Mommy
Soccer Mommy’s latest release was a jangly, lo-fi cover of Sheryl Crow’s pop classic “Soak Up the Sun,” which has become a set staple for the singer-songwriter in the past month. Beyond that, last year’s Sometimes, Forever stood out for its expanded sonic palette. Soccer Mommy is scheduled to perform on the Panhandle stage on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
Megan Thee Stallion
“Hot Girl Summer” continues. This is a rare appearance in 2023 for the Houston rapper (only three shows on the schedule this year). So this is one of your only current chances to dance to huge hits like “Savage,” “Girls in the Hood,” and “Body.” Megan Thee Stallion is scheduled to perform on the Lands End stage on Sunday at 6:20 p.m.
