Over the weekend somewhere around 50,000 people flocked to the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco for the 10th annual Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, including NSPR’s Nolan Ford.
So Nolan how was it?
Well I’m very exhausted and sunburnt, but it was pretty amazing. The big headliners this year were The Gorillaz, Metallica, and The Who but there were over 60 musical acts performing on eight separate stages at this year’s event.
What was the first thing you did when you got there?
The festival organizers were holding a press conference in the media tent where they shared some of their favorite moments over the last ten years.
What makes this festival special compared to others?
This festival features many different types of music and entertainment so there’s definitely something for everyone, but what made the experience especially enjoyable for me was the cool weather and natural beauty of Golden Gate Park. Scott and Seth Avett of The Avett Brothers made a similar observation during a press conference held on Saturday afternoon.
That same afternoon I met with Brit-pop band Temples who also appreciated the Outside Lands environment compared with other festivals.
But some artists enjoy this festival more for the simple pleasures. Indie-pop duo, Frenship, couldn't get enough of the donut cheeseburgers.
Who else did you speak with?
Possibly the most eccentric person I talked to this weekend was a young musician named Oliver Tree. Outside Lands was only his second-ever live performance, with his first being the previous weekend at Lollapalooza in Chicago. During our conversation, Tree handed me a fidget spinner. The toy had an image of his face on it as well as the name of his soon-to-be-released album, Turbo.
What were some of the surprises at this year’s event?
There was a last-minute cancellation by the popular hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, which was disappointing for many of their fans who came just to see them, but there were also some unexpected musical performances too. Oakland rapper Del The Funky Homosapien took the stage alongside The Gorillaz and Dr. Octagon during their sets, which was a treat for fans. And another surprise was witnessing Big Boi of the famous hip-hop group Outkast deliver an unscheduled performance to a small group of only about 100 people.
Take us through the highlights, what were some of the standout performances?
Well, I was obsessed with The Who in high school so it was great to see them still rocking after all these years, but I really wanted to discover new acts at this festival. Foxygen is an indie-rock band from LA that really blew me away. Before launching into their more energetic material, they very appropriately chose to open with the song titled “San Francisco.”
Some other highlights included the very danceable music of Colombian band Bomba Estereo as well as the intense visuals and stage production of Empire of the Sun, but perhaps the most exciting performance of the weekend was Solange Knowles, also known as the sister of Beyonce. The music and choreography, all created by Solange, was masterfully executed and the band was having a blast on stage. The feeling seemed contagious as everyone in the crowd danced and sang along. Solange also took a moment to respond to the recent deadly car attack in Charlottesville, Virginia. She encouraged the audience - specifically her black, LGBTQ, and Muslim fans – to “Stay up. Find your self-care, and find your joy.” It felt like one of the more powerful moments of the weekend.
