Outside Lands 2024 is this weekend, marking the 17th year and 16th edition of the Bay Area festival staple at Golden Gate Park. The family-friendly park vibes are always immaculate and this was actually the first festival I ever attended way back in 2012 when I won a pair of tickets as a broke boy who always wanted to experience three days of music like this.
This year’s festival is topped by The Killers, Sabrina Carpenter (who was thrust into the headline spot when Tyler the Creator pulled out), and Sturgill Simpson. Other top acts include Daniel Caesar, Jungle, The Postal Service, Grace Jones, Kaytranada, Teddy Swims, Chappel Roan, Victoria Monet, Chris Lake, ScHoolboy Q, Gryffin, Young the Giant, and many more.
But as usual, there are tons of acts worth checking out early in the day when the sun is beaming before it gets chilly at night. We’ve highlighted some that you should mark down on your schedules, check out our picks below!
Limited tickets to Outside Lands 2024 still remain — snatch them up before they are gone for good!
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9
ROCHELLE JORDAN
12:45-1:30 PM at Twin Peaks
A late addition to the lineup when set times were released a couple weeks ago, LA-based and London-born R&B songstress Rochelle Jordan is a welcome late add. She’s gotten a bit of a rub from being on a couple songs on the new KAYTRANADA album that dropped this year and maybe if she sticks around an extra day she’ll join him on stage for his Saturday closing set. But you should definitely get in the gates early Friday to check her out. On her own tunes, she’s got a variety of styles, including a bit of a 90s dance sound to some of the stuff from her 2021 album Play With the Changes. It gives her a bit more of an uptempo vibe than most of today’s R&B.
THE LAST DINNER PARTY
2:35-3:20 PM at Lands End
If you’re a fan of UK indie rockers Wolf Alice, The Last Dinner Party is along those same vibes but with a different tinge to them. I caught them for the first time at Coachella earlier this year and they really brought the heat. Some rocking choruses and poppy hooks and some shreddy guitar. Lead vocalist Abigail Morris has amazing stage presence and charisma and the other women kick ass as well. “Nothing Matters” is an absolute banger.
THE JAPANESE HOUSE
3:55-4:45 PM at Lands End
If you’re my age and the sound of Imogen Heap’s voice brings back thoughts of The OC and when anything is possible, then have we got an artist for you. The Japanese House’s Amber Bain has similar vocal stylings lushly tucked between cascading synths and she keeps adding more depth with each new release. She just dropped a new single back in June which means new music should be on the way soon. She returns to Outside Lands 2024 after making her debut at the festival back in 2017. Back then she was on the smaller Twin Peaks stage around this time of the day, this time she’ll be playing the main stage. Don’t miss her!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10
FRENCH CASSETTES
12:15-12:55 PM at Panhandle
A friend of mine turned me onto San Francisco natives French Cassettes a while back when I heard them on their Instagram story and I’ve been dying to see them since. They have a very vibey indie rock sound with some psychedelic flavor to it. It’s the kinda music that would’ve been on The OC if the kids were stoners. They just dropped a new album Benzene back in June, so they’ll have something fresh for their debut at their hometown festival.
MIMI WEBB
3:25-4:05 PM at Panhandle
Rising UK pop star Mimi Webb returns to SF just a couple months after opening for Benson Boone and she should have a good-sized crowd at her Panhandle set midday Saturday. She’s got a couple of absolutely massive songs to her credit and over 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify. She just dropped a new single “Erase You” last week. She’ll be joining The Jonas Brothers on their UK tour later this year and is coming off some big performances at Osheaga and Lollapalooza last weekend. This is a star on the rise, catch her on her way up.
ROMY
4:10-5:00 PM at Sutro
After years of making her name as a prominent member of the xx, Romy has struck out on her own in recent years to great success. We caught her last year at the El Rey and her live shows are definitely of a high level. Her 2023 album Mid Air is a moody dance floor killer in the vein of fellow UK act Jessie Ware, who ironically just released a song with Romy a couple months back. Her most recent release was a cover of the 90s Donna Lewis classic “Always Forever,” which kicks ass.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11
LAEL NEALE
12:45-1:30 PM at Sutro
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Lael Neale has a wide array of sounds. Her singing style reminds me of the early days Rilo Kiley version of Jenny Lewis with a tinge of Angel Olsen and Karen Carpenter. She just dropped a new single “Electricity” last week. The production of her records have a minimalist and lo-fi feel to them that will go perfect with nursing a hangover early Sunday after going too hard Saturday night. It’ll be a mellow beginning to day three.
AMEN DUNES
3:15-4:00 PM at Sutro
Touring in release of a new album that dropped in May, Amen Dunes has taken a drastic turn in sound from his earlier material. There is much more of an upbeat rhythm to his work with some 90s hip-hop sounds as he utilizes a lot of interesting samples. There’s a lot of depth to this records that you pick up on new stuff on each listen. I will be very interested to see how it translates to the live show. He’ll be making his return to Outside Lands 2024 for the first time since 2018.
BADBADNOTGOOD
3:50-4:40 PM at Panhandle
Toronto-based psych jazz stalwarts BADBADNOTGOOD make their Outside Lands debut on Sunday afternoon at the Panhandle Stage and I’m surprised it has taken this long for them to get booked there. Their bass line heavy grooves will be welcome as the sun starts to be a little less hot. They just dropped a new all-instrumental project a few weeks ago Mid Spiral that they’ll surely be playing from. Don’t miss them tearing it up with some chill vibes.
