The flavors and flare inside San Francisco’s biggest weekend, Outside Lands
2023 marks Outside Lands’ fifteenth year. it’s been a delight to watch the evolution.
By Tony Taylor, ItsQwere Founder
August 2023
After eight years of attending Outside Lands, I’ve recognized two distinct and indescribable internal rushes that flood my body before even seeing a single performance.
The first rush surges while slipping on the festival wristband. Which artists’s music will I discover? Which new foods will I later salivate for once the weekend ends? What new friends will I meet and how many of them will I ever see again? All this hits as I’m tightening the pass securely onto my wrist.
A sublime watermelon hibiscus spritz from Lulu Berkeley. All images by Tony Taylor.
This year, compliments of Grandstand Media for ItsQwere, I flashed my blue and grey Media General Admission wristband to the festival shuttle access volunteers as I boarded the plush coach inbound on Day 1. I flash it again at the VIP entrance – a fasttrack into the event. Imposter syndrome where? I’m attending San Francisco’s biggest weekend for free on my own credentials.
Entering the crisp, bustling, abundant festival grounds is when the second, distinct and indescribable rush erupts.
Outside Lands is Coachella’s cooler, nature-ier contemporary, beckoning droves of genre-blending music lovers as food, wine, beer, and cannabis provide fuel during the 3-day extravaganza. Backdropped in an often-foggy, forest atmosphere, nearly 100,000 people will pass through Golden Gate Park to attend #OSL.
Held annually, 2023 marks the festival’s fifteenth year. Having witnessed over half of these OSLs, it’s been a delight to watch the evolution.
A new addition – and easily my most frequented stage all weekend – is Dolores, a dance space celebrating the vibrant Bay Area queer and trans communities. Located in the Polo Field, the new stage is an homage to the rich history of queer parties, performances, and activism in San Francisco and around the country. Among the robust lineup of performers at Dolores, replaying in my mind are DJ sets from Charles Hawthorne (the Mighty Real breakdown will get me every time) and Nina Sky (“don't stop movin' you're makin' me hot!”).
Scattered across six stages, the music lineup featured nonstop heavy hitting acts, and seeing any number of these performers is an exercise in schedule planning. Standout performances included Ah-Mer-Ah-Su’s DJ set, ALOK’s intellectual stand-up comedy, Bob the Drag Queen, Raveena, Clinton Kane, Megan thee Stallion, WILLOW, J.I.D, Mariah The Scientist, DJ Diesel aka Shaquille O’Neal, and Kendrick Lamar.
When I wasn’t entranced and swaying to music at Dolores, I was getting my steps in around the grounds searching for eye-catching fashions. Club Renaissance -inspired metallics, cowboy hats, and fringe were top sartorial choices among a sea of prints, patterns and bold colors. It’s safe to say that bucket hats are officially back in style.
See all the expressive ensembles here.
Typically by Day 3 – and 20,000 steps later – I’m running on fumes surged by the remaining excitement knowing there’s still another few hours of music… plus the anticipation of feeling the rush again next year. Which new artists will I discover? And will I bump into that friendly stranger who, after my passing compliment on the delicious aesthetic of their just-ordered baked ziti, shared the first steaming bite?
Outside Lands 2024 has been announced for August 9 – 11. Pre-sale tickets usually begin in spring and the lineup is announced closer to summer.
Festival Fashion Faves
