(Outside Lands 2024) Celebrating its 16th year, Outside Lands is back in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park from August 9-11, drawing music fans from all over.
This year’s lineup includes big names like the Killers, Sabrina Carpenter, Sturgill Simpson, and Post Malone, plus up-and-coming artists like Chappell Roan, Teddy Swims, and the Last Dinner Party.
The festival also features great local food, beer, wine, and special cultural experiences. Check out our highlights to remember the best moments of Outside Lands 2024.
Saturday, Aug. 10 (The Bay Area Bushman reveals how he picks his victims at the festival)
A special San Francisco monster was hiding behind a eucalyptus tree at Outside Lands’ McLaren Pass, waiting to scare festivalgoers. “That was terrifying. My heart skipped a beat,” said Josie McCarty, who laughed after recovering from the scare. “I’m glad it’s over.”
The Bay Area Bushman, a long-time San Francisco prank where someone dressed as a bush jumps out to scare people, made its way to Golden Gate Park this year.
Originally started by David Johnson in the 1980s at Fisherman’s Wharf, and later joined by Gegory Jacobs, the prank continued until Jacobs’ death in 2014 and Johnson’s retirement in 2019. Recently, San Jose’s Cory Barnette revived the prank and brought it to Outside Lands for the first time.
Barnette targets young people who look like they’re having fun. Reactions vary, with some screaming in fear while others shudder or try unsuccessfully to scare him back. “It’s something about the suit,” Barnette said. “I just can’t be scared.”
On August 10, during the festival, Barnette startled a pair of teenage girls, Josie McCarty and her friend Ayelet Passman-lapushin, as they headed to the SoMa Stage. “I wasn’t ready for that,” Passman-lapushin said, despite knowing about the Bushman from a video.
Danielle Lacomb also got a big scare while heading to see Mimi Webb at the Panhandle Stage. “My heart’s racing,” Lacomb said. “I’ve seen videos of him before, but being scared in person is something else.”
Barnette has been scaring people at the festival since August 9. “Seeing people smile and laugh is the best part,” he said. “It’s great knowing people are enjoying it.”
If you want to find the Bushman, you’ll have to keep your eyes open and brave the scare in McLaren Pass.
Friday, Aug. 9 (Daniel Caesar’s set cut off during first day of festival)
At the Sutro Stage for his final set on August 9, R&B singer Daniel Caesar gave a soulful performance with hits like “Disillusioned,” “Get You,” and “Best Part.”
During his show, which started around 8:40 p.m., Caesar performed behind a backdrop of white fabric and delivered a great mix of his R&B songs. After singing “Always” from his 2023 album “Never Enough,” he left the stage to cheers from the crowd.
He soon came back, saying he had one more minute left. He started playing “Streetcar,” a song from 2015, but as he got to the second verse, the clock struck 10 p.m., and his microphone was turned off due to the city’s curfew for outdoor events.
Caesar, who had mentioned he wasn’t in the best mood earlier but had cheered up during the performance, continued to play piano for “Loose” from his 2017 album “Freudian.” Despite feeling cold and having to grab a jacket, the energy from the crowd lifted his spirits.
He told fans, “Radical honesty—I feel really good now.”
Shaboozey celebrates bar anthem’s record-breaking success with encore performance
Country hip-hop artist Shaboozey had an amazing performance at the Sutro Stage, showing why he’s a favorite among Beyoncé’s fans.
Shaboozey, whose real name is Collins Obinna Chibueze, has been making his way up since 2014. This year, he hit a big milestone by landing on the Billboard Hot 100 with his song “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which topped the charts in April.
During his lively set in Golden Gate Park, Shaboozey entertained the crowd with his unique country sound and energetic interactions. Toward the end of his show, he was given a plaque for being the first Black male artist to top both the Billboard Hot 100 and country radio charts with “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”
To celebrate, he performed the song twice, and the crowd danced just as excitedly the second time.
The Japanese House clears the fog with ‘Sunshine,’ warm vocals
When Amber Bain, who performs as the Japanese House, took the stage at Lands End Stage, Golden Gate Park felt a bit warmer. She brought her charming English style to the performance, switching between acoustic and electric guitars.
With a backdrop of a blue sky and fluffy clouds, she contrasted the usual foggy weather of San Francisco. Bain played a series of emotional songs, including “Sad to Breathe” and “Morning Pages,” and made a heart shape with her hands to show her appreciation for the audience.
Before ending her set with “Sunshine Baby,” she expressed her love for the festival and San Francisco, saying, “I hope to play here again. I love it.”
Tyla’s sultry R&B set stuns, but leaves fans wanting more
Tyla, the South African artist, started her set more than 30 minutes late at Outside Lands, which disappointed fans who were excited for her debut performance.
She was supposed to begin at 6:05 p.m. on August 9, but she didn’t hit the stage until 6:37 p.m. and ended her set after just 20 minutes. Many people left while waiting, heading to see other acts like Jungle and Reneé Rapp.
When Tyla finally performed, she delivered a mix of pop-R&B hits like “Safer,” “Truth or Dare,” and “Water” in front of a giant tiger sculpture. Fans enjoyed her signature “Bacardi” dance moves, but the performance felt too short.
Tyla didn’t mention her lateness during the set. Instead, she joked about the chilly weather and not shaving her armpits. Unfortunately for fans, this might be one of the few chances to see her in the Bay Area soon, as she canceled her North American tour dates, including a show in San Francisco.
Tyla’s performance at Outside Lands was her second U.S. festival appearance this year, after Lollapalooza in Chicago. She had to cancel her Coachella appearance earlier due to an injury.
Baruti Armstrong, a Bay Area resident who wanted to see both Tyla and Jungle, was frustrated by the delay. “This is great,” he said when Tyla started her set. “I just wish it had started 30 minutes earlier.”
Reneé Rapp spices up the stage with boisterous attitude and candid asides
The Broadway singer-turned-pop star brought a lot of energy to the Twin Peaks Stage, jumping around and getting the crowd excited with her biggest hits.
She teased the audience with, “San Francisco, pick your enemy,” before diving into her intense song “Poison Poison,” which is about a bad breakup.
Rapp played a mix of upbeat tracks, like “Not My Fault” from her “Mean Girls” single and “Talk Too Much” from her 2022 album “Snow Angel.” She also included powerful ballads like “In the Kitchen” and “The Wedding Song” to show off her strong vocals.
Wearing baggy jeans and an oversized T-shirt, she radiated confidence and encouraged fans to keep up with her energy. “If you’re cold, you’re not jumping enough,” she told the crowd.
Kevin Abstract embraces nostalgia with callback to early career
The former Brockhampton frontman impressed with his captivating performance at Sutro Stage. Spinning around the stage, Abstract played some old favorites from his second album, “American Boyfriend,” including the title track and a remix of “Empty” with Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor.”
Midway through, he brought two fans onstage to help energize the crowd and performed a medley of Brockhampton hits like “Gummy” and “Star.” He also checked in with the audience to make sure everyone was doing well.
At times, he jumped into the crowd, singing some songs while leaning over a barrier and letting fans sing along with him, especially on his hit “Georgia” from his 2019 album “Arizona Baby.”
Daniel Caesar soothes crowd with mesmerizing vocal
Daniel Caesar created a warm and emotional atmosphere at Sutro Stage with his soft R&B songs. At the start, he performed inside a box covered with sheer white fabric, which made his shadowy outline visible. Once the fabric was removed, he moved around the stage and sat at a white piano to play “Loose” from his 2017 album “Freudian.”
His smooth vocals and style attracted a large crowd, drawing many people away from the Killers’ show on the main stage.
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