Outside Lands: Friday’s Music Review & Playlist!

We had the pleasure of attending Friday’s festivities at Outside Lands. Here’s what we thought… and we added a pretty excellent playlist of the performing bands too.

If there is one thing I learned by attending a day of Outside Lands, it’s that I need more Outside Lands! One day was truly not enough. But more on that tomorrow! As for Friday, however, we squeezed in as much as we could and saw some really outstanding acts. Some 70,000 people came out to the park that day to boogie to the likes of Leon Bridges, First Aid Kit, St. Vincent, RL Grime, Wilco, George Ezra, Mumford & Sons and more. Keep scrolling to read about our day and check out the official Free People Outside Lands Spotify playlist with all the performing acts and some quintessential San Francisco songs layered in throughout.

We began our day (after some massive traffic and parking challenges, I know, we should have known) with St. Vincent. It was the perfect way to start the day in the park — all of my stresses were lifted and I was transfixed on her performance. Always edgy and meticulously styled, front woman Annie Clark consistently delivers in her live performances — from her robotic dance moves to her tiny side shuffle and massive guitar sounds layered over existential beats. This is the third time I’ve seen her live and each time I grow more mesmerized. The woman can shred guitar, sing, and move like no one else in the business.  I’m into it… always.

Wilco was another delight in the late afternoon as the breeze picked up and the light turned a golden yellow. I watched the show from afar, sitting in the grass, noticing the hundreds of people basking in the setting sun and musical goodness. It seemed like the only way to watch this roots-rock band — relaxed and reflective.

Over on the other side of the park, DJ R.L Grime was making the dance crowd at the Twin Peaks stage do just that: get down, rock n roll, bounce, DANCE. The entire crowd was eating out of his hand, waiting for him to change up the beat. At one point, the entire sea of people had their hands up in the air and it looked like tiny ripples in the ocean, or an army of RL Grime fans. Either way, it was truly fascinating.

Mumford & Sons: Who would have thought I would be so into this band and their new record? The only time I have seen them (kind of) live was at the Telluride Blue Grass Festival when my friend and I couldn’t get in. After many failed attempts to sweet talk our way to free tickets, we ended up sitting in the rain, covered only by the small wooden roof of a bus stop and just simply listened. Our feet were soaked, our hair a mess, but even then, the sound bouncing off the mountain walls and with the stage over 500 yards away, the band sounded unbelievable. Now, five years later, I was lucky enough to hear their set under the gorgeous San Francisco sky and from only 50 yards away.

The band brought depth to their show, balancing old favorites with new anthem-rock songs off of their new album, Wilder Mind. They even threw in a stripped down acoustic song for an almost completely quiet and engaged crowd. Frontman and vocalist, Marcus Mumford, put on quite a show — he jumped off-stage and sang amongst the people, and also sang a song while playing drums. It was definitely a ride of a show and even the band couldn’t disagree, “I think this is one of the best festivals we’ve played — ever,” stated Marcus Mumford.

Who else was at Outside Lands this weekend? I’d love to hear how the rest of the weekend played out! Who were your favorite acts? And as always, please let me know what songs you want me to add to the playlist — I’ll be sure to add them!

Follow fp joanna on Instagram.