With two-thirds of Outside Lands Music Festival behind us, here’s a look at some of the highlights, thus far.
The Walkmen at Sutro Stage (Friday)
The Walkmen came out with straight-ahead indie rock and did a fine job of warming up the crowd before more high-profile performances from Beck and Neil Young arrived.
Big Boi at Twin Peaks Stage (Saturday)
The big question Saturday: After failing to performer last year and keeping the crowd waiting for over an hour, would Big Boi show up for his scheduled set? A huge crowd took the gamble and it paid off with classic Outkast tunes, new music from Big Boi and cuts from his excellent 2010 album Sir Lucious Left Foot.
Alabama Shakes at Lindley Sutro Stage (Saturday)
The Sutro Stage was overwhelmed by people trying to make it to see Alabama Shakes. Look out for much more from this young band.
Antibalas at Panhandle Stage (Saturday)
Antibalas brought some warmth to the fog-chilled Panhandle Stage with a Fela-style dance party.
Die Antwoord at Twin Peaks Stage (Friday)
The Twin Peaks stage was the place to be for fans more interested in bass and beats than guitar solos. Die Antwoord set the party off early on Friday.
MSTRKRFT at Twin Peaks Stage (Friday)
The crowd went nuts for Toronto-based production duo MSTRKRFT.
Metallica at Polo Fields Stage (Saturday)
You could tell Metallicathoroughly enjoyed its hometown headlining slot, and they didn’t hold back for the festival audience. The set list touched on everything from “Seek & Destroy” off the band’s first album Kill ‘Em All to mainstream hits like “Enter Sandman” and more recent tracks.
The Food
With such a solid music lineup this year, it’s easy to overlook the food options available at the festival. The list of vendors almost seems excessive with most of the players in SF’s food scene offering something—from Michael Mina to chicken and waffles from Farmer Brown’s Little Skillet (pictured above).