by Sean Reiter
OUTSIDE LANDS 2026 may have only spent a precious few moments in the sun, but Charli xcx brought enough heat and bright spotlight for a three-day sold-out crowd. Karl the Fog decided that he would be in full force through the entirety of the festival, only clearing for an oh so brief moment during the Sunday opening set from Death Cab from Cutie on the Sutro Stage. Other than that is was a chilly, humid weekend in Golden Gate Park – though it didn’t stop many of the crowd from dressing as though they were in the heat of Coachella.
CHARLI XCX – While the artist bill once again hovered around 100 artists crossing a large variety of genres, there was no denying that Charli’s presence was the most dominating. Fans in her merch flooded the festival grounds on all 3 days. A HUGE contingent of fans waited all day in the general admission section close to the stage and catwalk for her performance. And then she put a cherry on top of her stellar night 1 performance set on a 4 level, industrial cage background, by supercharging night 2 as she joined The Strokes for “Take It or Leave It”
DIE SPITZ – The Austin-based all female quartet combined power chords and growl vocals with the weekend’s most fun and engaging, personality-filled performance of the weekend. It was a set that could serve as a master class in how to connect with a huge audience. “Years ago, I wanted to come to Outside Lands so bad for Lana Del Rey,” vocalist Eleanor Livingston told the Sutro crowd. “I told myself someday, you will attend Outside Lands. Nope. I’m going to play it instead!” The ever-smiling and joyous Kate Halter – part bassist / part acrobat – was moved to tears as she stood looking out at the huge crowd in one of the festival’s prettiest spots.
WET LEG – Though they have only been around for 7 years, the English indie rockers have created a well-deserved reputation for great performances. Taking the gigantic Lands End stage a few hours before Charlie xcx, Wet Leg – fronted by singer Rhian Teasdale had the crowd engaged from the first notes. Teasdale’s frequent strolls down the catwalk ensured that the masses of camped out Charli fans rose from their cross-legged position on placeholding blanked to rock along with one of the best sets of the weekend.
SAWYER HILL – Sawyer Hill has earned his buzz with his debut album coming out this month and after opening for Yungblud’s tour of America last year, the Arkansas-native indie rocker has a truly unique sound and joyful stage presence. His set on the Panhandle Stage was one of many there that solidified Panhandle as a proving ground for artists destined for bigger things. Hill’s cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Blues” was terrific – but his original songs also brought the goods. He will return to The Independent on October 20.
AMBLE – Holy smokes are these guys going to be huge. Think a younger, slightly more rocking Mumford & Sons where all three of the string players up front sing! Back at The Fillmore on October 24.
EMPIRE OF THE SUN – OK…putting aside cultural appropriation…BUT what an original performance these Aussies put on. There is no one else out there like their hybrid guitar-driven dance music kabuki act.
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE – Not only did Death Cab agree to bookend the final day with the Hangover slot opening Sunday on Sutro, but vocalist Ben Gibbard had to overcome day of health issues to perform the day/night doublheader. “I woke up with no singing voice this morning and because of the amazing medical attention here at OSL, I’m doing my fu@#ing best for you guys today…I feel like I want to fight 100 men right now.” To show the validity of his comment and demonstrate his newfound strength to the packed meadow, Gibbard effortlessly raised his guitar high over his head at the end of “Soul Meets Body”
THE STROKES – The Strokes won my Neil Young Award for a fantastic set that was a photographer’s nightmare – blasting deeply colored backlight that virtually eliminated views of their faces. Still, they delivered a set that deftly blended od and new (their new album “Reality Awaits” recently came out) and held nothing back. And of course, they welcomed Charli xcx for “Take It or Leave It”. As Julian Casablancas said,“We’ve got a special guest…a superstar… We had a great battle. You have defeated us in album sales. You’re new queen of everything….Charli xcx!”
OTHER STANDOUT PERFORMACES
DANI SATIN AND ALWAYS HALLWAYS – Bay Area faves started day 1 on the Panhandle Stage with absolute joy. It was my first-time catching them and their performance was a fun thrill that really set a great tone for the day.
BAD NERVES – If you were in the mood for a circle pit, Sutro Stage was your home all weekend and Bad Nerves brought a punks on pogo sticks experience to the meadow.
SIERRA FERRELL – Ferrell is fearless in her costuming and music. Leave it to her to turn Sutro into her personal circus setting with an “only Sierra would do this” outfit. She will be back at Shoreline on October 8 with Mumford & Sons – what will she wear??
MAGNUS FERRELL – No relation to Sierra, but the son of the Anchorman himself, Magnus Ferrell lit up the Twin Peaks stage early Sunday. Magnus drew a large crowd – despite going up against the early day set of Death Cab for Cutie. I will fess up that I headed over after a few Death Cabs in the hopes that just maybe we could get a shot of his famous father taking the stage in a half shirt and wailing on a cowbell. But, Magnus was full of positive energy and talent and I ended up staying for the rest of his set (a rarity when hustling from stage to stage to cover multiple acts.
LEON BRIDGES – Sunday’s surprise set closing the Duboce Triangle stage remained a well-held secret way into the final day, but that didn’t stop the last-minute crowd at the small stage in the trees from swelling to rival many of the other stages.
RED LEATHER – I was curious at the mysterious guitarist-singer wearing a lampshade like hat and went over to check him out. What I found was a super-talented and engaging performer who connected with an audience – many of whom were wearing similar hats. After his set, he led a parade of his fans through Outside Lands in a brilliant awareness move. He will be back at The Independent on September 24.
TYCHO – Saturday’s beans were spilled a bit early so that the crowd was aware of Tycho’s early DJ set at the small Duboce Triangle Stage and he delivered an extended set with a smile that showed his joy of playing to a daytime crowd he could see and watch grow as he went along.
THE SCENE – Karl’s presence throughout couldn’t throw a blanket over the enthusiasm and joy of the summer crowd. Perhaps the lack of sun drain actually kept the energy higher. I know it didn’t make my Conflake-crusted Korean Corn Dog any less delightful (ok…Corn Dogs). The temperature barely reached 70 and the nights were chilly and breezy, but it was Golden Gate Park and one of the world’s most scenic music festivals!
