The Outside Lands newsletter
From sun-soaked sets, weddings, and online streams: the highs and lows of San Francisco's biggest music festival.
What an amazing weekend — one we spent getting you every bit of reporting out of Outside Lands, San Francisco’s largest music festival. The Bold Italic presents you 7 stories describing our daily experiences and fashion takes, along with food reviews and weddings. Outside Lands delivered like Dominoes.
Chappell Roan stole the show at Outside Lands 2024 — because of course
The Pink Pony Club stormed the polo field Sunday afternoon for the most highly anticipated Outside Lands performance I have personally ever witnessed. Packed in like pink sardines and ready to dance, I braved the crowd to get the full experience.
Outside Lands made many correct decisions when they signed on Chappell Roan this year: They put her on the main stage, placed her in the late afternoon, and promoted the hell out of her around the festival. All weekend long you couldn’t miss the signs of her, people wearing her merch, people talking about seeing her, people online begging for Sunday tickets.
Read the latest by T. Von D.
When ‘I do’ meets Outside Lands: A festival wedding in Golden Gate Park
Amid the towering eucalyptus trees of Golden Gate Park, Amber Carroll Tyrell and Josh Mayer tied the knot Saturday — but not in a quiet ceremony. They married at Outside Lands, San Francisco’s largest annual music festival.
This year marks the first time Outside Lands has introduced the “City Hall” experience, where couples can legally tie the knot in the middle of the festivities. The offering commemorates the 20th anniversary of San Francisco’s “Winter of Love,” a landmark moment when the city began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Read the latest by Courtney Muro
The Killers set a high bar on day one of Outside Lands
The Killers didn’t just take the stage Friday night — they claimed it, turning the foggy San Francisco evening into a roaring, unforgettable spectacle at Outside Lands. As the temperature dropped, Brandon Flowers and his bandmates cranked up the intensity, delivering a set that had the crowd belting out every lyric, whether they were longtime fans or newcomers.
This was just one performance that kept the audience on their toes, whether you were drawn to the layered sounds of The Last Dinner Party or the raw energy of San Francisco’s own Underscores. Each stage had its own rhythm, with acts like The Japanese House offering a mellow counterbalance to the more intense sets from Jungle.
This was Outside Lands Day 1 — reviewed by T. Von D.
Festival fashion at Outside Lands 2024: ‘I woke up like this’
Long skirts, big jeans, and Crocs — opening day at Outside Lands this year was a masterclass in ‘I woke up like this’ fashion. If you thought festival style was all about standing out, OSL 2024 showed that sometimes, it’s about blending practicality with just a hint of chaos.
As the day wore on, some layers peeled off, revealing everything from braless camis to mismatched prints. This isn’t the sun-soaked glamour of Coachella; It’s the foggy grind of San Francisco, where style meets survival.
Read the latest by Courtney Muro, T. Von D., and Saul Sugarman
How The Postal Service turned Outside Lands into a nostalgia-fueled sob fest
While The Postal Service drew a smaller, more nostalgic crowd of older Millennials and Gen Xers at the Twin Peaks Stage, their performance was anything but small. They delivered a captivating and emotionally charged rendition of their 2003 album Give Up, a collaboration between Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard and musician Jimmy Tamborello. The album was famously pieced together by exchanging CD-Rs through the mail, a process that’s almost quaint in today’s digital age.
The MVP of Outside Lands on Saturday was the sun, which finally appeared in the early afternoon. You have never seen a crowd instantly energize like when the sun comes out in San Francisco. The shirts came off, the blankets were put away, and the party cranked up to an 11.
This was Outside Lands Day 2 — reviewed by T. Von D.
My best time at Outside Lands was streaming it from bed
Let’s be real: The fear of missing out is powerful, but so is the smell of very used porta potties and standing in long lines for basically anything. I’ve had some good times at Outside Lands with friends and lovers, but never did I expect my favorite viewing would be as a crowd-hating shut-in.
No crowds, no chaos — just music and my Twitch chat. TBI reporters spent a lot of time onsite at Outside Lands while I edited from home.
Read the latest by Saul Sugarman
From the stage to the plate: A foodie’s journey at Outside Lands
If you’re like me and want to try everything but not poop your brains out, this year’s Bites of the Bay had the best opportunity. This pilot program cost $20 and allowed attendees to sample a pre-determined bite-sized dish from the 70 participating restaurants. I’m particularly jazzed about this because I’m usually full after a normal-sized plate, but I didn’t come all the way to OSL to eat one dish. I came here to conquer, one bite at a time.
Read the latest by Courtney Muro
What we’re doing this week
San Francisco's Pizza, Bagel & Beer Festival is set to take over North Beach on August 17, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Hosted by the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club Foundation and headlined by legendary pizzaiolo Tony Gemignani, the event promises a carb-loaded celebration featuring over 30 pizzerias, six bagelries, and 20 breweries.
Attendees can enjoy unlimited tastings from local favorites and out-of-town guests, with proceeds benefiting local causes like Slice Out Hunger and the Salesian Boys & Girls Club. With a lively atmosphere and plenty of gourmet options, this festival is a must-visit for any pizza and beer enthusiast.
WHEN: August 17, 2024 from noon to 4 p.m.
WHERE: San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, 1630 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA
What’s on our mind
We keep content mostly fun and light at The Bold Italic, but the future of the Bay Area interests us, too. Here’s what we are thinking about in local news. Brought to you by GrowSF.
Bay Area athletes shine at 2024 Paris Olympics
Bay Area native Amit Elor won a gold medal in women’s freestyle wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympics, cementing her place as a dominant force in international wrestling. The Walnut Creek athlete continues her undefeated streak, showcasing exceptional skill and strength.
Elor isn’t the only Bay Area athlete making waves in Paris. Camryn Rogers, a UC Berkeley graduate, competed in hammer throw for Team Canada, while Lafayette’s Daniela Moroz took on kiteboarding in its Olympic debut. Stanford is bringing their A-game, with swimmer Torri Huske clenching three gold medals, Stanford graduate Katie Ledecky absolutely dominating in the pool, Asher Hong and Brody Malone helping the men’s gymnastics team to secure bronze, Vivian Kong taking gold in women’s epee, Fiona O’Keeffe from Stanford ran in the marathon, and rowers Ben Davison and Sorin Koszyk represented Oakland in rowing.
The Bold Italic publishes first-person stories on topics that are on the brains and lips of San Franciscans. We’re a hub for conversations to be heard and discussed, and we celebrate all that’s great about living in San Francisco and the Bay Area. We hope our continuing conversation will get you thinking, talking, and inspiring you to share your opinions with us on living in San Francisco.
You can help us celebrate our home by making a tax-deductible donation through our Flipcause page. We can also take stock, and Donor Advised Fund donations. We are partnered with Independent Arts & Media, a 501(c)(3).
The Bold Italic is brought to you by GrowSF and edited by Saul Sugarman. Send us a pitch, a question, comment, or advertise with us: info@thebolditalic.com