Aug 14, 2018
A record-setting year for Outside Lands is now in the books. From the unusual warm weather that graced us on Friday and Saturday, to the festival's first female headliner (Florence + the Machine), to all the new "lands" added made for one heck of a weekend. And we can't fail to mention the greatness of another female icon, Janet Jackson, who slayed the festivals final night with hit after hit.
Highlights of things you missed:
1. Jamie XX ending his pulsating set with his original remix of The XX "On Hold".
2. Florence + the Machine rallying the crowd to embrace their strangers shoulders for her hit collaboration with Calvin Harris, "Sweet Nothing". Also notable was her reminding everyone to live in the moment and refrain from their cell phones.
3. James Blake brought the cold weather back to the Bay on Sunday to accommodate his haunting, yet riveting set. There were a few times when Blake got up from behind the piano to take front and center, and oddly seemed out of place. We like James Blake behind the piano.
4. The Internet overcame some technical difficulties and triumphed with "Girl" to end their set.
5. Last, but not least, Janet Jackson powered through hits such as "That's The Way Love Goes," "Escapade," "All For You," "Together Again," and really the hit list goes on for an hour and a half. She also snuck off stage and managed to walk directly in front of the stage a few hundred feet to a small platform where she performed a few songs.
Aside from the main attraction of the artists themselves, Outside Lands offered many other "lands" that had something for everyone. The classic staples shined such as Wine Lands, Beer Lands, and Cheese Lands; however, it was perhaps some of the other new "lands" that piqued peoples interest. From Gastromagic, to The Barbary, to Feast in the Trees, and Grass Lands, these newly added offerings rounded out the full festival experience.