San Francisco, potentially the most charming city in the West, is calling my name again. Why? Because Outside Lands is happening again at Golden Gate Park – this year from August 7-9. While Coachella may be most famous for its art installations and impressive line-ups and Bonnaroo is known for its all-night craziness and eclectic music, Outside Lands has them beat with its variety in non-music related offerings.
If you’re a foodie, check out the many “Taste of the Bay Area” restaurant partners that set up shop – or visit one of the many food trucks. “The Bay Area’s best food trucks are all here – no twitter stalking required” says the website. And they aren’t lying. And ladies: Choco Lands and Cheese Lands! Need I say more?
For the wine-lovers, Wine Lands will once again feature several amazing wineries. Personal favorites that I would not want to miss: Broc Cellars and The Prisoner Wine Co. But those are only two of 40 total wineries that will be represented at Wine Lands this year. And if wine isn’t your thing, check out Beer Lands, featuring more than 30 different breweries.
Outsider Art participants have not yet been announced, but are guaranteed to be impressive and inspiring as always. I’m hoping for some interactive pieces this year. Similarly, the comedy line-up for the Barbary and the entertainers at GastroMagic, which pairs cooking/cocktailing with performances, such as music, magic shows or limbo competitions, for example, still have not been announced.
All this, and I haven’t even gotten to the lineup yet. No wonder the festival quickly sold out again this year. This year’s headliners include Elton John, Mumford & Sons, The Black Keys, Kendrick Lamar, Wilco and many more. Here are my top ten picks for the weekend (in alphabetical order):
- Billy Idol: Or Billy f***ing Idol, as many like to call him, may be 59 years old, but he still rocks out just as hard as he did in the 80’s. And let’s be honest, we all danced to “Dancing With Myself” back in the days – maybe by ourselves, maybe with others. Billy Idol published his autobiography (also titled “Dancing With Myself”) last year. It’s surprisingly well written and intriguing. And if you had read it, you would definitely want to see this crazy, indestructible nut perform. It’s quite the miracle that he’s still alive.
- Chet Faker: If you’ve never felt bass vibrating through your entire body, all the way from your toes to your eyelashes, then go see Chet Faker. Not only does he bring the sexy looks, this one-man show demonstrates his incredible talent and love for dancey tunes.
- D’Angelo and the Vanguard: Well, I wasn’t too thrilled with the fact that he showed up an hour late for his set at Bonnaroo this year. So I got tired of waiting and found some other music instead. But D’Angelo knows how to play some sexy baby-making music. Careful, you may just get pregnant from listening to his new record. It’s that seductive.
- Elton John: Come on! He’s a classic. Don’t dare miss this set. I promise, he still knows how to bring it. Promise!
- First Aid Kit: These Swedish sisters do not disappoint with their angelic voices. Their country-inspired folk songs come from the heart, and you can tell by watching them on stage. They’re not afraid to tell humbling stories of inspiring moments in their career or to crack cheesy cheese jokes to help loosen the crowd.
- Mumford & Sons: I’ve heard that you either love their old stuff and hate the new record or that you love the new record and didn’t really care too much about their old stuff. I belong to the latter group. I cannot stop listening to Wilder Mind and Mumford & Sons played one of my favorite shows this year at Bonnaroo. What a cool band to see live at least once in your life.
- ODESZA: When it comes to EDM, this duo is the must-see act of 2015. Their latest album In Return is one sexy piece of music. The entire record feels like a perfect festival set. And the new tracks they’ll play for you will leave you aching for more. If I could, I would see ODESZA every Saturday night.
- Ryn Weaver: For a pop diva type experience, go check out this new artist, who only got her start last year. Her interesting pop tunes remind a bit of Lady Gaga meets Florence and the Machine and promise for a quite unique musical experience.
- Tame Impala: I was lucky enough to see these cats from Australia play at Coachella as well as at the Ryman here in Nashville this year. When it comes to psychedelic music, this band truly nails it, and they do it equally well in small, intimate venues as well as at festivals. But I must say, they are the perfect festival band. I hope that they get to play an evening slot, because their light show is half the experience.
- The Black Keys: They’re from Nashville and they play really cool rock ‘n roll. Dan Auerbach is a straight up genius, whether it comes to The Black Keys, his solo projects or his production undertakings. And Patrick Carney’s eccentricities just landed him on the top 100 list of best Instagram accounts by Rolling Stone Magazine. What a duo!
Outside Lands will end at 10:00 pm every night. But for those needing more, there will be plenty of after-parties and great late-night shows around town. I hope to see your smiling faces at the park again this year. Let’s hope for warm temperatures, lots of sunshine and minimal fog. But come prepared and dress in layers. Regardless, you know we will have the most fun.
