Love Spells performing at August Hall in San Francisco, CA on October 12, 2026. All photos taken by Evan Twiford.
Portola Music Festival | San Francisco
There’s a lot to highlight about this year’s Portola Music Festival, having outdone itself for the fifth year in a row. Portola weekend brought the best kind of every flavor for any kind of dance music fan — a 100% failproof ticket to what might have been your favorite show of the year. Whether you bought the ticket and want to relive your favorite sets or you missed one of San Francisco’s most coveted weekends of the year, here are some of our big highlights from Portola 2026:
WHAT WAS DONE RIGHT
There was a lot of things done right with the festival this year. Firstly, the attitude and expression of the audience didn’t wither through the weekend as we say eccentric outfits and dance moves full of expression at every corner despite the increasingly colder weather. But it all really started right at the entrance. Envision this: right after having entered festival grounds, a contagious rhythm echoes from the Warehouse stage, where heavy-impact production and sound is amplified in the hands of non-stop, back-to-back DJs. The 225,000 square foot space, able to hold up to 18,000 guests at once, left a safe, spacious option for guests to look forward to and an emphatic DJ set to attend. The stage featured some amazing sets from Tiesto, Four Tet, and Prospa throughout the weekend. Notably, festival-goers were abundantly eager to attend the returning Despacio tent, a nonstop 7-hour vinyl set where attendees could “trip the light” — so to speak — under a hypnotizing disco ball light production and an analog sound system made by James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) and brothers David and Stephen Dewaele (Soulwax). Despacio alone may have garnered a lengthy line, but those in attendance said it was well worth the wait.
SATURDAY
To kick off Portola weekend on Saturday, Six Sex brought us a provocative femme-erotic latin techno-pop set, getting people moving and dialed in early on the intimate Ship Tent stage. Hometown hero of production, DJ Shadow was able to recover some of his original floppy disks to bring the 30th anniversary celebration of Endtroducing..... live to Portola. Another highly anticipated act among Saturday’s DJ duos, Fcukers, compounded the palpable energy among the crowd at the Pier stage before some veteran acts later on, moving along with the crowd to hits from their recently released album like “Play Me” and “Lonely.” Reeling it back for old time’s sake, Tove Lo gave crowds a throwback with some of her classics like “Habits (Stay High)” and “Talking Body.” Pop-veteran and queen of reinvention Robyn led some powerful sing-alongs with hits like “Dancing On My Own” and “With Every Heartbeat.” While day one was filled with plenty of fan-favorites, major anticipation for star-studded power duo Dog Blood had only been building throughout the evening — and they didn’t disappoint. Nine years after their last major live performance, EDM legends Skrillex and Boys Noize reunited on San Francisco’s Pier 80 to bring to Portola a feverish high-octane performance to end the night on the highest note — which includes (but is not limited to) dynamic pyrotechnics and light production to boggle the mind.
SUNDAY
It only gets better — Sunday’s lineup was equally electrifying, only contributing to the festival’s non-stop high energy renown. April Harper Grey made a big hometown appearance in the bay as underscores, having recently gained a larger online following with instant hit “The Peace” and also as an opener for Charli xcx on her Music, Fashion, Film Tour. Grey was also brought out as a guest alongside MGNA Crrrta during a set by Ninajirachi, who will be back in San Francisco come November after a small taste of the fun at Portola. As the evening of the second day began to show its truer colors, so too did internet sensation and longtime pop-princess Zara Larsson on the final festival show of her Midnight Sun Tour — that is, plenty of colors. Whether a new or old fan of the singer, or simply a curious stranger, Larsson’s Portola set had a little bit of something in it for everyone. A Zara Larsson show brings to the table a well choreographed production, a stellar wardrobe, and unmatched live vocals on some of the singer’s best known hits. Over the course of her tour, Larsson has managed to sustain a cult-following among pop fans and those with a knack for movement and vision (after all, the singer herself has a knack for both). For the final act of the Crane stage, Parcels took advantage with a beautifully done set including upbeat instrumentals that just made your worries wash away as each song led to another. And just as one may believe that day two’s lineup couldn’t get any better, the evening continued on a high with a headline set by Swedish House Mafia. The legendary Swedish trio brought the customary spark that seemed like all Portola goers were waiting for. You couldn’t helped but be awed and swayed by the set production, classic discography, and engagement by the group as the final coup de grâce for Portola.
When the final beats settled out over Pier 80, one thing was for sure: not a single inch of the festival was untouched by rhythm. Every corner of Portola thoroughly blanketed by sound, proving Portola’s identity that thrives in its curation from when the gates open to the very last encore. Whether you got caught up in the analog warmth of Despacio, singing along under the mainstage lights, or running to your next set through the cold, the festive weekend delivered on all of its promises. Portola being now five years in, they aren’t just maintaining their status as a staple on Pier 80, but a constant redefinition of what a premier dance festival can feel like. We were left with nothing but the feeling of exhausted fun and eagerly counting down the days till we get to do it all over again.
Words and photos by Evan Twiford
Slayr | San Francisco
Slayr performing at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, CA on August 1, 2026. All photos taken by Evan Twiford.
Outside Lands | San Francisco
On August 7th - 9th, Outside Lands took over foggy Golden Gate Park. With over 75,000 attendees, countless food and brand activations, and a lineup one could only dream of, the music industry’s best-kept secret took the stage. Hailing some of the biggest acts like Charli XCX, The Strokes, Turnstile, and The xx, it truly was a weekend to remember. With perfect festival weather, avoiding the usual heat and humidity of a festival, it truly was any music lover's dream. I caught as many sets as I could during my three-day stint in San Francisco and was blown away every time.
I started my weekend out with Geese at the Sutro Stage. Geese brought a piece of NYC to the bay with an electrifying performance that immediately enamored the crowd. They brought a stage presence that perfectly exemplified why they are one of the best live acts around.
Next up, Turnstile took the Sutro stage, getting fans moving immediately. Mosh pits opened for as far as the eye could see, and the band was having just as much fun as the crowd. Lead singer Brendan Yates was never in the same place at once, keeping the crowd equally excited the whole time.
On day two, the lineup was far more daunting with countless heartbreaking set conflicts, but equally as many memorable performances. I started my day on the main stage (Lands End) to catch Haute & Freddy. This was an act that was new to me but some of the most fun I had in the park all weekend. Their theatrical performance, complete with costume and fabulous theming, left nothing to be desired; they got Saturday off and were ready to go for the rest of the day!
Next to take the Lands End stage was Audrey Hobert. She was one of the acts on the lineup that was very heavily anticipated for me, and for all the right reasons. She brought the fun, the props, and everything someone would hope for in a music festival set. There was a punchiness to her set that was so uniquely hers and commanded the crowd.
After Audrey’s set, it truly was a family affair as I hiked over to Twin Peaks to see her brother Malcolm Todd’s set after catching the tail end of Laszewo, whose EDM set could enamor even the most amateur EDM listeners like myself. Once Malcolm went on, it became clear that star power runs in the family, with a fanbase equally as strong. For as far as the eye could see, it was clear that fans were a part of something much larger than themselves as fans sang the lyrics to every single word in a beautiful synchronicity that only live music can provide. After Todd’s electrifying set, Dijon was next to conquer the stage. Providing a truly unique live performance with completely new live versions of each of his songs from his latest album Baby and his 2021 masterpiece Absolutely.
Finally, on day three, a tired crowd soldiered on for what could be the most exciting day yet. I began my day catching the tail end of Sports’ set at Lands End, which was nothing short of vibrant and fun, which is the perfect way to begin a 1:00 set. Balu Brigada took the stage next with their biggest festival crowd yet. They opened their set with “Golden Gate Girl” in the perfect location to do so. They had one of the largest early afternoon sets I’d seen all weekend.
Later on, I made my way towards the Sutro stage for some The Temper Trap madness. Breaking their live music hiatus, the band had a dedicated crowd more than excited to see the band live again.
Finally, Not For Radio closed out my weekend on the Sutro stage with one of the most beautiful sets of my life. They had the most ethereal set dressing in my life with an equally beautiful set. One thing María Zardoya knows how to do is immerse fans in the music, which she perfectly did with her Outside Lands set. She told a beautiful story about the death of a swan throughout her set, while playing fan favorites without. Truly a magical way to end the weekend, set to the beautiful landscape of Golden Gate Park.
Outside Lands is the festival to see, with a perfect curation of food, a wide variety of music, with everything from EDM, rock, and indie staples for everyone to enjoy. It truly is the festival of the summer!
Words and photos by JoAnn Snavely
Sabrina Claudio | San Francisco
Sabrina Claudio performing at The Fillmore in San Francisco, CA on March 13, 2026. All photos taken by Evan Twiford.
Outside Lands | San Francisco
A time was definitely had at Golden Gate Park over the weekend of August 8th - 10th during the highly anticipated San Francisco music festival, Outside Lands. Excited fans filled the area, eager to enjoy an unforgettable experience. This year’s festival featured a packed lineup and top-notch vendors serving some of the best food and drinks available. Lines of people swarmed the merchandise tents, particularly for the acclaimed clothing brand, Golf, created by headlining performer Tyler, The Creator. In front of the merch tent stood a large statue of “Big Poe,” a new persona introduced by the renowned artist to promote his recently released album, DON’T TAP THE GLASS, giving fans a glimpse of what to expect from his performance.
On Day 1, the crowd enjoyed amazing performances on the Land’s End stage from Mannequin Pussy, Thundercat, and Still Woozy, each bringing their own unique style and vibe. Grammy-winning artist Doechii dazzled the audience with an entertaining, heart-pounding theatrical performance that was truly unforgettable — her act alone could have easily closed the night. The evening concluded with an electrifying and sultry performance from the critically acclaimed Doja Cat, who rocked an 80s-inspired glam outfit reminiscent of Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul.
Day 2 featured exciting and high-energy performances from Bay Area native LaRussell and mega star Ludacris, who treated the crowd to his classic hits. UK sensation Bakar delivered a genre-bending performance, proudly singing into a microphone wrapped in the Palestinian flag. Gracie Abrams provided a heartfelt and introspective show that had her fans singing along passionately. The night was capped off by none other than Tyler, The Creator, who moved and danced atop a large shipping container adorned with the words “DON’T TAP THE GLASS.” The crowd erupted in cheers and danced wildly as he performed standout songs from his discography.
On Day 3, the Land’s End crowd was energized as the colorful and critically acclaimed bands, Bleachers and Glass Animals, took the stage. Each performance radiated energy, especially when Glass Animals’ lead singer, Dave Bayley, ventured into the audience to sing some of his lyrics. The night concluded with a soulful, folk-inspired, and haunting performance by the renowned artist Hozier, sending chills through the crowd as they were entranced by him and his band.
All in all, Outside Lands has a history of delivering great times and creating special moments for everyone attending, and this year was no different. By bringing together some of the top-charting artists of our generation and the best vendors in San Francisco, Outside Lands ensured that audiences enjoyed a weekend they would never forget.
Words and photos by William Smith
Simple Plan | San Francisco
Simple Plan performing at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, CA on August 12, 2025. All photos taken by Connor Dixon.
The Red Clay Strays | San Francisco
The Red Clay Strays performing at The Warfield in San Francisco, CA on July 24, 2025. All photos taken by Connor Dixon.
Teezo Touchdown | San Francisco
Teezo Touchdown performing at The Independent in San Francisco, CA on May 21, 2024. All photos taken by Sabrina Poei.
Alkaline Trio | San Francisco
Alkaline Trio (with support from Drug Church and Worriers) performing at The Masonic in San Francisco, CA on March 27, 2024. All photos taken by Matthew Medina.
NIKI | San Francisco
NIKI (with support from Paravi) performing at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, CA on September 14, 2022. All photos taken by Brandon Lu.
Outside Lands | San Francisco
Outside Lands featuring Ashe, Hiatus Kaiyote, Washed Out, Dayglow, Purple Disco Machine, The Marías, Oliver Tree, SZA, Salem Ilese, MICHELLE, Benny Sings, Sam Fender, Local Natives, Mac DeMarco, Jack Harlow, Kali Uchis, Dominic Fike, Blu DeTiger, Weezer, and Post Malone in San Francisco, CA August 5 - 7, 2022. All photos taken by Amélie Stoddard.
Omar Apollo | San Francisco
Omar Apollo (with support from Deb Never) performing at The Warfield in San Francisco, CA on April 13, 2022. All photos taken by Brandon Lu.
Jacob Collier | San Francisco
Jacob Collier performing at The Warfield in San Francisco, CA on April 9, 2022. All photos taken by Brandon Lu.
Portugal. The Man + alt-J | San Francisco
Portugal. The Man and alt-J performing at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, CA on April 1, 2022. All photos taken by Brandon Lu.
Dabin | San Francisco
Dabin (with support from Juelz) performing at The Warfield in San Francisco, CA on March 12, 2022. All photos taken by Brandon Lu.
Kyle Dion | San Francisco
Kyle Dion (with support from Kooze) performing at The Independent in San Francisco, CA on February 16, 2022. All photos taken by Brandon Lu.
Mac DeMarco | San Francisco
Mac DeMarco performing at The Warfield in San Francisco, CA on January 15, 2022. All photos taken by Brandon Lu.
Ultra Q | San Francisco
Ultra Q performing at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, CA on November 12, 2021. All photos taken by Brooke Ridener.
Pink Sweat$ | San Francisco
Pink Sweat$ (with support from Kirby) performing at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, CA on November 7, 2021. All photos taken by Brandon Lu.