Category: Features

Portola 2025: In Words and Pictures

Additional Reporting and Photos by Matthew Meyer and Dakin Hardwick

Portola has figured out how to live in the impossible: a perfect balance between a giant warehouse rave, an art-party fever dream, and a legacy showcase built around titans like The Chemical Brothers and LCD Soundsystem. The festival grounds themselves were half the trip, stages stretched across a working port, tucked between hulking cranes and an airplane-hangar-sized warehouse. One side of the grounds was dominated by a massive ship; the other opened out onto the Bay, where the breeze mercifully cut through the heat.

Scantily clad post-Burning Man pilgrims roamed like the playa had drifted into San Francisco, fur and neon armor still glowing. Unlike so many other festivals, Portola spared us the dreaded sound bleed; every stage claimed its own sonic territory without stepping on another’s toes. Continue reading “Portola 2025: In Words and Pictures”

Film Feature: MVFF48 Festival Preview #2

If it’s October, it must be Mill Valley. Yes, everyone’s favorite fall film fest opens tonight, Thursday, October 2nd. You can check out the full program here, and don’t despair if a screening is listed as “standby”: more tickets may be released before the screening date, and same-day wait list tickets most likely will be available. Check out the Box Office for more information. We already presented a sneak peak of three of of this year’s offerings, and below we highlight five more: four great features and an equally worthy documentary. See you at the Fest!

1.) Metallica Saved My Life
(United Kingdom, 2025. 99 min.)

Anyone looking for a sort “Behind the Music” exposé about Metallica would be better served by watching the 2004 documentary Metallica: Some Kind of Monster. That the band is still together 20+ years since that film is a testament to its staying power, which aligns with the angle this new doc takes. “Metallica is everybody” is the rallying cry of Swedish director Jonas Åkerlund’s new film, which Metallica’s PR team is no doubt swooning over. Despite its Metallica-can-do-no-wrong vibe, this documentary about the band’s devoted fans is infectious and disarming. Filled with stories of people from all walks of life and all across the globe who have found solace, connection, and joy in the band’s music and concerts, the picture paints a warm portrait of a Metallica family that embraces anyone who wants to love the band and its community. Particularly affecting interviews from a trans man in Austin and fans from Iraq, Botswana, and Ukraine are emotionally raw, and help keep the picture from sinking too deeply into hagiography. Metallica band members are also interviewed, and they come across gracious and sincere in their appreciation of their fans. Sure the film is terrific PR, but it’s also genuinely uplifting. 

Screenings (click here for tickets):
– Thurs., Oct. 9th, 6:00pm at CinéArts Sequoia, Mill Valley (at standby)
– Fri., Oct. 10th, 3:00pm at Smith Rafael Film Center

Continue reading “Film Feature: MVFF48 Festival Preview #2”

Film Feature: MVFF48 Festival Preview #1

The 48th Mill Valley Film Festival  (MVFF) will take place Oct. 2-12, with screenings at theaters across the North and East Bay.

For a full view of special awards, spotlights, and centerpiece films, check out the complete festival guide. Tickets can be purchased here. Below is a preview of the festival, featuring brief looks at three films:

1.) THE SECRET AGENT
(Brazil, France, Germany, Netherlands, 2025. 158 min.)

The Secret Agent is a blistering 1970s-styled political thriller as prescient today as the film could’ve been in the era in which the story takes place. In a tremendously powerful performance, Wagner Moura (Narcos; Civil War) plays an ex-professor in Brazil who is in hiding with other refugees from the country’s military dictatorship, with numerous authoritative officials after them. Director Kleber Mendonça Filho (Bacurau) soaks The Secret Agent in textural viscerality; the characters are drenched in sweat, the colorful costumes and immaculate set design pop off the screen, and the musical score infuses the slow-burn narrative with mystery and energy. 

Screenings (click here for tickets):
– Fri., Oct. 3rd, 6:00pm at CinéArts Sequoia
– Sun., Oct. 5th, 11:15am at Smith Rafael Film Center Continue reading “Film Feature: MVFF48 Festival Preview #1”

The Electronic Music Averse Guide To Portola Music Festival

For those who follow this site closely, I recently posted a podcast where I said, “I work all day on a laptop. I don’t want to dance to one at night, too.” It may seem a little odd to you, my loyal reader, that I am attending the Portola Music Festival this year. Not only am I attending, but I am deeply excited about this. Indeed, there is plenty of laptop action happening on this bill, and numerous websites are highlighting it. Tickets are available here. Full schedule here. See you September 20th-21st! 

This is who I’m excited about: Continue reading “The Electronic Music Averse Guide To Portola Music Festival”

Outside Lands 2025: 15 Instant Set Reviews

I’m no stranger to Outside Lands, having only missed two iterations of it since its debut in 2008 (2010 and 2021 for those keeping score). I’ve seen a lot of changes, and I admit that I miss a few things that have gone away, such as the Barbary tent and the craft vendors in the Polo Fields. But, in return, the addition of the Dolores’ stage, spotlighting SF’s rich legacy of LGBTQ culture and arts, as well as the gorgeous Duboce Triangle stage, has been a welcome addition. This year, in particular, felt like the “nicest” Outside Lands has ever been. People were kind and polite. Taller folks were letting shorter folks in. I lost my water bottle leaving a set, and a kind woman RAN AFTER ME TO GET IT BACK TO ME! I’ve never hugged more strangers, and it was all just so very lovely! Also, everywhere I went, I saw a young person with “Fuck Ice” written on their clothes, or a Palestinian flag, rainbows, “No Kings” attire, etc- For those believing the hype that Gen Z is all conservative and MAGA, that certainly wasn’t what was happening in the park this weekend. Truly, Outside Lands 2025 was a welcome respite from the real pain the world is feeling right now. 

Continue reading “Outside Lands 2025: 15 Instant Set Reviews”

Top 10 from the Bottom Half of the Outside Lands 2025 Poster

Outside Lands is THIS WEEKEND!!! This is always one of my favorite weekends, and it’s generally a great weekend for discovering your new favorites. And now it’s time for the 2025 edition of my “Top 10 from the Bottom Half” list, which I’ve spent actual months researching and listening, and these are my 10 favorites. And, in case you are keeping score, in 2022 Wet Leg and Faye Webster made my list. In 2019, I introduced you to The Marias. 2018 had Lizzo. 2017 had Khruangbin. 2016? Anderson .Paak. That’s not a bad track record… There is a LOT of good stuff happening this weekend, and the full schedule is out here. Limited tickets are available here, but don’t delay! The weather is gonna be the best of any festival in America, just like every year. Continue reading “Top 10 from the Bottom Half of the Outside Lands 2025 Poster”

How Did Molly Neuman Get Here?

Molly Neuman is a rock n roll legend. She is the drummer for Riot Grrl groundbreakers Bratmobile. She was also a member of The Peechees and The Frumpies. AND she helped run Lookout Records in the late 90s. AND managed The Donnas. AND was Vice President at early digital music distributor eMusic. This is only a small portion of her career.

She’s now President of CD Baby and hitting the road with Bratmobile this Summer: Continue reading “How Did Molly Neuman Get Here?”

OUTSIDE LANDS NIGHT SHOWS!!! HOORAY!!!

We are less than two months away from Outside Lands 2025! And fellow San Franciscans are currently enjoying classic Outside Lands weather (overcast and cool- sorry, THE REST OF THE USA. But, also, why not escape the heat and join us in the park in August?) One of the last big announcements for the big event dropped today- THE NIGHT SHOWS! Although enjoying music in the park is great, you also have an opportunity to see folks like Thundercat, Still Woozy, Midnight Generation, FCUKERS, Hope Tala, Luna Li, and more in intimate venues, starting late enough for you to get to after a great day in the park. 

Eager Beaver and Golden Gate Club ticket holders will once again have the first opportunity to purchase tickets, with presales running from Wednesday, June 25, at 10:00 a.m. PT to Thursday, June 26, at 11:59 p.m. PT. The festival ticket presale for ticket holders is Thursday, June 26, from 10 am PT to 11:59 p.m. PT. Any remaining tickets for Night Shows that are still available will go on sale to the public on Friday, June 27, at 10 am PT. Eager Beaver, Golden Gate Club, and festival ticket holders will receive an email with their respective presale codes. Details and ticket links here!

Full schedule below: 

Continue reading “OUTSIDE LANDS NIGHT SHOWS!!! HOORAY!!!”

OUTSIDE LANDS ANNOUNCES DOLORES STAGE!

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!! Outside Lands is continuing its mission of supporting and advocating for the local LGBTQ+ culture by letting locals curate the DOLORES stage, placed in a prime spot – at the end of the Polo Field, right in the middle of the festival. Friday is brought to you by Fake and Gay, Saturday is brought to you by the legendary Oasis Arts, and Sunday is brought to you by Polyglamorous. Limited tickets are still available to Outside Lands here. 

DOLORES’ LINEUP

FAKE and GAY @ Dolores’ – Friday

Fcukers (DJ Set)

Chase Icon (Live)

Memphy

Dangerous Rose

Adam Kraft

Beverly Chills

Just Another Bitch

Mama San

Hosted by Nicole Paige Brooks

OASIS ARTS @ Dolores’ – Saturday

PRINCESS feat. Tito Soto & Snaxx 

with DJ Bella Spreads

REPARATIONS feat. Nicki Jizz 

with Miss Toto

BALONEY & FRIENDS feat. D’Arcy Drollinger, Michael Phillis, and Rory Davis 

with DJ Subeaux 

AND MORE ! 

Polyglamorous @ Dolores’ – Sunday

Rebecca Black (DJ Set)

Father Figure

David Harness

Jen DM

Chelsea Starr

Mouthfeel

BEYA b2b Mark O’Brien

Drag by Vivvy and her cast of 1,000

 

OUTSIDE LANDS 2025: SINGLE DAY TICKETS! BECK WITH SYMPHONY ADDED!!!

Outside Lands has graced us with their single-day lineups today, for those who can’t do the whole thing and need to pick and choose their days! And, on top of that, they added Beck performing with a symphony to Friday night! We also learned what the whole deal with Vampire Weekend appearing twice means—Vampire Weekend will open and close on Saturday. Single-day tickets are on sale NOW to Chase cardholders here. For those who use *other* banks (you know who you are), you’re gonna have to wait until tomorrow at 10 am to grab your single-day tickets here. Or you can also still grab some 3-day passes, because, trust me, one day isn’t enough. 

Outside Lands 2025 Daily Lineup

*artists subject to change* 

Friday, August 8 

Doja Cat

John Summit

Beck with Symphony

Doechii

Still Woozy

Thundercat

MARINA

ROLE MODEL

ARMNHMR

Floating Points

Nico Moreno

Fujii Kaze

BUNT.

DJ Koze

Mark Ambor

Jessica Pratt

Mannequin Pussy

NOTION

Fcukers

Vansire

Destroy Boys

INJI

nimino

ATRIP

Midrift

Alexandra Savior

NewDad

Baalti

Alemeda

Avatari

Saturday, August 9 

Tyler, the Creator

Vampire Weekend

Gracie Abrams

Gesaffelstein

Ludacris

Wallows

Royel Otis

Claude VonStroke

Artemas

Bakar

flipturn

2hollis

Walker & Royce

Dombresky

LaRussell

Girl Math (VNSSA b2b NALA)

DJ Pee. Wee

Wasia Project

Klangphonics

Kate Bollinger

Sarah Kinsley

Matt Champion

Wunderhorse

Amelia Moore

Paco Versailles

Good Neighbours

The Army, The Navy

Bay Ledges

DJ Mandy

almost monday

Vincent Lima

Infinite Jess

Vampire Weekend

Sunday, August 10

Hozier

Anderson. Paak & the Free Nationals

Glass Animals

Jamie xx

Bleachers

Jorja Smith

Black Coffee

Sammy Virji

FINNEAS

BigXthaPlug

Levity

BLOND:ISH

Claptone

Rebecca Black

CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso

julie

Mayer Hawthorne

Big Freedia with the SF Gay Men’s Chorus 

Hope Tala

Luna Li

&friends

Naomi Sharon

Neal Francis

Lexa Gates

TxC

Orla Gartland

Arcy Drive

Nourished by Time

bLAck pARty

Midnight Generation

Alex Amen

Cassandra Coleman

BANKSIA