The craziest thing about this year’s Outside Lands poster is that, when it was first printed, Shaboozey was on the 4th line from the bottom. Obviously, having a worldwide #1 hit means that he’s doing just fine; here are 10 MORE acts from the bottom half of the poster for you to watch out for.
The full lineup is here, the schedule is here so you can start plotting your weekend, and limited tickets are still available:
Elyanna
First of all, one of the mega fests has a Palestinian pop musician playing this year. That alone is reason to be excited about Elyanna’s booking. But Elyanna’s blend of Arabic and Latin Pop is a triumph of joy amidst the pain and rubble, creating something urgent that I can’t wait to experience in person.
Odie Leigh
I kinda dig any artist that will incorporate fandom in their lyrics. But this fuzzy piece of emotional strength? Fuck man. This song has both rips and hits, and I am all the way in on Odie Leigh.
Wisp
It’s a little crazy to me that teenagers LOVE shoegaze. It’s even crazier to me hearing how spot on the shoegaze that’s coming out of young people is. Maybe darkness is overwhelming your voice, which rings a little TOO true to young people. Either way, SF’s very own Wisp is bringing her My Bloody Valentine meets Deftones heavy swirls to Golden Gate Park, ready to mix with Karl The Fog in a beautiful sonic melange.
CMAT
I’ve been trying to find the words to describe CMAT for months. I still can’t quite figure out HOW to describe her. There’s country. There’s charisma. There’s comedy. There’s hooks. There’s *something* else, and it’s great. She’s great. But my writer’s block with describing her is ever so frustrating because I WANT to write about her and just don’t know how.
CIMAFUNK
I mean, it’s hot and energetic Afro-Cuban jazz. No weird electronic elements. No weird concessions to indie rock. It’s just fun, organic dance music, designed to help you work up a sweat.
Lael Neale
It’s not often that you trip over something so brilliantly lofi as Lael Naele when scouring the lineups of the megafests. Lael Naele would have fit pretty easily on the roster of legendary dreampop indie Slumberland Records alongside Go Sailor and The Aislers Set.
Ogi
Ogi has the perfect classic jazz voice combined with the ability to turn a phrase that would both Kendrick and Eminem. This is some brilliant stuff, both strong and bouncy, and it is definitely going to feel good to hear in the park.
Lady Wray
I’m always down for a reinvention. Nicole Wray was found by the great Missy Elliott, writing and recording a slew of hits in the late 90s and early 00s, including this thumper that was a consistent feature of my Discman way back when. Wray has moved on from the spaceage hip hop of the early decade, changed her nom de plume to Lady Wray, and moved onto organic, classic soul.
billy woods
billy woods has been getting tossed around between Spinning Platters writers for a while now. He’s pretty much EXACTLY what I want out of a rapper- clear delivery where the beats are interesting, but don’t distract from the lyrics, and the lyrics offer up a perspective that I’ve never considered before. woods has it, and I couldn’t be more excited about being in his presence.
The Lemon Twigs
When I first heard The Lemon Twigs, I didn’t believe it was the first time. They are utterly timeless. They are a blissful, psychedelic daydream—like if Brian Wilson did a record with Air.
