We’re just over halfway through the weekend. Outside Lands is going by so quickly this year and it was another beautiful and refreshing day. We have our next round of top performers of the weekend, this being for day two!
And drumroll please for the next top five performances…
1). Kaleena Zanders
Armed with supernova vocal prowess and an explosive stage presence, Kaleena Zanders is one of the fastest emerging stars in music. Earning comparisons to ’90s House vocalists like CeCe Peniston and Robin S — and even Whitney Houston — Zanders existence brings the genre back to its queer, Black origins giving passage to those who are sometimes unseen. Her songs usually pack a punch with social messages and upbeat music.
One of the sets we were most looking forward to for the weekend was Kaleena. Not only are her performances energetic but uplifting, and her live vocals were on full display. Her presence was infectious and we were eager for more of her positive energy as she encouraged the audience and worked the crowd effortlessly.
“You are going to get through this,” she said pointedly. “We are all going to get through this…” She then shared recent release, “Find My Joy,” which shared a similar energy to her sentiment.
2). FLETCHER
We knew we were in for a treat when we realized we’d be catching FLETCHER during part of her world tour. She’s a fast-rising cultural force, and we are SO here for it!
We were particularly impressed not just by her vocals and live band on stage who shredded the guitar beautifully, but her statements between tracks.
I’ve been going through a wave of emotions in my life recently, and I was kind of scared to get on stage today, but I want to show up as exactly as I am and who I am so…
I wanted to remind each of you in this space that whatever you’re dealing with right now and whatever it is you’re going through, all of you is welcome in the moment. You are so loved, and you are more than enough.
3). Grace Jones
It was an experimental rule breaking New York time when writers became artists, artists became filmmakers, actors became dancers and poets became musicians. Prowling at the center of it all, Grace Jones became Grace Jones, time and time again. Grace Jones as singer, actress, author, traveller, artist and revolutionist has been a shape-shifting trouble-making meta-presence in the entertainment universe since her emergence as a model in New York City and Paris in the early 1970s.
This sentiment could be never more true than the moment the legendary artist joined the stage… more like, floated? A long, stories-long gown trained around her as she descended down to the stage from a harness, singing effortlessly all along. The set was followed by a wave of theatrics, of new props and accessories during each song, and even a moment where she jumped off the stage to high five the crowd all while sitting on the shoulders of a lucky security guard.
Let’s just say that we were lucky, too, to witness such a legendary woman on the stage. To see the grace and the effortless beauty of this talented being.
5). Sabrina Carpenter
We had the lucky privilege of seeing headliner, Sabrina Carpenter, last year… both on the festival stage and on her “emails i can’t send” tour. This year, she’s reached mainstream success with the release of “Espresso” and “Feather” and we can’t be more excited for her!
See our performance review from last year below:
As far as her performance for this year’s Outside Lands goes, we were stunned yet again by her practiced vocal performance and effortless poise. With each festival stage seeming to feature a different set, we were impressed by the perfection of the choreography and the ease that the showmanship seemed to bring for Sabrina. Her vocals were impeccable from every angle, and she surely ramped up her performance with a glamorous look and feel.
If we can’t catch you this year, no worries! Tune into their livestream. Stay tuned for more news on Outside Lands!
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