Filtering by Tag: Grace Ives

10 Acts to Get There Early For at Outside Lands 2026

August 04, 2026 / Rachel Zyzda

Outside Lands kicks off at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on Friday, August 7th. The lineup is stacked with fresh new acts as well as familiar favorites. If you’re unsure who to add to your schedule besides some of the main acts, ANCHR has you covered. We always think it’s worth showing up early—you never know when you’ll discover your next favorite band— but read on to hear who ANCHR recommends adding to your early timeslots.

Haute & Freddy

Duo Michelle Buzz and Lance Shipp— AKA Haute and Freddy— craft vibrant alternative pop music that pulls in elements of 80s new wave and synth-backed melodies that’ll inspire you to get on the dance floor. After all, one of their most popular songs is their single “Dance The Pain Away,” so make sure to leave your problems behind during their Saturday afternoon set. Even better is that Buzz and Shipp perform while clad in brightly-colored costumes that look inspired by Baroque style with a touch of circus-chic, so you’ll feel like you’re getting a theatrical experience along with the music. They’ll be sure to get you hot and ready for the rest of the fest!

For Fans Of: Chappell Roan, Kate Bush, Eurythmics

Start With: “Dance The Pain Away,” “Freaks,” and “Anti-Superstar”

Time: Saturday, August 8th at 1:25PM

Where: Lands End

Die Spitz

Make sure to bring your ear plugs and stretch before Die Spitz’s set—they will be delivering ear-splitting guitar riffs that will encourage you to open up the pit early on day one of Outside Lands. Once you’re invigorated by their blend of heavy metal and punk influences, you’ll be ready to take on whatever the day has in store for you. Formed in Austin, Texas, the band is made up of Ava Schrobilgen, Eleanor Livingston, Kate Halter, and Chloe de St. Aubin—and they’ve released two full length records since their 2022 inception. If you don’t want to take our word for it, you can trust Jack White; Die Spitz’s sophomore album Something To Consume was released on Third Man Records.

For Fans Of: Lambrini Girls, Amyl and the Sniffers, Metallica

Start With: “Throw Yourself to the Sword,” “Hair of Dog,” “Riding With My Girls”

Time: Friday, August 7th at 1:40PM

Where: Sutro

After

Another duo you have to check out is that of Graham Epstein and Justine Dorsey, otherwise known as After. The dream-pop pair manage to create music that makes me feel just like I’m back in the simpler times of the early 2000’s, conjuring up memories of wandering the mall or watching Disney Channel Original Movies. I imagine browsing Tower Records and finding their CD alongside the likes of Dream (who remembers the bop “He Loves U Not”) or B*Witched if we could make music time travel—but alas, Dorsey and Epstein only started making music together in 2023. Fun fact, the two actually met each other on Hinge, and even though they’re not dating, they formed a magical musical partnership. And who knows, maybe their music will inspire a meet-cute straight out of an early aughts rom-com in the crowd during their set!

For Fans Of: Slow Pulp, Samia, The Marias

Start With: “Deep Diving,” “300 Dreams,” “Take Me to Sunrise”

Time: Saturday, August 8th at 1:55PM

Where: Twin Peaks

Bad Nerves

I often wonder what they put in the water in the UK because so many of my favorite bands come from across the pond, and Bad Nerves is another one to add to that list. Hailing from Essex in England, the band consists of Bobby Nerves, Will Power, Jon Poulton, Sam Morley, and Jimmy Ger. They’re another set that I’d recommend the ear plugs and pre-show stretching for in order to keep up with their lightning quick guitar riffs and razor sharp drum beats. Bad Nerves puts a raucous and refreshing spin on 70’s punk and 2000s NYC rock influences for a sound that is sure to get you amped up for the day and weekend.

For Fans Of: The Hives, The Strokes, Viagra Boys

Start With: “Baby Drummer,” “Network,” and “Dreaming”

Time: Friday, August 7th at 12:25PM

Where: Sutro

Audrey Hobert

You probably have heard Audrey Hobert’s viral hit “Sue Me,” but the singer has a plethora of songs that are chock-full of relatable lyrics and infectious hooks. I saw Hobert play a sold out show at Thalia Hall during Lollapalooza week and during the show she mentioned that she goes to a lot of concerts herself. “I’d always wonder what the difference between myself and the person onstage is,” she told the crowd, revealing that she didn’t really think there is a big difference between her and the audience and any one of them could be up there onstage. While I appreciate her humility and the human connection of that sentiment, I have to disagree that I personally wouldn’t be able to pull off the performance that Hobert did. I won’t spoil too much, but let’s just say there’s trampolines, height props and costumes involved, so I’m looking forward to catching her again at Outside Lands!

For Fans Of: Robyn, Renee Rapp, Charli xcx

Start With: “Sue Me,” “Sex and the city,” and “Phoebe”

Time: Saturday, August 8th at 2:40PM

Where: Lands End

Wunderhorse

The brainchild of songwriter and frontman Jacob Slater, Wunderhorse is another great alternative rock band from across the pond. The project started as a solo project for Slater, but has evolved into a full band also including Harry Fowler, Jamie Staples and Seb Byford. If you’re wondering how Wunderhorse will sound live, look no further than their sophomore record, entitled Midas— the album was tracked completely live to tape, really giving listeners a raw and unfiltered listening experience. Make sure to catch them at Outside Lands so you can get the full show in addition to their authentic sound.

For Fans Of: Bruce Springsteen, Fontaines D.C. and The Strokes

Start With: “Leader of the Pack,” “Aeroplane,” and “Midas”

Time: Saturday, August 8th at 1:50PM

Where: Sutro

Grace Ives

I remember having the Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Grace Ives on my most-anticipated list of Pitchfork Festival 2023, and for good reason. Ives blends together the perfect mix of eclectic and relatable lyrics with dreamy vocals, glossy drumbeats and feel-good synthesizers. Since the last time I saw her, Ives released her third studio album Girlfriend and it was definitely worth the 4-year wait following her second album. While I’m a fan of her earlier discography, there’s an elevated air about this newer material that I think will translate well to an afternoon festival set. Take her single “Stupid Bitches” from the aforementioned album— it starts out with a simple synth before a punchy percussion beat is laced in; it has a sweeping cinematic quality that would make it great for an opening scene of a movie or TV show. Make sure that Grace Ives is part of the soundtrack of your Outside Lands!

For Fans Of: Lana Del Rey, Caroline Rose, Sylvan Esso

Start With: “Stupid Bitches,” “Lullaby,” and “Trouble”

Time: Friday, August 7th at 1:20PM

Where: Lands End

Balu Brigada

Balu Brigada is another feel-good indie rock act you should have on your radar for this weekend. Fronted by brothers Henry and Pierre Beasley, the band hails all the way from New Zealand, and they deliver upbeat bops that are easy for anyone to digest. They describe their music as “grove-pop” which perfectly encapsulates the pop elements woven into their groovy guitar melodies. If that’s not enough to get you hooked, they also have a song called “Golden Gate Girl” which will be super meta to hear in Golden Gate Park.

For Fans Of: Royel Otis, Foster The People, Good Neighbours

Start With: “So Cold,” “Golden Gate Girl,” and “Sideways”

Time: Sunday, August 9th at 2:25PM

Where: Lands End

Sports

Sports is a tried and true band that is also certified to get you grooving, which means they are a mandatory set to catch at a music festival. Cale Chronister and Christian Theriot have been making music together as Sports since 2015, but they just released a fresh batch of funky bangers earlier this year with their self-titled album. There’s such an infectious, sunny quality to their music, so make sure you catch their performance if you need a mood-boost.

For Fans Of: Tame Impala, Djo, Pond

Start With: “You Are The Right One,” “Keep Falling In Love,” and “Baby Baby”

Time: Sunday, August 9th at 1:10PM

Where: Lands End

Death Cab For Cutie and SurPrise Guest

For the 10th and bonus recommendation, we’re going a little off-road here but we had to make sure you had these sets on your radar! It’s unlikely you’re unfamiliar with Death Cab for Cutie if you’re going to Outside Lands, but if you are, make sure you dip your toe into their deep discography by checking out their early set on Sunday afternoon. I have to be honest- when I saw them slated for 12:40PM at the Sutro Stage on Sunday, I thought there was a typo on the schedule. However, this matinee performance is the perfect opportunity to make sure you can still see them if you also wanted to catch a different headlining show that evening.

On Saturday afternoon, there’s also a “Surprise Guest” at Duboce Triangle at 12:15PM, so make sure you catch that if your curiosity has also been peaked.

View the full Outside Lands schedule here, or download the app to personalize your festival schedule!

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categories / Festival, Gigs, Reviews
tags / Outside Lands, Outside Lands Music Festival, Music Festival, Preview, Death Cab for Cutie, Sports, Balu Brigada, Grace Ives, Wunderhorse, Audrey Hobert, Bad Nerves, After, Die Spitz, Haute and Freddy

Friday Recap: Pitchfork Music Festival 2023

July 22, 2023 / Rachel Zyzda

Pitchfork Music Festival kicked off Friday, July 21st in Union Park, with the day beginning with Nourished By Time on the Green stage and closing with The Smile on that same stage. Check out some highlights of day one of the festival below, as well as the full photo gallery.

Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto performed in the early afternoon on the Green stage. Although he’s a solo artist and typically records all of his own records, his live band had a slew of talented musicians to help bring his songs to life. In addition to playing the saxophone himself during some songs, Morimoto also had more horns with a trombone player and second saxophonist, backing vocals from Chicago artist Kaina, and more traditional live instruments like drums and guitar. Plenty of fans withstood the harsh beaming sun to see Morimoto’s set, and the crowd was having a great time. Morimoto dedicated his song “Woof” to dogs, and asked the audience to give him their best howl (which everyone happily obliged). Another highlight of the set included a cover of Cher’s song “Believe.”

Next up, I caught another solo act, Grace Ives on the Red stage. This time around, the solo artist put on a complete one-person show—as Ives gave us her all with just a microphone and her programmed synthesizer. Ives’ performance kind of felt like she’d invited us all over for a living room dance party—even though she was up there owning the stage, she had a casual, inviting demeanor that made it feel like we were just a massive group on friends dancing and singing along.

Youth Lagoon, the project of musician Trevor Powers, performed on the Green Stage next. It was nice to see Powers back performing as Youth Lagoon, since he had announced his retirement of the project back in 2016. Just last year, Powers announced a comeback was on the way, and he released Youth Lagoon’s latest album Heaven Is a Junkyard in June 2023. Youth Lagoon’s Pitchfork Fest set heavily featured songs from this new record, like “Rabbit” and “Idaho Alien,” but I was happy to also hear a comfort song of mine from 2011, “Afternoon,” from the album The Year of Hibernation. Youth Lagoon’s dreamy soundscape was the perfect soundtrack for an afternoon at a music fest.

Nation of Language put on one of my favorite sets of the day over on the Red stage. The Brooklyn-based trio, featuring Ian Richard Devaney (lead vocals, guitar, synths), Aidan Noell (vocals and synths), and Alex MacKay (bass), already had a large fanbase at the fest, but they quickly won over newcomers in the crowd when they performed their song “I’ve Thought About Chicago” (who doesn’t love a hometown shout out?) The trio had the audience dancing along to their refreshing take on New Wave influences and synth-pop driven melodies, despite the sun that continued to blaze through the afternoon. Noell acknowledged the crowd’s dedication, saying “Thanks for sweating for us.” Nation of Language’s Pitchfork Fest set also featured some new, unreleased material from their upcoming album Strange Disciple.

Ian Richard Devaney of Nation of Language

The project of musician and songwriter Michael Alden Hadreas, better known as Perfume Genius, kept the dancing and high energy going during his performance. Hadreas was joined by a full band, but he really stole the show with his commanding stage presence and impeccable style. Donning full arm’s length red gloves, Hadreas glided around the stage performing songs like “Slip Away” and “Otherside.” Perfume Genius’s evening set wrapped up with the epic fan favorite “Queen.” Hadreas asks the question “Don’t you know you queen?” in the song and the crowd royally adored the performance.

Michael Alden Hadreas AKA Perfume Genius

Next, I went over to the Blue stage for the first time on Friday to catch another beloved Chicago act, Ric Wilson. Living up to his Instagram handle “Disco Ric,” Wilson brought all the great disco vibes to his Pitchfork performance. Not only did his music elicit pure happiness, but Wilson also made sure his set felt like a safe place for all when he asked everyone to put their fist up and repeat an inclusive chant after him, including “no racist, no sexist, no homophobic, and no transphobic!” Wilson shined with his vocal performance and charismatic dance moves, and he also had an incredible live band to help bring his music to life. Every time I’ve seen Ric Wilson, his shows have been an instant serotonin boost, and this time was no different.

Alvvays closed out the Red Stage on Friday, bringing their cheerful and dreamy music to an adoring crowd. As the band opened their set with the song “Pharmacist” from their 2022 album Blue Rev, I noticed so many fans in the front smiling and singing along—one fan even held up a signed copy of Alvvays’ album Antisocialites. Alvvays’ setlist contained many songs from their latest album, but they also mixed in plenty of their older material, including the fan favorite “Archie, Marry Me”—which had everyone belting the anthemic chorus along. Alvvays’ Pitchfork Fest performance made the best soundtrack to the Friday sunset.

You can see more photos of all of these performances below, also including interviews with Alvvays, Perfume Genius and The Smile’s Jonny Greenwood done at the Door Dash Backstage DashPass experience. Stay tuned for coverage of days 2 and 3!

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categories / Gigs, Festival, Photos, Reviews
tags / Pitchfork Music Festival, Pitchfork, Music Festival, Sen Morimoto, Grace Ives, Youth Lagoon, Perfume Genius, Alvvays, The Smile, Nation of Language, Ric Wilson, KAINA, Chicago, Concert Photography, Photo Set, Live Review, Live Recap

Pitchfork Festival 2023: 7 Acts to Get There Early For

July 07, 2023 / Rachel Zyzda

2023’s Pitchfork Music Festival lineup is stacked with many incredible artists— including The Smile, Bon Iver, and Big Thief as this year’s headliners. However, we all know that some of the best moments of festivals can be getting there early and stumbling upon a new artist for an in-the-wild festival discovery. If you need guidance on which bands you should be arriving early for this year, tune into some of ANCHR’s top picks below. See you at Union Park on July 21, 22, and 23!

SEN MORIMOTO

You’ve likely heard the music of Chicago-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (and I mean all the instruments) Sen Morimoto, even if you didn’t know it because he’s collaborated with so many artists, including KAINA, Lala Lala, Ric Wilson, and Joseph Chilliams—just to name a few. Aside from his collaborative features, Morimoto has released much of his own music that journeys through a spectrum of different genres, including his 2018 debut entitled Cannonball! and his sophomore, self-titled record in 2020. Both releases were done with Sooper Records, a record label that Morimoto co-owns with fellow artists NNAMDÏ and Glenn Curran. Most recently, Morimoto released a single of the title-track from his upcoming album Diagnosis, which will be released November 3rd.

On his song “People Watching,” Morimoto raps “I write songs everywhere I go/everywhere I land/I don’t have a band, I don’t need a band” because he arranges and performs all of the instruments on his recorded music, but his Pitchfork set is bound to feature some familiar Chicago faces in his live band, making it a set you don’t want to miss.

For Fans Of: KAINA, NNAMDÏ, Mac Miller

Where/When: Friday, Green Stage, 2:30PM

DEEPER

Deeper is another integral Chicago act and an ANCHR favorite that will be performing at Pitchfork this year. Composed of Nic Gohl, Shiraz Bhatti, Drew McBride, and Kevin Fairbairn, Deeper’s signature sound over the years could be described as reimagined post-punk, but they have continued to evolve and expand their sonic depth across their two albums; 2018’s self-titled record and 2020’s Auto-Pain.

Most recently, Deeper has signed to Sub Pop and announced their third record, entitled Careful! and slated to be released in September this year. Deeper fans have gotten a taste of the third album with singles “Sub” and “Build a Bridge.” The former starts out with a frenzied crescendo of guitars and a quick drumbeat that’ll immediately energize you and get your body moving in time to the melody, which is something the band set out to do with this new album. Gohl says he and the band asked themselves “Does it feel good when you’re listening to this song? Does your body want to move with it?” when writing these songs. “Build a Bridge” starts off a little slower but quickly kicks in with a jangly guitar riff and hypnotizing synths, which makes me answer yes to both of the above questions. On both singles, Gohl’s distinctive vocals are still recognizable from the records of Deeper’s past, but there’s a crisper quality to them.

Make sure you catch Deeper’s set at Pitchfork to get a first glimpse at some of their newer songs.

For Fans Of: Omni, Dehd, Current Joys

Where/When: Saturday, Green Stage, 1:00PM

GRACE IVES

Another artist sure to make you feel good and want to move your body is Grace Ives, and who doesn’t want to feel that way when watching a festival performance? Grace Ives is a Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter and musician. Her catalog, which includes 2019’s 2nd and 2022’s Janky Star is jam-packed with bouncy drumbeats and dreamy synthesizers that meld with her silky vocals. Ives’ music has elements that have flashes of similarity to so many of favorites artists, from Caroline Polachek to Florence + The Machine, but there’s a quirky distinctiveness to her sound that sets her apart.

While Ives hasn’t released any new music since Janky Star, I’m looking forward to hearing many of those songs performed live. Stand outs from the record include “Angel Of Business” and “Lullaby.” The latter starts off with a reverb-drenched synthesizer melody before a traditional drumbeat kicks in and Ives sings lyrics about the comfort of routine and repetition, including “I watch that movie ten times a day/I can recite, you press replay.” She describes the song’s theme, saying, “This song is about the comfort and anxiety that comes with isolating yourself. Homebody’s anthem.“ It’ll be nice to hear the song at Pitchfork Fest as a celebration that we all switched up our usual routine for a day at a festival.

For Fans Of: Ethel Cain, Caroline Rose, Barrie

Where/When: Friday, Red Stage, 3:20PM

BLACK BELT EAGLE SCOUT

I first got the chance to see the Swinomish singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Katherine Paul, better known as Black Belt Eagle Scout, at SXSW Festival in 2019, and I can still recall being blown away by her live performance. If that’s not enough to convince you to catch her at Pitchfork Festival, you can tune into her expansive discography across her three albums—including 2018’s Mother of My Children, 2019’s At the Party With My Brown Friends and the most recent, 2023’s The Land, The Water, The Sky.

Black Belt Eagle Scout’s music often features a contrast of falsetto, gentle vocals against gritty, emotive guitar riffs. Paul’s single “Spaces” focuses on a sense of community and inclusion, sung in her signature gentle vocals over guitar and violin. The track not only features vocal contributions from her own parents, but Paul says, “I wrote ‘Spaces’ for an audience as a way to sing melodies of healing and care for them. Since starting Black Belt Eagle Scout, I have moved through many spaces, playing shows for crowds of people. I can’t always connect one on one with everyone and so this song is an attempt to bring my feelings of appreciation I have for everyone who supports my music to life.” This song will definitely be a special one to hear during Black Belt Eagle Scout’s Pitchfork set.

For Fans Of: Bully, Snail Mail, Slow Pulp

Where/When: Saturday, Blue Stage, 2:45PM

JOCKSTRAP

Jockstrap is another Pitchfork act that will be sure to energize you for the day ahead on the last day of the festival, while also giving you the chance to zen out with their entrancing music. Jockstrap is the duo of London-based musicians Georgia Ellery and Taylor Sky, which sees Ellery take on the roles of vocals, violin, and guitar, with Sky wearing the production hat and mixing in synthesizers, drum machines and additional vocals.

The duo has a sound that incorporates glitch, electro-pop and experimental genres across their range of EPs, singles, and first record. Their 2022 debut album I Love You Jennifer B explores a vast sonic landscape that is mellow and cinematic at times but will make you want to dance in other moments. If you’re looking for a set that will have a little bit of everything, make sure to catch Jockstrap.

For Fans Of: The xx, Zola Jesus, Black Country, New Road

Where/When: Sunday, Red Stage, 3:20PM

MJ LENDERMAN

You might recognize MJ Lenderman from his work with the Asheville-based band Wednesday, but he’ll be performing at Pitchfork Fest this year under his solo project.

Lenderman’s material will vibe perfectly with the mood on a second day of a festival; his music is full of fuzzed out guitars, lofi vocals, narrative-style lyrics and a twinge of twang. His songs like “Hangover Game,” “TV Dinners,” and “You Have Bought Yourself a Boat” will be the perfect tunes for a laid-back summer day, allowing you to ease into Saturday at Pitchfork.

Lenderman has released three solo albums, including a self-titled debut, 2021’s Ghost of Your Guitar Solo and 2022’s Boat Songs, so there will be no shortage of songs he could play during his set.

For Fans Of: Pinegrove, Wednesday, Rookie

Where/When: Saturday, Red Stage, 3:20PM

FLORIST

Florist is another act that will make for the perfect final-day-of-the-fest vibes with their mellow, chilled out catalog of indie folk songs. Florist is based in Brooklyn and composed of Emily Sprague, Rick Spataro, Jonnie Baker, and Felix Walworth.

The group began making music back in 2013, before releasing their debut album The Bird Outside Sang. Since then, they’ve put out another three albums, including an album in 2019 called Emily Alone which Emily Sprague wrote and recorded entirely solo. Their 2019 album If Blue Could Be Happiness includes some of my favorites of their songs, such as “The Fear of Losing This,” “Blue Mountain Road,” and “Instrumental 3”—the latter of which is a soothing and meditative (you guessed it) instrumental track. While there are some beautiful instrumental moments in their music, Sprague’s soft and airy vocals are often a highlight of Florist’s material.

Most recently, Florist released their self-titled fourth album last summer, so we can expect to hear plenty of that record during their Pitchfork set.

For Fans Of: Novo Amor, Phoebe Bridgers, Fenne Lily

Where/When: Sunday, Blue Stage, 2:45PM

View the full and most current schedule for the festival here, and stay tuned for our coverage of the full festival.

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categories / Festival, Gigs, Reviews
tags / Sen Morimoto, Deeper, Grace Ives, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Florist, Jockstrap, MJ Lenderman, Pitchfork Music Festival, Pitchfork, Music Festival, Preview, Union Park