Sunday at Outside Lands 2025 in San Francisco delivered a finale that balanced emotional resonance musical flair and heartfelt activism in a way that felt both intimate and expansive.
FINNEAS opened the day with a thoughtful solo set that showed off his songwriting and production skill. His fifty‑minute performance featured a mix of new music from his project with Ashe as The Favors and fan favorites like “Lotus Eater” and the melancholic “I Lost a Friend” that really pulled at the heartstrings. He did a great job balancing tempo and tone drawing in an early but engaged crowd.
Bleachers brought a burst of energy to the Lands End stage as Jack Antonoff and his band started strong with “I Am Right On Time” and “Modern Girl” and only ramped up from there. They had the audience rhythmically waving cheering and even got personal when Antonoff invited his father Rick to join the band on stage as they performed "How Dare You Want More." He later called out to sign a New Jersey fan’s potato, turning the big open field into a party.
Glass Animals followed with a shimmering and atmospheric set that felt both futuristic and deeply connected. Opening with “Life Itself” and “Space Ghost Coast to Coast,” they rode that wave into dramatic renditions of “Creatures in Heaven” and “Pork Soda” while weaving in their new single “Vampire Bat.” “Heat Waves” closed out their hour on a euphoric high complete with engaging visuals and onscreen animations that lit up the night.
Rebecca Black owned the Sutro stage in two vibrant performances filled with choreography bright visuals and queer‑affirming energy. She mashed up her unexpected modern hit “Sugar Water Cyanide” with her viral “Friday” and brought a sense of celebration to every corner of her crowd, while affirming her place as a beloved pop and queer icon.
Big Freedia brought Sunday service‑style gospel to Outside Lands at the Dolores’ stage complete with a performance from the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. The bounce queen turned a club set into something spiritual, electrifying and deeply comforting.
Anderson .Paak closed out his weekend with one last thrill at the Twin Peaks stage, bringing out Bay Area rap legend E‑40, who performed his classic “Tell Me When to Go.” Additionally, .Paak also invited Cordae for their track “RNP” and led a touching tribute to Mac Miller as he covered the late rapper's song "Dang!"
Finally, Hozier took the Lands End stage with an emotionally stirring headlining performance. His nearly two‑hour set mixed fan‑favorite hits like “Take Me to Church” and “Too Sweet” with quieter songs like “Jackie and Wilson” and “Francesca.” He moved through his catalog with reverent pacing while using visuals to comment on global and social issues such as promoting peace, and supporting LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights.
Before transitioning into his song "Nina Cried Power," Hozier spoke about his thoughts on the war in the Middle East, telling the crowd: “Peace and safety and security for everybody in the Middle East means seeing a Palestine that’s free from occupation. It means seeing a Palestine that’s free to move towards meaningful self-determination and statehood and the recognition of statehood."
See photos from the final day of Outside Lands 2025 below, by Dan DeSlover.
