I had a wild schedule last week. I drove from San Luis Obispo to the Bay Area, a casual three-hour drive on the 101 freeway. After some last-minute shopping, I found a top that made my day one outfit come together nicely. I went to bed early to have all the energy I needed for my 9-hour day at the Portola Music Festival. Besides the event being thrown in my hometown, this festival was a must-see for me because of its killer lineup.
Because the festival started at 2 p.m. on Saturday, I ate breakfast and lunch before. There is always a debate on the order of getting ready, but I like to do outfits, makeup, then hair. I’m always worried if I start with makeup, I’ll get lipstick or eyeshadow on a shirt I have to put over my head. I did a yellow eyeshadow look to go with my zebra print theme and put my hair slightly back to show off my big earrings. With that, I was ready to go!
Day 1
There wasn’t much of a wait at the secondary entrance, and getting in was quick and easy! The first thing I did when I got there was explore the area so I would know my bearings. They had a map near the entrance that I took a picture of to help me. I loved San Francisco’s scenery with the SalesForce tower and ocean view. However, I noticed right off the back that there were no vendors besides food. The first festival I attended, Shabang, had people selling clothes, accessories, and more, which was a fun way to kill time while waiting for a set to start. Here, they had one stand that sold minimalistic clothing, and that was it. I hope that next time, they can allow small, local business owners to sell their merchandise.
Stand-Out Sets
The first set I stayed the entirety for was FKJ, whose name was unfamiliar to me at the time. However, once he started playing his songs, I recognized a few of them from TikTok. When he played the saxophone melody from “Tadow,” I immediately knew I heard it before. FKJ is a multi-talented artist who played the saxophone, bass, guitar, piano and sang. My jaw dropped when I kept seeing him pull out new instruments. Everyone was vibing to the music with casual sways or head bops. It would’ve been cool if Masego came out onstage to join him, but his set was the day after. However, FKJ had his visuals on the big screen, which were nice to look at and fit the aesthetic.
Nelly Furtado was next, and luckily, I didn’t have to move too much because she was at the same stage. I’m an early 2000s baby, so her songs were nostalgic. A few were released before I was born, but I still danced to them as the crowd screamed the lyrics. She had her old music videos playing in the background while she performed, which was a blast from the past. I was most excited about “Promiscuous Girl” because of the Just Dance video games, but I completely forgot that “Maneater” was also in Just Dance 4. She and her backup dancers brought the energy, and the crowd fed off it. There was a lot of audience participation during “I’m Like a Bird,” as Furtado pointed the mic to us.
The last artist I wanted to highlight from Day 1 was Polo & Pan. This festival was my first time listening to them, but I loved their music. Their visuals are reminiscent of the 80s with a retro feel. I was lucky enough to get a front-row spot, finally seeing the artists clearly without someone blocking my view. I even made a few friends in the front row, which improved my experience. It feels weird dancing alone, but dancing with a stranger is fun and spontaneous. The bass reverberated through my whole body and left my ears ringing once I got home. They told us that this was their last tour stop, making it much more special.
Day 2
It was time for the final day after resetting my body with sleep. I got to wear my floral top that I wanted to wear previously and had a DIY moment with my skirt. It was a knee-length skater skirt, so I cut a few inches off with my sister’s fabric scissors. I put my hair in braids and wore my favorite white boots. I explored more once I got to the venue and found the 400 Conejos booth. They had a mini cocktail bar, a photo booth, and a silent disco. Unfortunately, all the artists I wanted to see were back-to-back, so I didn’t have a chance to experience the silent disco. I had to eat my dinner either early or late because I didn’t want to miss certain sets. Next time, I will schedule my time better.
Stand-Out Sets
I was super excited for this day because of Labrinth and Skrillex, but another artist I wanted to highlight was Thundercat. Initially, I didn’t recognize the name, but I knew “Them Changes” from a TikTok trend. His set was pretty chill and was fun to jam out to. He noted that it was “nippy outside,” getting the crowd to laugh. Another silly moment was when he started meowing during one of his songs. No wonder his name is Thundercat. He laughed at himself while doing this and referenced an Adventure Time episode where Finn does a similar thing. His music had a funky, groovy beat, and the electric keyboard was a superb addition to his songs.
I can’t write this article without talking about Labrinth. It would be a crime. While his set design seemed similar to his Coachella debut, it was amazing to see him in person. His dancing, stage presence, and beautiful singing were to die for. His outfit reminded me of the steampunk style but in the best way possible. Even though Zendaya and Billie Eilish didn’t make a surprise guest appearance, he held his own. I knew his songs the most because of the “Euphoria” soundtrack. He is featured heavily on that show, and for a good reason. Everyone was screaming, “Still Don’t Know My Name,” along with him. I think we all know his name now.
Last but not least is Skrillex: the man, the myth, the legend. There was a 30-minute break between Labrinth and him, but I decided to wait at the Pier Stage to save my middle front spot. I was tempted to check out Charlotte de Witte at the Warehouse but knew I would be in the back if I tried to return. I talked to people around me to kill time and made a new friend. Once his set started, my jaw dropped. This moment was the most excited the crowd had been, with people’s heads banging, jumping, and waving their arms to the beat of the music. The pyrotechnics were terrific, with vibrant red and green hues. Everyone screamed with the “Oh my god!” sample and even started moshing. Skrillex bounced to his music while DJ-ing, keeping the energy up for the 1.5-hour set. He made my night.
Overall Experience
This two-day event was the first time I went to a festival alone, but I still had a blast. The people there were sweet and made my experience much more enjoyable. The security guards ensured everyone stayed hydrated by handing out water bottles between sets. Additionally, several food stands were scattered around the festival area, making lines short and sweet.
Pier 80 makes this festival unique and makes me want to go next year. I have never heard a bass so loud as the one at the Pier Stage. I wish I stayed at the Warehouse longer because of how cool it looked. As I was leaving Skrillex, the lights inside were spilling out, and I could see the fantastic lasers and visuals of Carl Cox. I encourage everyone to go next year to experience the bass-boosted stage and incredible music. Thank you, Portola, for making this Bay Area native proud to be from San Francisco!
