Outside Lands: 2012

The only times I've done OSL was in years I also did Roo. I wasn't disappointed in the least, though thought of it as more a complement to Roo than substitute. If it weren't for Roo then OSL would be my favorite fest experience so far. What are you looking for in your festival fix?

They're quite different but OSL will still give you a really nice lineup with big headliners and good acts all day long. It's a city fest so the music ends at ten which is hard to deal with, especially when your first act might be around one. The lack of late nights and going until you're exhausted is a big thing to miss. You get about two shows in the dark each night if I'm remembering right.

The set times are pretty decent, around 50 minutes - one hour for most I believe, with headliners like two hours or so. They have opposed headliners each night so there are more options for a person if they don't like the main act. There's a really cool little stage where you can sit on hay bales and watch mid sized bands like Dr. Dog play. There's no pit system so you can stay up close at a stage all day if you want to have a great spot for a headliner.

It's not a camping fest so that whole element makes for a very different experience. Even though it's a lot of locals I still thought the crowds were pretty fun and full of people there to actually see the show. You go home and shower every night which makes for a more comfortable time. You shouldn't have to miss acts due to exhaustion or heat. It can get pretty cold but not uncomfortably so if you're dressed properly. I've also had days where I was in shorts an a t-shirt the entire time.

Golden Gate Park is a million times more beautiful than Roo. You're surrounded by lots of trees and the grass is green. You can go hang out in the trees and this year I saw an old couple wrapped in a sleeping bag hardcore making out in the woods. There is still garbage but you can always find a nice spot of grass to chill on.

The whole place is kind of sunk down between gentle slopes. You can go sit on those side hills at a couple stages to get a nice top-down vista, though they do fill up for bigger acts. I've used them to kind of chill and watch while still having a good view of the stage versus laying in the field and just seeing folks' feet.

I read on the Coach boards that one of the 2013 headliners was booked before 2012 even kicked off but haven't heard anything otherwise.