Though summer has come to a close, festival season isn’t over yet.
Portola Music Festival returns to San Francisco for their fifth celebration — the two-days of dance-electronic music is set to take place this weekend, Sept. 26 and Sept. 27. Sprawling over four stages, beloved favorites and rising artists are set to perform, including Robyn, Swedish House Mafia, Parcels, Zara Larsen, Fcukers, Ear and Adela.
Leave Friday and return Monday morning to experience two days of analog-sets and disco under industrial cranes in between.
Portola is located at San Francisco’s largest industrial cargo terminal, Pier 80, utilizing the amenities of the warehouse and industrial cranes to support the stage’s identities. Pier 80 offers an experience of unobstructed views of the waterfront overlooking the East Bay alongside the cityscape of San Francisco. Limited to ages 21 and older, Portola Music Festival directs their festival experience focus for adults.
Aside from traditional performances, a traveling exhibition called “Despacio,” translating to slow in Spanish, is a strictly vinyl DJ set designed by James Murphy of LCD Sound System and Steven Dewaele of Soulwax and 2manydjs.
DJs’ are hidden away from the audience, to have the focus solely on the physics of the music and celebrate the community present on the dance floor. Characterised by a large hanging disco ball in the center of the room and a series of high-fidelity sound system speakers circling the checkered dance floor, the experience creates an oasis of escaping in the rhythm.
The stage will be accessible on each day of the festival Saturday 2:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. and Sunday 3:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m..
Whether you are on your way to the Bay Area for the festival or listening from the comfort of your room, KCPR’s Portola Pregame playlist is here to help you explore the artists performing this weekend.
