Chappell Roan steals the spotlight at Outside Lands with vibrant set

The “Good Luck, Babe!” singer recently garnered an impressive audience at Lollapalooza.

Chappell Roan’s performance at Outside Lands made a memorable impact, positioning her as one of the festival's most talked-about acts. 

Though not as towering as Grace Jones’ dramatic entrance in a 40-foot hoopskirt, Roan’s arrival was equally energetic. Approximately 15 minutes before her set, a lively parade featuring a big-band golf cart rolled through Golden Gate Park’s Polo Field, heralding her upcoming performance.

The parade, complete with drag queens, a brass section, and pink versions of the festival’s mascots Ranger Dave and Ranger Ruth, resembled a full-scale Mardi Gras krewe. The group performed jazzy renditions of Roan’s hits, including “Hot to Go.” 

While Roan was not physically part of the parade, it demonstrated her flair for engaging the crowd, taking her signature inclusion of local drag queens to the next level.

Despite not holding the official headliner title, Chappell Roan emerged as the festival’s breakout star. Her influence was evident as hundreds of fans donned pink cowboy hats, responding to a single Instagram post where she asked, “If you’ve got something pink, get it up in the air!”

Roan, who gained popularity with her 2020 single “Pink Pony Club” and her 2023 album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” has become a unique figure at music festivals. 

Her lyrics, touching on topics like ice cream, boys, and love amidst chaos, resonate deeply with fans, allowing her to shine alongside established names.

Sunday’s performance coincided with the one-year anniversary of her hit “Hot to Go,” and Roan marked the occasion by wearing the same blue sparkly leotard featured in the song’s video. She kicked off her set with “Feminomenon,” delivering fan-favorite tracks like “Red Wine Supernova” and “My Kink Is Karma” before closing with the crowd-pleasing “Pink Pony Club.” 

Midway through, she introduced “The Subway,” a new, unreleased song speculated to be from her next album. With her growing popularity, Roan’s success seems unstoppable.