FYM PREVIEW: OUTSIDE LANDS, GOLDEN GATE PARK 2011- SAN FRANCISCO, USA

PART ONE: San Francisco's premiere art/music/culture festival, Outside Lands, materializes every year in the remarkable setting of Golden Gate Park. This years event kicks-off this Friday August 12th, 2011. And that very morning, FYM's Art Director will be boarding a flight from Seattle to San Francisco ultimately meeting up with our publicist, to provide live press coverage for all three days. We are so excited to be back again this year! So over next couple days FYM will be dedicating our articles to the many highlights of this 2011 festival (that would make anyone want to fly, drive, BART, or walk to see).



DAY ONE: ERYKAH BADU Neo-soul goddess Erykah Bada has been a part of our must see live wish-list for many years. This Friday at 7:50 PM on the Sutro Stage, this Art Director's wait is over. From the onset, releasing Baduizm in 2007, to her latest 2010 offering- New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh, Badu has never failed delivering her own unique brand of boundless kinetic-soul. Check the video above, Back in the Day (Puff), for a sampling of vibes to come this Friday.

DAY ONE: BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE Big Audio Dynamite came into fruition in 1984 after Mick Jones was ousted from The Clash the prior year. Most well-known for their dynamic sampling techniques, genre-bending pop tunes, and their quintessential 80's rhythms- the band has found new life in 2011, reforming with their original line-up playing this Friday at 7:00 PM on the Twin Peaks stage. Revisit Big Audio Dynamite's Top 40 hit Rush, performed live above.

FYM FRIDAY BONUS HIGHLIGHTS: And the list goes on... Friday's line-up also boasts the likes of, so fresh and so clean Hip-Hop Champ- Big Boi (6:20 PM Sutro), British Dance-Pop Diva Ellie Goulding (5:00 PM Sutro), TWO sets by Phish (6:30 PM Lands End), and a hard to miss opportunity to see Toro Y Moi live (3:50 PM Twin Peaks). For more Friday- artists and times, click HERE.



DAY TWO: THE ROOTS The Legendary Roots Crew roll into Outside Lands 2011 performing Saturday evening at 6:50 PM on the Twin Peaks Stage. This socially conscious, multi-instrumental renegade crew put on a ferocious live show. Let's hope Erykah Badu will stick around another day, and possibly make a guest appearance during their set. Above, watch Badu and The Roots do it up right, with You Got Me.



DAY TWO: ARCTIC MONKEYS These Brit rockers have traveled a long way from the polished-perfect sonic sensibilities of 2006's massively successful Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. In 2009, the band's sound progressed into a much more diverse exploration of where these guys can actually go musically (with the help of producer Josh Holmes) on Humbug. Their 2011 record Suck it and See, continues down the same road as Humbug, with an even darker/heavier feel. Watch their video for Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've moved Your Chair above. Catch the Arctic Monkeys live at 4:45 PM on the Lands End stage.

FYM SATURDAY BONUS HIGHLIGHTS: Other highlights that will shine-on this Saturday included- a blazing dance party orchestrated by Girl Talk (8:40 PM Twin Peaks), a gritty set from psych-warriors The Black Keys (6:15 PM Lands End), and a special performance by (Seattle Hip-Hop Superheroes) - Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis (12:25 PM Lands End). Check the rest of Saturday's incredible schedule HERE.



DAY THREE: ARCADE FIRE If there was ever a song that deserves to be heard in a festival setting- Wake Up, by Arcade Fire will assuredly command Golden Gate Park's valleys while thousands of people become unified by way of passionate 'whoaaaing' together. Arcade Fire are the current reigning champions of rock n' roll (after winning Album of the Year at the 2011 Grammys). They are indeed the MUST SEE Sunday night closing act, performing at 8:10 PM on the Lands End stage.

DAY THREE: MAVIS STAPLES Windy City vocal-icon Mavis Staples, performs on the Lands End stage at 1:45 PM on day three of Outside Lands. This gospel/rhythm & blues luminary will most definitely be taking the Golden Gate Park audience to Church that Sunday. Check our classic jam above, of Staples taking lead, singing her heart out on Reach Out, Touch a Hand, Make a Friend.

FYM SUNDAY BONUS HIGHLIGHTS: The final day performances will be hard to miss, with Portland's The Decemberists making an appearance (6:15 PM Land End), local SF psych-hound Ty Segall (3:55 PM Panhandle), and Canadian itchy & scratchy house giant- Deadmau5 (8:00 PM Twin Peaks) providing a unique alternative for those who want to pass on seeing Arcade Fire (performing around the same time).

WORDS. GRAPHIC. J THOMAS CODLING: Check back tomorrow as forYoungModerns will shed light on a few of our favorite food vendors that will be catering to our hunger, as well as the eclectic cultural aspects that make Outside Lands more than your average music festival. Cheers, FYM.