Photographer’s Picks: 4 Must-See Acts at Outside Lands 2025

As Outside Lands 2025 approaches, NOT ON STAGE is gearing up to capture the festival's most electrifying moments. Here are four standout artists we're excited to photograph and experience live:

Glass Animals

There’s something hypnotic about the way Glass Animals build a world on stage — it's immersive, colorful, and surreal, like stepping into a lucid dream. Their lighting design is always thoughtful, and Dave Bayley’s stage presence feels both intimate and explosive. As a photographer, I live for those in-between moments where emotion bleeds through the smoke and strobes — and with a catalog like theirs, from "Heat Waves" to "Gooey," I know the crowd will be just as alive as the visuals.

Why I'm excited: Their visuals + energy = a goldmine for storytelling shots. I want to capture that moment when the whole crowd is swaying under blue lights like they’re underwater.

Set to perform Sunday, August 10th

CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso

These two are pure chaos in the best way. Their El Tiny Desk performance was the first time I saw them as more than underground legends — they’re genre-bending, wild, and unapologetically themselves. Their chemistry on stage is magnetic, and I already know I’ll be moving as much as I’m shooting. Their fashion, movement, and unpredictability make them an adrenaline rush for the camera.

Why I'm excited: I love photographing acts that break rules. CA7RIEL & Paco aren’t polished — they’re raw, fast, and weird in all the right ways. That’s exactly the kind of texture I want in my shots.

Set to perform Saturday. August 9th

Hope Tala

Hope Tala brings softness to the lineup in a way that doesn’t feel small — it feels sacred. Her music is intimate and literary, with lyrics that hit you gently but deeply. I imagine her set will feel like golden hour — mellow, poetic, maybe even a little cinematic. Her vibe is perfect for portraits that lean into warmth, softness, and depth.

Why I'm excited: I don’t just want to take pictures of her, I want to create frames that feel like her music — soft light, reflective mood, slow movement. She’s a visual mood board in human form.

Set to perform Sunday, August 10th

Doechii

Doechii is pure performance. She’s not just an artist — she’s a shapeshifter, always evolving, always commanding. I’ve watched her blend hip-hop, pop, and alternative styles while staying rooted in her identity. Her set is going to be bold, fast-paced, and likely theatrical. I want to catch those power stances, those moments where she knows she owns the stage.

Why I'm excited: She's a one-woman spectacle. High-contrast lighting, fast motion, sweat, and expressions will make the set a playground for high-intensity shots and dramatic edits.

Set to perform Friday, August 9th

Stay tuned as we bring you exclusive coverage and behind-the-scenes glimpses of these artists and more at Outside Lands 2025!