The Disney Channel star-turned-pop icon took the main stage at Outside Lands 2024. Whether festival goers know her from her espresso-flavored ice cream or banger of a Christmas song, everyone can agree Carpenter’s talent and taste in dessert is one to behold. With this princess of pop making her Outside Lands debut, it stands to reason that fans were staking out the Lands End stage all day.
Around 8:40 p.m. on August 10th, the massive lights of the Lands End stage went dark. Seemingly all 75,000 festival goers held up their phones to catch the artist beyond anticipated entrance. Minutes passed before anything happened until a vintage 70s logo of Carpenter’s name eventually lit up the digital screen. The stage burst to life as the band started to play and an ensemble of performers worthy of the “Solid Gold” dancers rushed the stage.
Sticking with the 80s aesthetic of her dancers, Carpenter came out singing “Fast Times” as she strutted around the stage in a sparkly black leotard. The opener really was fast times as it ended in a rush of excitement with the second song hot on its heels. “Read your Mind” was a fiery number filled with sass, funk and synchronized dance moves. During the catchy chorus, fans couldn’t stop singing along to the words “I can’t read your mind.”
Already two songs in and there hadn’t been a moment to breathe before things got vicious. The funk was gone and replaced with the angsty break-up anthem, “Vicious.” The two Jumbotrons on the sides of the stage displayed the words so the crowd could sing along, but they already knew every word. The third song ended and Carpenter went to the edge of the stage to address her adoring fans.
Sabrina Carpenter teasing the camera as she sings one of her hits. Photographed by Caleb Velasquez/BruinLife.
After an outfit change, a fan holds up their phone to record Sabrina Carpenter as she gets ready to bring out a special guest. Photographed by Caleb Velasquez/BruinLife.
After asking the crowd to introduce themselves, she jokingly remarked how she built the enormous Lands End stage. Carpenter also took a shot at Tyler the Creator for his Outside Lands 2024 performance, or lack thereof. With this being her first time headlining a festival, Carpenter quipped how it made her feel small. The artist then related to the audience over messy relationships before the stage lit up with deep oranges for her fourth song.
“Already Over” clearly hit an emotional note with the young audience as they all felt the song was over too soon. The stage went black and a logo straight out of a vintage gaming console was projected onto the Jumbotrons to announce a special message from the artist. Carpenter reappeared holding a guitar and confessed to the audience one of the hardest parts of her life: being present in a moment. Her message of not letting life pass on by was the focal point of her next song about being on a seesaw during a tornado warning.
“Tornado Warnings” slowed down the setlist but was nonetheless a ballad those in attendance couldn’t help but sing along to. Carpenter continued the heartbreaking melodies with her sixth song of the night, “opposite.” For this one, two pairs of performers came onto the stage to embrace an emotional slow dance. Once the melancholy moment was over the blue lights became an ultraviolet red. The rest of the dancers ran onto the stage to fill out the bold choreography for, “bet u wanna.”
Carrying on the empowered lyrics of the previous songs, Carpenter followed “bet u wanna” with “Paris.” The deep-cut EDM song saw the digital screen light up like the Paris sky against its lustful red background. Dance vibes were soon after changed from club music to disco when Carpenter broke out into the most popular song on her album, “emails i can’t send fwd:.”
Once the opening lines of “Feather” leaked through the speaker, fans started freaking out. All the dancers participated in the big dance number, with even Carpenter herself joining in on the choreography. During the song’s outro, “Feather” was mixed with “Lovefool” by The Cardigans.
Capitalizing on the disco aesthetics, a dance contest ensues between four pairs of performers. Each of the couples competed for the cheers of the audience but, unfortunately, a winner was never chosen. After the contest, Carpenter came back on stage in a sparkly blue dress with matching boots. Her new outfit was not the only surprise for the audience, however, as Carpenter brought out a special guest: Kacey Musgraves. Carpenter took a moment to bask in the glory of one of her musical idols before the two of them started to sing “These Boots Are Made for Walkn’.”
Following an oldie with one of her new hit singles, Carpenter lit the night on fire with her performance of “Please Please Please.” Upbeat and entertaining, the crowd sang every word from beginning to end. With the audience all riled up, the artist went to the edge of the stage and was given a sash to wear by one of her fans, which she happily put on. Then as a part of her way of thanking the audience for supporting her, she played them a never-before-heard song from her album “Short n’ Sweet” which releases on August 23rd.
The tune is titled “Slim Pickins” and has a very Dolly Parton-esk country sound to it. After the tease for her upcoming release, Carpenter took a step back a pulled out one of the most emotionally resonant songs in her discography, “because i liked a boy.” The crowd shouted out the heartfelt lyrics as Carpenter worked the edges of the stage. While the recording is a slow song, this performance was given a rockin’ ending fit with banging drums and pyrotechnics.
For her final song of the set, the artist finished it the way she always does, with a special version of, “Nonsense.” Carpenter did the choreography alongside her fellow performers, who were going all out, the Jumbotrons displayed their lyrics and at the end, Carpenter finished with a Shakespearean sonnet advertising her new album. After “Nonsense,” the stage light went out, but fans were still anticipating one more song. Suddenly, the light flashed back on, the dancers re-emerged and Carpenter came on stage with a full-on attitude as she playfully told the festival-goers she would be mad if they didn’t sing along to her encore performance.
Once the opening notes to “Espresso” started to play, it surely woke up any weary audience members as everyone took out their phones, grooved and sang along to the hit single. “Espresso” was one incredible finisher to an already amazing setlist. Carpenter, the band and the dancer went all out for every measure. Sparklers, blinding lights and pyrotechnics closed out the song in a blazing climax.
Carpenter easily stole the show at Outside Lands 2024 and left audiences saying “please please please,” begging for more.
Sabrina points to an audience member holding up a sign that says "Anthony" after introducing herself then asking the crowd to state their own names. Photographed by Caleb Velasquez/BruinLife.
