Portola Music Festival 2024 was like navigating a labyrinth of sound, where you could lose your friends, find yourself in a warehouse rave, and spend $28 on a margarita strong enough to knock you sideways. Pier 80 became a pulsating playground with its massive cranes and industrial vibes, serving up two days of relentless beats and unpredictable weather.
This was our first Portola adventure so we had no idea what to expect. Getting in was a breeze, but you were probably sitting in traffic if you didn’t ride your bike; SF Bike Coalition had us covered with safe bike parking that made the trek worth it. Our next hurdle was cell service — signal was practically non-existent, so if you didn’t set a meeting point, good luck trying to text anyone once inside.
Day one had us starting slow with Tycho’s chill set, where the back of the crowd felt more like a hangout than a concert. The warehouse space though, wow. It was huge, dirty, and had that gritty underground feel that made it seem like we were in a secret rave — until you noticed the clearly-marked exits and people dressed like they’d just come from brunch. The bathrooms near the warehouse? Crowded and slow, but hey, they were stocked with toilet paper and relatively clean if you made it to the back ones.
Lots of good food options here, even though they were definitely on the pricy side. A $26 burger actually hit the spot for the money spent on it, and a $28 double margarita was almost all tequila. So we didn’t have to hit the bar again before Jamie XX even hit the stage, and what a great set — chaotic, close-up visuals of the crowd made it as if the audience became part of the show itself. We kept the energy going at the Four Tet show but tapped out after about an hour. 25,000 steps and a double margarita will do that to you!
Portola is unlike other San Francisco offerings — this wasn’t Outside Lands’ artsy eclecticism or Hardly Strictly’s folk roots. Portola had a laser focus: electronic music in all its forms, from house to techno to jungle. It began just two years ago with an aim to pay homage to the city’s rave culture and electronic music history, while giving it a high-energy twist. And while it’s only a couple years old, it’s already trying to be the electronic music destination for the Bay Area — which it may well accomplish with how quickly tickets sold out this year.
Day two was a whole different vibe: summer showed up, and so did the sunburns. Sunscreen was a necessity, and festival-goers swapped out their windbreakers for crop tops and shorts. Ben Böhmer had everyone squinting into the sun, and Barry Can’t Swim had to compete with Rebecca Black’s sparse crowd.
Black kicked things off with a chainsaw mic and half-naked dancers with lumberjack builds — she definitely knew her audience. Her set ended with a wild remix of “Friday,” distorted vocals and all, and we fucking loved it. It was as camp as it gets, with Black leaning into the absurdity of her viral past, fully aware of the joke. The crowd went wild for it, even if they were just there for the meme.
DJ PeeWee brought a seamless mix of throwback hits that had the crowd eating it up — arguably one of the day’s best moments. But we also loved HorsegiirL, who brought pure artistry with a packed tent and an engaged crowd that knew they were witnessing something special. By the time the sun set, the wind came back with a vengeance, and festival-goers huddled together once again, freezing their asses off.
Justice closed out the night with a set that was visually phenomenal, but it was definitely too quiet. We were directly in front of the back speakers and could still talk to each other. This set should be so loud that all you can do is feel it and dance, but we could hear the crowd noise even at the loudest times.
Alameda has been vocal about the noise issue since 2022, when hundreds of complaints were filed due to excessive noise and vibrations during Portola’s debut. This year, organizers even shortened the festival’s outdoor amplified sound time by 15 minutes and monitored decibel levels, which clearly took a toll on Justice’s set. But theirs was still the most enthusiastic dance party versus all the other bands; lots of crowd favorites, and most of them felt like remixes — not that we’re complaining.
Day two definitely outshined day one, not just because of the weather, but the vibe was better, and the artists delivered more. Leaving the venue was surprisingly easy, especially if you biked.
Would we return to Portola Music Festival? Uh, fuck yes. Despite its quirks and rough edges, Portola’s raw energy and lineup make it a must for anyone looking to dive deep into San Francisco’s electronic scene. We just need to remember both sunblock and a ski parka next time.
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