REVIEW: Portola 2025 Shuts Down San Francisco
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY FAITH LUEVANOS ☆
Credit: Portola Music Festival
PORTOLA 2025 WAS ONE FOR THE BOOKS – and we’re still reeling from what an incredible weekend it was. Primarily a festival that showcases dance/electronic music, it was incredible to see a few artists from other genres pop into the lineup. From artists like Haute & Freddy to Rico Nasty, all the way to Dom Dolla, this blend of genres and audiences opened up a space for all to attend and join in the weekend festivities.
The two-day festival was split between four stages, all a short distance away from each other, allowing fans to catch every set they wanted to see. Portola thrived on the blending of various fanbases, and each set became a hub of not only music, but blossoming friendships as well.
The Luna Collective caught some memorable sets this past weekend, ones that we won’t stop thinking about for a long time. Read on for the full recap.
Saturday, September 20
The Dare
To start our festival day off right, we made our way over to see The Dare bring his discography to life and turn the stage into his own club. Fans were packed tightly into the space, dancing along to familiar anthems like “I Destroyed Disco,” “Cheeky,” and of course, “Girls.” His level of coolness, combined with his one-of-a-kind songs, transported festival goers into a dark nightclub full of flashing lights and dancing.
Christina Aguilera
There was no way we were missing the return of pop icon Christina Aguilera! After being introduced by the mayor of San Francisco, the crowd erupted into cheers as they witnessed their childhood inspiration walk onstage. From her look to her vocals and choreography, fans were spun into a nostalgic whirlwind of songs they grew up listening to. Not a single note or move was missed; everything about the set felt divinely crafted. It was incredible to see her pop resurgence in real time.
Credit: Portola Music Festival
Salute
Salute brought an insane level of energy to his set, paired with visuals and clips from music videos to bring his performance all together. As his songs blasted through the speakers, you could feel a playful energy fall over the crowd. Known for his fast-paced beats and twinkly production style, there was no doubt that he had full command over the crowd as fans danced and tried to inch closer to the stage. His music felt exactly like his visuals: colorful and full of life.
Credit: Portola Music Festival
LCD Soundsystem
Another return of a generational favorite. If there’s one thing LCD Soundsystem did, it was bring the bass. Fronted by James Murphy, the group brought his vision to life once again for long-time fans, and was guaranteed to make some new ones. The stage was covered in instruments as the six-piece band fell into deep grooves and transformed their performance into a sweaty, cathartic release. The set was the perfect balance of precision and chaos, constantly intriguing passersby and pulling them into their set. They played fan favorites like “All My Friends” and “I Can Change,” and the crowd was constantly shouting their lyrics back to them. Their set blurred the lines between a dancefloor and a stage, reminding fans why LCD Soundsystem is one of the most important acts of their generation.
Sunday, September 21
Rico Nasty
Initially, festival goers were caught off guard by seeing Rico Nasty’s name on the lineup, but as soon as her set began, they realized very quickly why she was the perfect addition. An absolute adrenaline rush from start to finish, her sound is one that combines rap with punk riot. Known as “the rap world’s biggest rockstar,” she brought the “Smack A B*tch” energy to the stage as she annihilated the festival. Fans were immediately amped and began forming mosh pits, arms were swinging, drinks were flying, and a smile crept onto Rico Nasty’s face as she watched her songs do exactly what they’re meant to.
Photo By Christina Posztos - @forhysterics
Boy Harsher
Easily one of the most captivating sets to watch, Boy Harsher took the stage as the sun went down while fans eagerly crowded in to hear their dark synths and haunting vocals. Lead vocalist Jae Matthews put the audience into a trance as the set began, and that’s when the beats kicked in from Augustus Muller. Instantly, the set unfolded like a fever dream, the crowd swaying and writhing in the fog. This set was an immersive experience, one that gave listeners just a taste of who Boy Harsher is.
Credit: Portola Music Festival
Dom Dolla
To end the night, we celebrated the last day of the festival with powerhouse DJ Dom Dolla, everyone’s favorite feel good artist. His signature style of house beats absolutely demolished the Portola stage and showcased his ability to hold onto crowds and never let them go. His way of turning the festival grounds into a tightly knit dancefloor was unmatchable. One of the standout tracks of his that night was “San Frandisco,” obviously. Locals treated the song as if it were their national anthem, and the crowd erupted with energy as fire shot from the stage and lasers soared out over them. Between his relentless energy and natural instinct for reading a crowd, Dom Dolla felt like the grand finale and the perfect way to close out an amazing weekend at Portola.
