When the Portola Music Festival made its debut at San Francisco’s Pier 80 last year, not everything went according to plan. Cellular service was practically non-existent, commute was then a hassle and the weather didn’t make it all any easier — the usual first-year curveballs, but nothing too serious. Still, it was clear from the beginning that the two-day gathering would run it back the following year because it simply made too much sense.
Sure enough, the event returned better and polished for round two in 2023, furthering its prospects for being a longstanding staple of the Bay Area for years to come. Based on how things went this time around, few would complain about Portola coming back year after year to bring together fans of electronic music and beyond.
The sophomore edition of the concert series was put together with a great deal of care, catering not only to its core audience of electronic music fans but also to those looking for a reason to get involved. Whereas the many facets of electronica remain the focus of Portola, genres on the periphery of it were a major part of the pull this time.
Aside from the sweethearts of the culture such as Charlottle De Witte, Eric Prydz, The Blaze and Carl Cox all congregating to celebrate their craft, notable electronic-adjacent acts were also invited to the party to offer a varied menu for people who weren’t fully tapped into the central culture. Take a look!
Portola ’23 In Photographs
FKJ | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
Nelly Furtado | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
Little Simz | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
Thundercat | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
Bonobo | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
Skrillex | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
Little Dragon| Photo Credit: Karan Singh
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