Here are the acts not to be missed.
It’s easy to get distracted at Outside Lands. With some 100 acts performing across seven stages and all variety of fun things to get into between them, it’s easy to miss the music. But no matter how many fried things you shove in your face or glasses of locally sourced Pinot Noir you sip, make sure to catch these 10 artists at Golden Gate Park during the three-day music festival Friday-Sunday, Aug. 11-13.
Lorde: The New Zealand pop star who scored a major hit with “Royals” — four years ago, at just 16 — is back with her second album, “Melodrama.” She has already put in triumphant performances this year at mega-festivals like Coachella, Bonnaroo, Governors Ball and the New Orleans Jazz Fest. Now it’s our turn.
Gorillaz: On its first album in six years, “Humanz,” Damon Albarn’s cartoon band comes alive with real world guests like Grace Jones, Vince Staples, D.R.A.M., De La Soul and Benjamin Clementine. The group is bringing along as many collaborators as it can on its multimedia tour, which makes its U.S. festival debut at Outside Lands.
Solange: With her latest album, “A Seat at the Table,” Beyoncé’s younger sister delivers a gorgeous, multilayered collection of songs that reveal a left-of-center genius. Her live show, as exhibited most recently at FYF Fest in Los Angeles last month, is a celebration of blackness and womanhood.
Future Islands: The Baltimore trio, led by hip-swiveling frontman Samuel T. Herring, amps up the glossy indie pop on its fifth album, “The Far Field.” Come for the ’80s nostalgia-evoking tunes, stay for the singer’s insane chest pounding dance moves.
Belle and Sebastian: Two decades on from the release of its breakthrough album, “If You’re Feeling Sinister,” the Scottish indie outfit keeps coming up with gently heart-tugging tunes. The group just released a new single, “We Were Beautiful,” with a promise of more to come.
Tove Lo: The Swedish singer’s live shows are just as bold as her music, with the free-spirited “Habits” hitmaker often revealing far more than her emotions.
Dr. Octagon: The oddball hip-hop collective, featuring Dan the Automator, DJ Qbert and Kool Keith, is marking the 20th anniversary of its genreshifting 1996 debut, “Dr. Octagonecologyst,” by playing the album in full on tour for the first time ever. Get ready to travel back in time.
Rag’n’Bone Man: The soulful British singer-songwriter is best known for his hit “Human,” and he’s touring to get the word out on his album of the same name. Given his East Sussex upbringing and big pipes, it’s no wonder people are already pointing to Adele’s comet trail.
Hamilton Leithauser: The former singer for the Walkmen is now working as a solo artist, following his superb collaboration with former Vampire Weekend multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij, “I Had a Dream That You Were Mine.” His rasp remains as raspy as ever.
The Lemon Twigs: Bell-bottom wearing teen brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario got their start acting in films and on Broadway. As the Lemon Twigs, the siblings from Long Island channel their love of obscure and baroque ’70s pop into the debut album, “Do Hollywood.” Now you can see them do the bay.
Aidin Vaziri is The San Francisco Chronicle’s pop music critic. Email: avaziri@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MusicSF