Charli XCX joined The Strokes onstage to perform the song “Take It Or Leave It” during their set at the Outside Lands festival [1].
The collaboration brought together two distinct musical worlds, hyperpop and indie rock, creating a high-profile moment for the San Francisco event [3].
The surprise appearance took place on a Saturday night in August 2024 at the festival's Lands End stage [1, 3]. The Strokes, fronted by Julian Casablancas, welcomed the singer as a special guest to add energy to their performance [1].
Before the performance, the atmosphere was set by a festival announcer who described the incoming performer as a "special little guest; a big guest" and a "superstar" [4]. The invitation followed a light-hearted exchange regarding the commercial success of the singer's recent work [1, 4].
During the interaction, Julian Casablancas referenced the singer's recent album-sales success. "She won. She won by a lot," Casablancas said [1].
The performance served as a bridge between the established rock influence of The Strokes and the contemporary pop dominance of Charli XCX. The pairing highlighted a trend of cross-genre collaborations at major U.S. music festivals, where legacy acts often pair with current chart-topping artists to attract diverse crowds [2, 3].
Fans in attendance witnessed the collaboration as part of the broader Outside Lands lineup, which takes place annually in San Francisco, California [3]. The set concluded with the joint performance of the track, marking a rare live pairing for the two artists [1, 2].
“"She won. She won by a lot."”
This collaboration reflects the blurring lines between indie rock and mainstream pop in the current festival circuit. By integrating a high-selling pop artist into a legacy rock set, The Strokes expanded their reach to a younger demographic while validating the commercial and artistic crossover appeal of Charli XCX.
