2025/09/20 Portola, San Francisco DJ Set

[gfa2001]

Just announced!

Alongside The Prodigy, Underworld, LCD soundsystem and more!

[rynostar]

DESPACIO!!! CHEMS DJ SET!!! FUCK YEAH!!!

[Wolkenkrabber]

Oh!

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[ThePumisher]

Thats some lineup 



Edit: Ok, so whats Ski Aggu doing on that list? Does anybody outside of germany even know him?

[Bosco]

hard to say no to this!

Christina Aguilera is an unusual one...

[inchemwetrust]

Never thought I see Chems, Moby, Underworld, and Prodigy all in one place ( I'm sure they were or in some mixed way back in the day)

[Bosco]

Tiered GA pricing. 2 day pass starts at $399 and 1 day starts at $279... Ouch!


The DJ set will likely be no more than 1hr30mins. I don't think they've had a singular artist or DJ surpass that set allotment.

That being said, they've twice debuted a new track at DJed festivals that were produced by Goldenvoice.

Coachella 2001: It Began In Afrika
Coachella 2009: Escape Velocity
Portola 2025: ?? (Not guaranteed)

 

[Stefan]

That line-up looks fantastic!

[gfa2001]

hard to say no to this!

Christina Aguilera is an unusual one...

They always have a pop act or two - was Nelly Furtado and Natasha Bedingfield last year

Tiered GA pricing. 2 day pass starts at $399 and 1 day starts at $279... Ouch!


The DJ set will likely be no more than 1hr30mins. I don't think they've had a singular artist or DJ surpass that set allotment.

That being said, they've twice debuted a new track at DJed festivals that were produced by Goldenvoice.

Coachella 2001: It Began In Afrika
Coachella 2009: Escape Velocity
Portola 2025: ?? (Not guaranteed)

 

Chems do have a special billing though on it. I doubt they would bother for less than 2 hours - they usually like 3 hours, they did 2 at Glastonbury when basically everyone else did a single hour on Arcaida for example.

Shame the lineup suggests they will be at the same time as LCD . Portola always has unreal lineups

Last year had nothing over 1h30, but there were 2 hour sets in 2022 and 2023, although both were b2bs but there are two of them I guess! (assuming these clashfinders are correct)

https://clashfinder.com/s/portolafestival2022/
https://clashfinder.com/s/portolafestival2023/

[instantreigen]

Edit: Ok, so whats Ski Aggu doing on that list? Does anybody outside of germany even know him?

I was thinking the exact same thing. Never would have guessed The Chemical Brothers and Ski Aggu out of all people would be in the same building

[Bosco]

Shame the lineup suggests they will be at the same time as LCD .

I don't think they will overlap. Christina Aguilera (Main) will most likely be counter programming to Chems (Warehouse). And Anti Up (Warehouse) will probably be the counter to LCD Soundsystem (Main).


As for set times. Chems did 1hr30mins at Coachella 2009, I wouldn't expect anything more than that. Nothing wrong with a little more condensed set. That Coachella DJ set in 2009 was pretty legendary and straight fire (Am I doing it right, kids?). Probably the last time the Sahara tent was its proper self before it became the monstrosity it is now.

[whirlygirl]

When the NY set was announced, I had hoped the Chems would make their way out west. Then the Portola announcement. My jaw hit the floor twice. Once for the Chems, and again when I saw the rest of the lineup! Holy wow!

To anyone on the fence, never ever underestimate the power of a Chemical Brothers DJ set! And don't let their not playing a live gig and the absence of giant robots dissuade you from going to this festival. Saw the Chems DJ and reveal Escape Velocity at Coachella and it was positively electric. Hopeful. Magical. I had seen them DJ before but was not expecting to feel the things I was feeling during that set!

And Portola is such a fabulous festival. Seeing the Chems there at the first Portola brought me back to the first time I saw the Chems (in my mind, lol) Just go, if you can. San Francisco is just... a vibe. <3

That said the timing and logistics on my end will force me to miss out on this one, I'm afraid.

[gfa2001]

I don't think they will overlap. Christina Aguilera (Main) will most likely be counter programming to Chems (Warehouse). And Anti Up (Warehouse) will probably be the counter to LCD Soundsystem (Main).


As for set times. Chems did 1hr30mins at Coachella 2009, I wouldn't expect anything more than that. Nothing wrong with a little more condensed set. That Coachella DJ set in 2009 was pretty legendary and straight fire (Am I doing it right, kids?). Probably the last time the Sahara tent was its proper self before it became the monstrosity it is now.

The special billing suggests the chems are headlining the warehouse to me (and will therefore clash with LCD, who would be headlining the main stage).

[Bosco]

The special billing suggests the chems are headlining the warehouse to me (and will therefore clash with LCD, who would be headlining the main stage).

I see what you're saying. But 99% certain Goldenvoice wouldn't let LCD Soundsystem conflict with Chemical Brothers. Same as Moby, Underworld, and The Prodigy on Sunday. 

I'll drink a beer in your honor if I'm wrong.

[inchemwetrust]

Got my ticket!

Servers were down for a good 20-30 min for the presale. They also disconnected us while we were in line! 

Was in third in line , disconnected, now behind 344th place.

Then they paused the line after everyone's difficulty getting in! Then it started again! Took me a good 4 min to seal the deal! 

DESPACIO AWAITS! HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS!

[rynostar]

DESPACIO AWAITS! HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS!

Happiness awaits us! The video above is from the Hammersmith gig in December 2013. It was bliss.

Had the same issue as you @inchemwetrust with tix. Got mine for 2-day. Portola has been my yearly pilgrimage. Every year has me coming out with a mad story.

With this being my first chems DJ set and first Despacio in a decade... I'll be in heaven.

@whirlygirl man...I was hoping to see / hug you and stash again...

[inchemwetrust]

Happiness awaits us! The video above is from the Hammersmith gig in December 2013. It was bliss.

Portola has been my yearly pilgrimage. Every year has me coming out with a mad story.

With this being my first chems DJ set and first Despacio in a decade... I'll be in heaven

I've been watching this one for a bit 

https://youtu.be/ztcVU_PQYLE?si=6eSiGSXXnkQJmqD5

So, this is the Balearic music the Chems have been talking about in so many interviews when DJing in Ibiza right?

Very interesting yet I feel a calling for me to glue my eyes to that glimmering ball in the middle of this elite sound system.

This will be my first DESPACIO and my 2nd Chems dj set! Your gonna love it so much Ryno, when we get done and step out from both those dj sets, we're gonna be glowing brighter than Gandalf the White himself.

I originally planned to do both days but I'm saving my expenses for a vacation that's coming next month, so I'll be going on Saturday only! 

It's gonna be weird without Whirls and hubby not coming. 😥 

I can't wait to meet any of you who decide to come to SF! 

[Bosco]

I have the heart and desire of someone who wants to be there, and certainly will be keeping that time open to try it and make it happen. But if I'm honest, I've failed to deliver on these west coast opportunities for awhile now.

One thing I know is, this DJ set is gonna be an epic night with a great crowd.

Does anyone have a feeling they might do an official pre or aftershow (DJ) gig?