Charli XCX joined The Strokes for a surprise performance of “Take It or Leave It” during the band’s headlining set at the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The collaboration followed a playful, well-publicized sales rivalry between the two artists, who both released new albums on the same day in July 2026.
The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas introduced the British pop star to the crowd as a “superstar” before the pair traded vocals on the track, which originally appeared on the band’s 2001 debut album, Is This It. According to Rolling Stone, Casablancas joked about their recent chart competition, kneeling on stage to tell Charli XCX, “Congratulations. You have defeated us in album sales. You’re new queen of everything.”
Context of the Collaborative Performance
The guest appearance served as a lighthearted acknowledgment of the simultaneous release of Charli XCX’s Music, Fashion, Film and The Strokes’ Reality Awaits on July 24, 2026. While the two artists competed for commercial performance, the tone at Outside Lands remained celebratory. Consequence reported that following the duet, Casablancas reiterated the sales outcome to the audience, stating, “She won. She won by a lot.”
This performance marked another intersection in the artists’ careers. Earlier in the year, Casablancas collaborated with Charli XCX on a reworked version of the song “Mean Girls” for her remix project, Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat. The Outside Lands appearance was particularly notable as Charli XCX had headlined the festival’s opening night just one day prior to her guest spot with The Strokes.
Touring Schedules and Future Appearances
The Strokes continue their 2026 tour schedule, with upcoming dates in Japan for the Summer Sonic festivals in Tokyo and Osaka on August 14 and August 15, respectively. Following their Japanese dates, the band is set to perform across North America and Europe throughout the autumn, including shows at London’s The O2 in October. Detailed ticketing information for the band’s remaining 2026 tour dates is available through official promoter channels.
Charli XCX is scheduled to continue her “Music, Fashion, Film Tour,” with upcoming headlining appearances at the Reading and Leeds festivals in the United Kingdom on August 28 and August 29. Her North American tour leg is slated to commence in September, featuring stops at major venues including the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and the TD Garden in Boston. Fans looking for updates on setlists or potential future collaborations can monitor official social media channels for both artists as their respective tours progress.
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