Olivia Rodrigo has been dominating the music charts as of late, following the release of her third studio album, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.” She is further stepping into the music industry spotlight with the announcement of her all-female music festival, which pays homage to the iconic ’90s festival, Lilith Fair. The project highlights Rodrigo’s growing influence beyond her own chart-topping career.
On June 22, Olivia Rodrigo posted a special announcement on social media, unveiling a one-day music festival featuring all-female artists. “I’ve had a dream of doing this festival for years and I am so ecstatic it’s [sic] finally coming true!!” the 23-year-old singer wrote.
Apart from Rodrigo, among those included in the lineup are Chappell Roan, Garbage, Doechii, Katseye, Santigold, Quiet Light, and many others, along with special guests Sarah McLachlan, Karen O, and Stevie Nicks.
Ticket prices range from $250 to $1,250, and ticket and hotel packages are also available. The festival will be held on August 29 at Great Park in Irvine, California, and pre-sale begins on June 24 at 10 a.m. PT.
The Singer Is Fulfilling Her Dream
In a cover story interview for Pitchfork published on June 22, Rodrigo discussed her long-time dream of staging an all-female music festival inspired by Lilith Fair. “I actually feel like it’s my calling in some weird way. I have had this dream to do this festival for a really long time,” the singer said.
Rodrigo further explained her mission for Daisy Chain Fields, saying that there has been so much “cruelty in the world” as of late, and the festival is a way to bring “strong and beautiful” artists together. None of the artists performing will make a profit, as the singer shared. Instead, proceeds will be donated to selected non-profit organizations and charities, including the National Women’s Law Center, Planned Parenthood, and Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health.
“I just feel like we need something really positive to do and see, and young girls need awesome role models who are supporting other women and who are engaging in something that’s really joyful and musical and community-oriented,” Rodrigo added.
Olivia Rodrigo Was Influenced By Lilith Fair
Rodrigo also discussed the entertainment landscape, noting that in the past it was “cool” for celebrities to discuss politics, which she believes is no longer the case. “It’s not encouraged. But that’s what the original Lilith Fair was about — they wouldn’t book two women on a bill, they wouldn’t play two women back-to-back on the radio,” she said.
Lilith Fair was an all-female music festival and tour co-founded by Marty Diamond, Dan Fraser, Terry McBride, and Sarah McLachlan. It ran from 1997 to 1999 and featured artists such as Sheryl Crow, Tracy Chapman, Fiona Apple, Bonnie Raitt, Pat Benatar, Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, Aimee Mann, and Sinead O’Connor, just to name a few.
McLachlan was motivated to launch Lilith Fair after promoters told her that she couldn’t put two women on the same bill. She brought Paula Cole as her opening act on her tour, which proved successful, prompting her to launch Lilith Fair to showcase female bands and solo artists.
Lilith Fair Was A Groundbreaking Success
In an interview with NPR, McLachlan shared how frustrating the sexism in the industry was. “So the beginning of this was just born out of a desire to come together as a community. And it became this – we’re going to break down some barriers. We’re going to prove these guys wrong.”
Lilith Fair’s first show in 1997 was sold out and became the top-grossing music festival tour of that year, with $16 million in revenue. By its third year, Lilith Fair had grossed $52 million, with a fraction of the earnings donated to women’s charities.
The festival ended in 1999 due to burnout, as McLachlan said. She attempted to revive Lilith Fair in 2010, but said it was a “colossal failure, because the intentions were not as pure.”
“If it were to succeed today it would have to be someone new to carry the torch, a new artist… and it doesn’t have to be called Lilith. It can be someone else,” McLachlan said in 2017.
Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields Has Fans Excited
Rodrigo explains Daisy Chain Fields as a “hippie girl, riot grrrl punk type of thing, like flower child meets riot grrrl.” Following her announcement, fans flocked to the comments section to express their excitement.
“Can’t wait for chappell & olivia,” one fan wrote. “Love seeing you use your platform to empower other female artists,” another one noted. “CHAPPELL, DOECHII, KATSEYE, MITSKI, OLIVIA and STEVIE NICKS?!?!?!?!?! OMG THIS IS AMAZING,” wrote another. Even MTV posted a comment, saying, “you are the coolest ever.”
