Olivia Rodrigo has launched Daisy Chain Fields, an all-women music festival that marks a significant moment in concert history. Held in August at Great Park in Irvine, California, the inaugural event drew 45,000 attendees and featured a diverse lineup spanning multiple genres and generations, including artists such as Chappell Roan, Mitski, Bikini Kill, and Garbage. Rodrigo headlined the festival while performing material from her latest album, alongside special guest appearances from industry legends Alanis Morissette and Stevie Nicks.
The festival was directly inspired by Sarah McLachlan’s groundbreaking Lilith Fair, which operated from 1997 to 1999 as a response to pervasive sexism in the music industry. When Rodrigo decided to create Daisy Chain, McLachlan was the first person she consulted. McLachlan described her immediate reaction as one of joy, viewing the new festival as a continuation of the work she began decades earlier in challenging industry barriers that discouraged multiple female artists from performing together.
Beyond its cultural significance, Daisy Chain Fields also made a substantial philanthropic impact. The festival raised $10 million in donations supporting women’s advocacy organizations, including the Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood. That amount was subsequently matched by philanthropist Melinda French Gates, doubling the contribution to $20 million. Rodrigo emphasized that the festival aims to create a safe space for young women and girls, similar to what music provided her during her formative years.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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