"Another Lilith? Why do we even need this?"

This is why.

This music festival is happening, and I would give up my (relatively) good kidney to attend.

Ok, not really (I need that kidney), but damn, I SO wish I could. WHAT A FUCKING LINEUP!

Anyone paying attention to my work knows that I spend a lot of time putting the spotlight on women who are underrepresented and/or fully overlooked, and I find myself often speaking to how society centers men and views anything femme-focused as some sort of goddamn anomaly.

Sometimes I get pushback by dudes who say shit like, "Yeah, well Taylor Swift though" and other things they think are "gotchas."

(Also see: People who think racism is over because Obama was elected president)

But, my god, in the 24 hours since this music festival was announced, nearly every comment section looks like this:

"Lilith Fair?"
"Lilth Fair 2.0."
"Just call it Lilith Fair."
"Ummm...this is basically Lilith Fair. Pass."
"A bunch of chick bands...so Lilith Fair."
"So it's just another Lilith Fair?"
"Another Lilith? Why do we even need this?"
"Lilith Fair called and wants their idea back."

HEY, GUESS WHAT? THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN BY WOMEN ARE UNDERREPRESENTED.

The fact that a female artist has *gasp* put together an all-femme-fronted lineup, and all anyone can think of is Lilith Fair?

Sarah McLachlan's glorious lovechild of Lilith Fair was absolutely revolutionary. There was so much pushback, so much mocking, so much "haha no one's going to go to this chickfest," and it ended up proving everyone wrong. SO wrong.

I've written about it myself (it's already got a spot in Volume III), and there is an amazing documentary out on it that you should watch called "Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery."

And I am so fucking GRATEFUL that I had the privilege of attending and, as a result, being a PART of this "phenomenon" back in 1998.

But the fact that Lilith Fair is the only thing people can think of to compare it to?

A music festival that came to life JUST SHY OF THREE DECADES AGO?

"Lilith Fair called and wants their idea back."

Why is the idea of a festival that features WOMEN, either as the lead focus or making up the entirety of the band, just an "idea" at this point?

"Why do we even need this?"

Well, Brandon, because the second a festival starts even getting CLOSE to having equal gender representation, people start calling it a "chick festival."

We need this because no one bats a fucking eye when festivals exclusively feature men. No one. Because that's seen as "normal."

Has there been any progress?

In 2025, there was actually a DECLINE in gender diversity, as overall female representation at major U.S. festivals dropped from a "whopping" 22% of total acts - to 18%.

Heavy Metal? Dude heavy.

Country music? Festivals like Stagecoach and regional events like the Minnesota Country Club have historically trended toward the lowest metrics, typically seeing a 6%-13% female presence overall on their bill

Femme-fronted acts from all musical genres are often booked for sets earlier in the day, and their names are printed in the smallest font at the bottom of posters - leaving major headlining slots occupied entirely by men.

"Well, maybe it's there just aren't enough women available. That's just facts." - Kyle from Pella, Iowa.

No. That's not "just facts." Facts are that women are less likely to be signed, promoted, and supported by management for sure, but it's not "just facts" that women aren't available, producing music, and so on. It's facts that men AND women still see female fronted bands as a novelty, and it's facts that this is patriarchal programming.

Facts are that, just like in the comedy scene where I've experienced this first hand, that bookers and promoters will balk at signing you because "They've already booked a female act."

They've filled their quota.

Facts are: We need more of this. We need more of this so we can stop being SURPRISED by the existence of women taking up space.