Olivia Rodrigo’s Debut Feminist Festival Makes History

On Saturday, Olivia Rodrigo welcomed 45,000 people into Great Park in Irvine, to gather under the California sun, surround themselves with daisies and some of the greatest women in music.

Inspired by Lilith Fair, Rodrigo created a space centred around women to celebrate and raise an extortionate 20 million dollars for different charities who focus on advancing and advocating for women and girls.

The lineup

From Chappell Roan to Stevie Nicks, Sarah McLachlan and the celebration of the life of Dolly Parton, Olivia Rodrigo’s inaugural festival brought generations of women together in one place.

With ten acts across two stages, the day kicked off with singer Quiet Light on the Marigold stage, followed by the remainder of the female-dominated lineup including Mitski, Bikini Kill, Doechii, and Not For Radio, to name a few.

The night concluded with Olivia Rodrigo’s iconic headline set joined by special guests Sarah McLachlan, performing a touching tribute to the late Dolly Parton, as well as Alanis Morissette and Stevie Nicks, all who really stole the show.

Not to forget a surprise crowd appearance from Emma Watson who was spotted enjoying Chappell Roan’s ‘Hot To Go!’.

The girlhood aesthetic

Festival goers took inspiration from Olivia’s girly yet grungy aesthetic, rocking babydoll dresses with biker boots, bedazzled with hair gems. Meanwhile others were seen in crochet mini skirts, embroidered shorts, baby tees, bandanas and florals galore.

When it comes to accessories, attendees exhibited shoulder purses or tote bags complimented by protest inspired pins and badges, and of course, a multitude of daisy chains worn as crowns.

 

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Rodrigo kicked off the Daisy Chain Fields weekend proudly sporting a custom Palestinian label’s Nöl Collective dress, adorned with traditional embroidery.

On the night she showcased a 1995 Spring collection vintage Versace sundress, paired with knee-high lace up boots, white ribbon details and a daisy in her hair, making sure her festival look was on theme. Her lookbook encapsulated the festival’s feminine, whimsical aesthetic to perfection.

Beyond the music

The music was definitely not the only thing attracting attention at Daisy Chain Fields. Beyond the stages, festival attendees could enjoy the immersive experience of your not so average festival, by visiting the feminist art installations, second hand clothing pop ups and local female food vendors.

What other festival can you venture to the bead fountain in between sets to make your own beaded charm bracelets or seek shade under the wish tree?

 

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Even the stages were cleverly designed to make an impact. Each of the two stages were plastered in gigantic mock badges much like the political buttons once pinned to denim jackets.

Each badge represented one of the 10 Daisy Chain Fields non-for-profit partners. Olivia kept her sheer activism impossible to miss, by turning the stages themselves into one huge and colourful statement for its audience.

Activism

Of course, Daisy Chain Fields wasn’t created solely for the photo opportunities. Music met activism when days before the festival’s approach, Olivia declared her donation of 10 million dollars to be evenly distributed to each of the 10 non-profit charity partners of the festival.

These partners include Baby2Baby, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Centre for Reproductive Rights, FreeFrom, Jhpiego, Johns Hopkins Centre for Indigenous Health, National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Institute for Reproductive Health, National Women’s Law Centre and Planned Parenthood.

 

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To top this off, Melinda French Gates made an extraordinarily special on stage announcement, pledging to double this figure, amounting the total donation to 20 million dollars.

Before the final notes of Olivia and Stevie Nick’s duet of ‘Landslide’, Daisy Chain Fields had soared beyond all expectations, and had proven itself to be far more than any other celebrity-created festival.

With its powerful lineup, iconic aesthetic and unapologetic activism, Olivia Rodrigo curated a day that celebrates female voices both on and off stage. A day that will most definitely go down in history, until next year.

Words by Gillian Murphy