Olivia Rodrigo made her debut as a festival founder on Aug. 29 with the first-ever Daisy Chain Fields festival at Great Park in Irvine, California.
The one-day festival brought together approximately 45,000 fans and featured an all-women lineup designed to celebrate female artists while supporting organizations that advocate for women and girls. The festival featured performances from Rodrigo along with Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Bikini Kill, Garbage, Santigold, the Breeders and other female artists.
Daisy Chain Fields was inspired by Lilith Fair, the influential women-led music festival founded by Sarah McLachlan in the 1990s. Rodrigo told ABC News that Lilith Fair played an important role in inspiring her to create her own festival.
One of the most memorable moments came during Rodrigo's closing performance when she was joined by Sarah McLachlan and Stevie Nicks.
Rodrigo and McLachlan performed together, creating a connection between different generations of women in music. The performances reflected the festival's larger goal of bringing women of different ages and backgrounds together through music.
The festival's purpose went beyond music. The Daisy Chain Fields festival transformed collective pop-culture spaces into a hub for political power and intergenerational community building.
Net proceeds were donated to 10 nonprofit organizations focusing on issues including reproductive rights, maternal health, economic empowerment, domestic violence prevention and gender equality. The festival initially raised $10 million, and philanthropist Melinda Gates matched the amount, bringing the total to $20 million.
The success of the first Daisy Chain Fields festival could create a model for future events centered on women in music and philanthropy. With its large audience, high-profile performers and about $20 million raised for nonprofit organizations, the festival made a strong statement about the influence of women in the music industry and the power of fans to support causes beyond the concert stage.
Daisy Chain Fields marks a new step in Olivia Rodrigo's career as she moves into creating large-scale events with a social purpose. By combining popular music with philanthropy, she used her platform to highlight women artists and raise money for organizations supporting women and girls.
In its first year, the festival made its mark as a celebration of music, community and women’s empowerment.
The arts desk can be reached at arts@ubspectrum.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
