Last year, a new festival held their first event in the Bay Area in California. Doll Fest describes itself as “a celebration of the feminine energy, friendship, and community gathering together in support of one another.” This year, Doll Fest is back! Volume II will be held THIS WEEKEND in Oakland, CA on March 28th and 29th with a pre-party on the 27th. And the lineup this year is just as jaw dropping and inspiring as the last.
We wanted to get in on the action, so we’ve asked the amazing bands a handful of questions about the festival including who they’re stoked to be playing with and what they think a festival of this caliber means to our scene.
We spoke with Ailish, Lyla, and Talulah of Oakland’s BitchFit about femme rage, riot grrrl resistance, and why Doll Fest is exactly the kind of space women and femmes deserve in a scene still shaped by white male dominance. They reflect on refusing silence, making the right people uncomfortable, and channeling anger into music that uplifts, empowers, and reminds everyone in the room that their voices fucking matter. Check out the interview below and grab your tickets to Doll Fest today!
Interview
What does playing a femme-only festival like Doll Fest mean to you personally?
Ailish – Playing a femme only festival is so important especially in this white male dominated genre. I think it’s so crucial we give women the space we deserve, and the voice we have. What we say fucking matters, and we will not let hate be swept under the rug any longer!
Lyla – Femme only festivals are such an incredible opportunity to uplift bands that otherwise head-on face the hate and misogyny our society is full of, and being able to be part of that is so special and something that we’re greatly thankful for. Femme bands deserve all the reach, love, and platform that non-femme bands have, and were here to use said platform to say the things our white male christo-centric society doesn’t want to hear.
Talulah – playing a femme only festival is such an awesome opportunity, because we need more spaces like this where women and femmes are uplifted. Women should be given opportunities to speak up and use our voices and not be distracted and fearful of white male dominance.
How does playing a festival like this shift the energy—on stage or in the crowd?
Ailish – This our first time being a part of a festival so I can’t say I know, but I’m really excited to be given this opportunity and find out!
What would you want a younger version of yourself to feel seeing this lineup?
Ailish – I would want her to know what she has to say matters, and that this lineup is a prime example of that. I would want her to know that the stars are worth chasing, and that her voice isn’t something to be afraid of.
Talulah – She would be so so happy and excited to see all these badass woman and femmes in a room together playing music.
What does “taking up space” look like for you as a femme musician?
Ailish – Taking up space means not backing down. What I say matters and just because I’m not wrapped in a pretty bow, doesn’t mean my voice is anything less than intensely important.
Lyla – For me, taking up space looks like not letting the people with societal power push us down and silence us. Taking up space means taking the space and making our voices heard no matter how much people want to drown out our voices. Taking up space means pissing people off, calling people out and not letting ourselves be scienced or unheard.
Talulah – taking up space for me means saying the things that are necessary and not spoken up about enough.
Who are some femme artists—past or present—who have inspired you or paved the way?
Ailish – Bikini kill and Kathleen Hanna have been a huge inspiration to not only the art that i create, but how I carry myself. Remembering that I can take up space, and my screams are necessary. Other artists like Bratmobile, Nina Simone, Spitboy, Patti Smith, The instants, Babes in Toyland, Kim Gordon, and X-Ray-Specs carry that same message. Another recent band that is absolutely badass is Amyl and the Sniffers, a constant inspiration. Specifically Frightwig has been so inspirational and special to me and BitchFit. They’ve been such a guiding light empowering us to stay strong and be ourselves.
Lyla – Some femme artists that have really inspired me are classic riot grrrl bands like Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Heavens to Betsy & X-Ray-Specs who all inspired me to stop being afraid of being heard, but also artists like Hailey Williams, Courtney Leplane, Amy Lee, Sarah Mackie & all their adjacent bands have inspired and defined my music taste and the art I create.
Talulah – my biggest inspirations are definitely Alison Wolfe from Bratmobile, Kathleen Hannah, Kat Bjelland, X-Ray-Specs, Crass, Rudimentary Peni, and Detestation.
How does your identity influence your music, performance style, or the stories you tell?
Ailish – My identity creates my music; within performance I’ve learned so much about my identity that I was too scared to Find. It’s so easy, especially as a girl, to try and hide anger, to disguise and reimagine it. But I don’t wanna sit down and be pretty, I don’t wanna fit into standard and norms I didn’t agree to. Who I am is the story I tell, and who I am is unapologetic about what needs to be said.
Talulah – My style, personality and politics shape my music taste and the way I create my art.
How does your lived experience show up in your lyrics or live performance?
Ailish- What I go through everyday manifests on stage and drives me to find peace in ignoring silence. I write lyrics out of my experiences, my anger, and my extreme need to speak out.
What is one local or regional band near you that you want the whole world to know about and want them to play Doll Fest?
Ailish- The band Bombshell is an Oakland/SF based band and they are KICK ASS!! Ava the vocalist and front woman has done so much for BitchFit and for the scene. Bombshell has a mix of classic punk, with ’90s grunge and riot grrrl creating their unique sound. Ava is my punk rock fairy godmother and the coolest grrrl around town!
Have you experienced moments where being a femme artist shaped how you were received in the music scene?
Ailish – Definitely, I think being a girl has influenced not only how we are perceived but how we are treated. It can be really infuriating sometimes but we are making the right people angry so I can’t really complain.
Lyla – Without a doubt. Hearing snide remarks after our sets, hearing about members of our bay community directing their misogyny at us and the people who have tried to push us down has only made the need for us to stand up more apparent and important. We piss off the people who need to get pissed off, and the people who scream the loudest and dance hardest at our shows feel uplifted and free, so who cares what they say right?
Go Grrrrls!!!! Loud and Proud❤️