Doll Fest starts today! The two day festival will take place at the Cornerstone in Berkeley, CA and is “a celebration of the feminine energy, friendship, and community gathering together in support of one another.”
The lineup is a jaw dropping list of rad bands all with a femme energy to them along with multi-genre artists. Doll Fest will feature artists such as The Iron Roses, Tsunami Bomb, Dog Party, Tess & The Details and many more on March 1st and 2nd along with a pre-show party on February 28th.
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 chatted with Katie Cash, who has been a rock n’ roll staple in the Bay Area for over 25 years. She is an award-winning singer/songwriter/guitarist for her solo project Katie Cash Band and all female, queer rock n’ soul band Skip The Needle. Check out our interview below and grab your tickets to Doll Fest now via their website here!
Interview
Tell us a little about yourself and why you’re excited to play Doll Fest.
I love music! I love everything about it and it saves my life, everyday. It’s so exciting to be a part of this debut festival that is celebrating women empowerment and the community effort to truly smash the patriarchy.
Which bands are you most stoked to see or play alongside?
I’m so stoked to play alongside each one of these bands. Particularly psyched to see my buddy Ash smash in gloomy june, The Darts are amazing, Trap Girl, Tsunami Bomb, Moon Sick. The list goes on and on and the line up is insane!
How has the Oakland music scene or Bay Area culture influenced your sound/creative process?
I was born and bred in the Bay and I’m so grateful to have been steeped in its musical culture. I’m grateful to be surrounded by so many talented and creative people and have the opportunity to collaborate with all different types of artists.
My brother Pete, who is playing drums with me at Doll Fest, was in a bunch of bands, including The Loudmouths. Going to their shows as a young teenager and seeing their front women Beth and Dulce rip it up had a huge impact on me as a young player. I got to see an incredible list of legendary punk bands in tiny clubs and it was glorious and truly inspiring.
How do you see events like Doll Fest contributing to greater representation and empowerment of women in the music industry?
Doll Fest’s distinct mission and visibility is refreshing. We are in a time where female empowerment is celebrated in a way that it has not been before. The line up, the sponsors, the vendors, the producers are women and/or folx that are lifting up women within the industry. This will continue to give other artists, promoters, producers and events permission to lift each other up with intention and tenacity.
What unique challenges have you or your bandmates faced as female musician, and how have you overcome them?
I would say, what haven’t I faced as a female musician. Everything from “pretty good for a girl” to being harassed, being questioned about why we are on the bill, if we are able to get our gear off in time, being low balled, being bashed, assaulted, you name it, it’s probably happened. I just keep going. I am who I am and I am going to give it my all, no matter what people think I am capable of. Staying true to myself has always been the answer to overcoming any adversity.
What message do you hope to convey to your audience through your performance at Doll Fest?
Women rock, we roll, we smash, we love, we play hard and we are badass! No matter how you identify, present, or how you are perceived, there is a place for you on that stage. If you love to play music, keep playing and give it all you’ve got! What you do, who you are and what you love matters. Stay true to yourself, always.
Love you always Katie!!! Well said and carry on!!!