In just a few weeks, the Bay Area will be hosting the inaugural Doll Fest. 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, The Darts, Tsunami Bomb, Dog Party, Naked Aggression, and 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.
First up, we’re chatted with San Francisco’s Tess & the Details. The band released a ripper of an album, Runaway, in 2023 (which I have not stopped listening to). And they have plans for something new this year. Check out our interview below with lead singer and guitarist Tess 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’m Tess Stevens, singer/rhythm guitarist for The Details. We’re excited to play Doll Fest because it’s the first festival we can recall that is bringing together so many diverse artists in the punk genre in our backyard.
Which bands are you most stoked to see or play alongside?
We’ve been following and chatting with The Iron Roses for a while now! We love that band and are looking forward to meeting them in real life, not just over Instagram. We are big fans of BoySetsFire and love the passion that Becky & Natasha have when they perform.
We also consider Tsunami Bomb as the local heroes of our area. Andy and the entire crew have always treated us well and it’s always a pleasure to see them play.
The Vaxxines are like family to us. We see each other all the time and they helped us a bunch of times in the past. They’re are like the ultimate punk band!
But to be honest we’re mostly excited about the bands we haven’t met yet – this is an excellent opportunity for us to see new acts, make new friends, and celebrate our communit
How has the Oakland music scene or Bay Area culture influenced your sound/creative process?
Well, the first band that really catapulted me into punk rock was Green Day… so even when I was a little girl playing her first guitar in Cleveland, Ohio as it was snowing, I was thinking about the Bay Area punk scene and how instrumental it was in creating the things I loved. Now, being part of it is a dream come true. I’m really proud that the Details have become a staple here. We’ve been told we have a classic “Lookout Records” sound with a stadium twist… which is completely cool in my book.
How do you see events like Doll Fest contributing to greater representation and empowerment of women in the music industry?
It’s about time for events like these. I only recall things like “Lilith Fair” a million years ago, and this is much more edgy and current. I’m really proud of our friend Maria and the whole Doll Fest staff for sticking to their guns, getting sponsors, working with venues, and securing bands. I know how much work goes into managing these things. As a woman who manages my band with our drummer, Gideon Berger, it can be very difficult to even be taken seriously. I’m very grateful for events like this and believe that their importance is magnified by the crowd’s response. I hope the scene supports this important work.
What unique challenges have you faced as a female musician and how have you overcome them?
I’ve had a hard time being taken seriously. There have been many times where I’ve been asked whose girlfriend I am when I’ve been carrying a drum or a guitar… and I have to say, “I’m the singer” or “I’m the guitar player.” I know a lot of women run into that in bands. But after many years of being offended I realized, it’s much less painful to be in on the joke.
I’ve also surrounded myself with a great group of men in my band who always put my safety and security first – and are constantly watching my back.
What message do you hope to convey to your audience through your performance at Doll Fest?
The Details is above everything, a rock band. We lead with our music and our performance. We practice. We care about every part of our set – from the songs, to the transitions, to our stage banter, to what we wear.
We want people to have a good time, but at the same time feel safe & comfortable. We hope that our show inspires other little girls to pick up a guitar and start a band. I always looked up to men in the front… I wish I had someone like me.
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