Bad Copy

Hands Off Our Fest (HOOF) is back again to celebrate the women, femmes, and thems of the Chicago punk scene! Just in time for the Halloween season, the one day festival will return to Blue Island on October 19th from 3 to 11PM. 

The music festival is celebrating their sophomore year after last year’s success and promises to be bigger and better than before, featuring live musical performances, drag, stand up comedy, a Halloween costume contest, and much more.

Birdy Vee, founder of H.O.O.F. and frontwoman of Chicago lipstick-punk band Sweetie, was emboldened by the success and joy of last year’s very first Hands Off Our Fest, and she boasts that this year will be even more “delightful and bewitching.” 

Vee shares:

“When I began organizing the first H.O.O.F., I was feeling really run down and intimidated by many of the negative experiences I had dealt with as a woman in the music scene. There were times where I felt really upset and run-down. Instead of quitting, I put my background in community organizing to the test and took on the task of organizing my own festival.”

“I really wanted to make something that would bring together the women, femmes, thems, and queer folks of the Chicago music scene and give us the opportunity to bond, grow our community, and create space for ourselves. Last year’s event was truly so special and heartwarming that I knew I absolutely needed to organize another Hands Off Our Fest.  Last year’s festival had the same joyful, bubbly vibes as a slumber party, and I hope this year is even more fun and jubilant. Especially since the lineup this year is, once again, absolutely killer!”

The lineup of musicians include Sweetie, The Rumours (IA), The Daddy Sisters (KY), Boybrain, The Cell Phones, Sparkling Urbana, Carnivore Mommy, and Peach Vomit. The event also features a drag show hosted by Kai Valentine, with performances by Ichabod Vicious, Dr. Caligirlie, and Dolce Vita, accompanied by standup comedy from The Queeny Bitch. Teddi Garson of Electric Tattoo Parlour returns once again with their HOOF-themed on-site flash tattoos, donating part of their proceeds to Youth Outlook, a local charity supporting local LGBTQ+ youth. 

The festival is all ages (concertgoers under 17 must bring an adult). Tickets can be found on the Blue Island Beer Co. website for $25 presale and $30 at the door.