“And on the main stage at British Summertime now... it’s Le Tigre! No, wait. It’s Arcade Fire. Huh. Ok”
Break out those long-neglected tents, for music fest season is fast upon us. At the time of press, lineups for this year’s crop of beery jamborees look much the same in terms of absent women. PJ Harvey tops the Field Day bill (11-12 June), Rihanna is at V Fest, co-headlining alongside Justin Beiber (19-21 Aug), Adele is at Glastonbury (22-26 June) and a trio of greats crown the bill at this year’s End Of The Road (2-4 Sept): Joanna Newsome, Cat Power and Bat For Lashes. But men still rule the roost, topping bills at Lovebox, Wireless, T In The Park, Download, Reading & Leeds, Latitude and Bestival.
Gender disparity is a perennial issue at music fests, and each year, organisers find themselves under increasing scrutiny – from fans, fest-goers and the media – to right those scales. Female artists have dominated the charts of late, from Adele (with 25) and Taylor Swift (1989) to Beyoncé (Lemonade). Why aren’t they topping festival bills, in greater numbers, too?