Sad Grrrls Fest comes at a time when voices surrounding representation and safety within music communities are at their loudest. Perceptions are changing and people are taking necessary steps to make the spaces we all love so dearly inclusive for women and LGBTIQA+ people. While this feels overdue, the day is an appropriate celebration for how far we’ve come while serving as a reminder of what the wider music community should be striving towards.
Navigating to the festival among the footy crowds was something of a challenge but once you crossed the threshold you knew you were in the right place. An early highlight was an afternoon set from Dogood whose vocals, while sweet in their delivery, lay down hard truths about love and life. Beloved Elk delivered a charged set that saw their distinctive post rock style going further than it ever had before, while The Girl Fridas impressed with their intelligent lyrics and a cover of The Breeders classic Cannonball.
The acoustic acts in the beer garden were a perfect middle ground between the two stages, with performers that include Sandy Hsu, Rin McArdle and Sad Grrrls Club founder and festival organiser Rachel Maria Cox delivering incredible sets.
Alex Lahey took to the stage just as the sun set but there was more than enough energy to compensate. It’s been a whirlwind year for her and this translated into a performance that was jubilant and impossibly fun. Later in the evening Simona Castricum transformed The Reverence into a rave party with her irresistibly hypnotic, pounding compositions.
Camp Cope delivered a victorious set to a room full to the brim, slipping in their cover of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s song Maps alongside tracks off their debut album. It’s hard not to get emotional looking around and seeing so many people singing along to every word, clearly resonating with every line delivered by vocalist Georgia Maq. Jess Ribeiro and Jaala rounded out the night with sets consisting of mostly new material, both taking the time to highlight just how important a festival like this is for them as female performers.
The general consensus at Sad Grrrls Fest was that we were all part of something truly special. In an environment typically dominated by men, the feeling of being represented not just on stage but in the crowd, was incredibly powerful. Inclusivity on a festival lineup should be a standard and Sad Grrls Fest is paving the way for this to be the future of music.
WORDS BY HOLLY PEREIRA
IMAGE BY ANNA MADDEN
Loved: Being surrounded by so many amazing people.
Hated: Wisdom tooth pain.
Drank: In celebration of the greatest event I’ve ever attended.
