You could say she is putting her money where her mouth is when it comes to a future for live music that is run by women. The new Daisy Chain Fields event, also on the 29th at the same spot in Irvine, will have a roster of headliners, cult darlings and some you won’t have heard of yet. The idea is unapologetic: a bill made up of women that is also a cause for celebration.
Why this is more than just a show
We are in the middle of a pop renaissance led by women, but for Rodrigo to put together and front a marquee festival is a different sort of statement. It isn’t just a matter of who is on stage, but who you are sharing a platform with, no matter the genre or the year they broke out.
Then there is the fact that it puts Rodrigo in a position of influence well beyond what you see on a chart or a tour poster. She has been a force to be reckoned with since 2021’s Sour; this is how she refines that. Consider it another must-see for 2026.
Some of the names on the bill
Rodrigo is in charge of the curation and will be the one to headline on both stages. We’re talking special guests like Stevie Nicks, plus Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Sarah McLachlan. You can count on some serious fanfare for them.
The rest of the card is for those looking to be moved or to find something new. There is Chappell Roan’s kind of over-the-top showmanship, then you have the rawness of Mitski. Doechii has the swagger, KATSEYE has the global pop vibe. It’s a mix that works in an arena or on your phone screen.
And don’t forget the guitars. You have the riot grrrl history of Bikini Kill, the staying power of Garbage and the indie chops of The Breeders to give it some teeth. On the other side, you’ve got the likes of Die Spitz and newcomers such as Eli, Quiet Light, Rachel Chinouriri and Not for Radio to make sure the lineup doesn’t get old.
On the giving side of things
This is a festival with a conscience. The word from the top is that every last cent of the net proceeds is going to the kinds of organisations that work with women and girls. So the good times are in service of something bigger.
Her people have put together a list of partners in health, rights and the like. Here are a few of them:
– Baby2Baby
– Black Mamas Matter Alliance
– Center for Reproductive Rights
– National Women’s Law Center
– Planned Parenthood
It goes on from there with FreeForm, Jhpiego, the National Domestic Workers Alliance and others. When you buy in, you are casting a vote for some real-world change.
How to get in
If you want to be first in line, you can register for the presale on the site now. We’ll have the rest of the details in the next few weeks. In the meantime, you can start making plans before it is gone.
They are banking on the crowd wanting in. Put some of Nicks’ star quality with the kind of heat Chappell Roan is bringing and you have the kind of cross-generational draw that makes a festival. Toss in the all-women angle and the charity, and you have a first-timer with some clout.
Rodrigo has called it a dream of hers for a while, and now it is time to put it into practice. The point of it all is community – using music to bring people in and having a good time about it. Come August 29 in Irvine, we’ll see how it plays out, with the focus right where it should be: on the women.
