SOAK AND SHURA HEADLINE FIRST 100% FEMALE LINE UP MUSIC FESTIVAL
A new and bespoke live music festival created solely by women takes place on 11-14 October 2019 headlined by Manchestersynth-pop star SHURA and Derry-born indie-folk prodigy SOAK – both Glastonbury standouts. Friday night will be curated by Brit-Award winning singer-songwriter KT Tunstall.
A pioneering festival for women in music, DIVA Music Festival is passionate about music fans, rights and equality; bringing the most talented women in music together under one roof in an inclusive and accessible environment.
“It is the only UK festival to boast 100% female bill”
Of UK festival line-ups in 2018, 70% were all-male bands with just 19% all-female bands and 11% mixed. DIVA Music Festival features undeniably talented female-fronted musicians booked because of talent rather than their gender.
“Of UK festival line-ups in 2018, 70% were all-male bands”
The festival, co-founded and produced by singer-songwriter and actor Heather Peace, aims to promote female empowerment and diminish inequality and discrimination in the music industry. Peace will also perform at the festival.
Friday headliner SHURA comes fresh from her standout performance at Glastonbury 2019. The self-proclaimed, “friendly neighbourhood lesbian vaping pope” Shura returned from a three year hiatus with new singles, the sizzling BKLYNLDN and her latest release religion (u can lay your hands on me). Her highly anticipated new album Forevher is out in August.
Mercury-nominated songwriter SOAK – aka Bridie Monds-Watson – headlines Saturday night. Once a teenage prodigy, 22-year-old SOAK now emanates maturity following the release of second album, Grim Town. Melancholic and dream-filled, her new material breathes life into her sobering romantic vision, conjuring danceable heartbreak anthems fit for any main stage. Last month, SOAK made her US TV debut on US show Late Night With Seth Meyers – an explosive taste of things to come.
“The aim of DIVA Music Festival? To elevate female talents into the positions they have rightfully earned”
The festival will stage some of the best live music from across the world including DJ’s playing into the early hours. KT Tunstall will also DJ joined by X Factor and Eurovision singer Saara Aalto, 4x UK beatbox champion turned electro-pop legend Grace Savage, The L Word’s BETTY, Londonerand audio-visual pioneer synth star Ariana & The Rose whose anthemic new track True Love became a global pride anthem.
An eclectic host of live acts await DIVA festival-goers who want to bop ’til they drop (or sway while they play) with stages will be bouncing to the sounds of Cat Burns, LANTA, Lots Holloway, Toya Delazy, Kal Lavelle, LAKY, The Coaltown Daisies, Charlotte Carpenter, Katey Brooks and Xylaroo.
The aim of the festival? To elevate female talents into the positions they have rightfully earned, provide a positive space in which to nurture female grassroots talent, and to embrace and champion women both on and off stage.
