Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival raises $20 million for women and girls
Olivia Rodrigo brought generations of female artists together at her inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival, raising an impressive $20 million for organisations supporting women and girls.
The one-day benefit festival took place at the Great Park in Irvine, California, on Saturday, 29 August.
Inspired by Sarah McLachlan’s groundbreaking Lilith Fair, the event combined a women-led musical line-up with activism and philanthropy.
Olivia Rodrigo welcomes legendary special guests
Rodrigo headlined Daisy Chain Fields with a set filled with surprise collaborations.
One of the evening’s biggest moments arrived when Stevie Nicks joined the 23-year-old singer for a rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s classic “Landslide.”
Addressing the audience, Nicks praised Rodrigo for successfully organising the ambitious event.
She also drew comparisons between herself and the younger star, saying Rodrigo reminded her of who she was at the same age.
Alanis Morissette made an unexpected appearance to perform “Ironic” with Rodrigo. The Canadian singer stepped in after Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs withdrew because of a family emergency.
Sarah McLachlan also joined Rodrigo onstage for performances of “Building a Mystery” and “Angel.”
The pair dedicated the latter song to late country music icon Dolly Parton.
Daisy Chain Fields celebrates women in music
The wider Daisy Chain Fields line-up featured some of the most influential and exciting women working across pop, rock and hip-hop.
Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Bikini Kill, The Breeders and Santigold were among the artists who performed. Garbage, Rachel Chinouriri, Die Spitz, Eli, Not for Radio and Quiet Light also appeared across the festival’s two stages.
The intergenerational bill reflected Rodrigo’s desire to celebrate both the artists who influenced her and the musicians shaping the industry today.
Daisy Chain Fields took inspiration from Lilith Fair, which challenged the music industry’s reluctance to book multiple female artists on the same bill during the late 1990s.
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Festival raises $20 million for nonprofit organisations
According to the Associated Press, Daisy Chain Fields initially raised $10 million for ten nonprofit partners. Melinda French Gates then appeared before Rodrigo’s headline set and announced that Pivotal Ventures would match the amount, bringing the total to $20 million.
Beneficiaries include Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Black Mamas Matter Alliance and the National Women’s Law Center.
Festivalgoers could also visit a dedicated philanthropy village, where participating organisations shared information about reproductive healthcare, maternal health, workplace protections and legal rights.
Rodrigo explained that the Daisy Chain name represents individual parts joining together to create something strong and unbreakable.
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