The 10 Female Musicians You Should Be Watching This Festival Season

By: Shayla Lee

Unfortunately, female musicians were yet again misrepresented this festival season. It’s sad that on some lineups you literally have to search through all of the lines before you find a female musician. There are so many women releasing amazing music right now and I hope that one day we will see equal representation at festivals.

Instead of focusing on the negative, I want to focus on the positive. Festival season is just around the corner (yes it’s a season) and in two weeks I’ll be going to Coachella. I have put together a list of 10 female artists who will be playing festivals this year. You don’t want to miss these ladies!

LÉON

I was first introduced to LÉON last October when her EP ‘Surround Me’ was released. Her music just makes me want to sway and cry. With her innate sense of lyricism I know I will be shedding tears while hearing her perform ‘I Believe in Us’ next weekend. I need to start preparing myself emotionally and pack my waterproof mascara because I know I will be needing it.

You can catch LÉON at Coachella, Mamby On The Beach, and Osheaga.

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Photo by Sandra Thorsson 

Tash Sultana

When I was living in Australia last year, the two female artists who were always talked about were Amy Shark and Tash Sultana. I’m a huge fan of both. Tash went from busking in the streets of Melbourne to touring around the world. She’s a badass multi-instrumentalist and she’s absolutely incredible live. Tash is one of the most anticipated musicians in the Coachella Reddit thread I’m in and she is playing so many other festivals this year too! I’m excited for everyone to be introduced to her music. If she is playing at a festival you’re going to or is touring near you, you don’t want to miss her!

You can catch Tash at Coachella, Hangout Festival, Sasquatch!, California Roots Music & Arts Festival, Governors Ball, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Osheaga, and Outside Lands.

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Photo by Michael Amico

FLETCHER

A few weeks ago, FLETCHER released her powerful track ‘I Believe You’ in support of the #metoo movement. All of the proceeds from the song will be donated to Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund. FLETCHER’s music scream girl power and she is teaching girls around the world they are strong and perfect just the way they are. I’m proud that our generation has a powerful female musician like FLETCHER and I’m excited to see her on the festival circuit this season.

You can catch FLETCHER at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza.

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Photo by Moses Moreno

Sasha Sloan

Besides being funny af on social media, Sasha Sloan is an INCREDIBLE musician. She’s worked with some of the biggest artists in the industry (Camila Cabello, Charli XCX, and ODEZSA to name a few) and her most recent collaboration ‘Psychopath’ with Nina Nesbitt and Charlotte Lawrence has been on repeat for the past two weeks. When my mom was visiting me, ‘Psychopath’ was the only song I would play in the car. I would get super into it especially during the “So you’re gonna lie to me, fuck you” part and every time my mom would shoot me a look. I didn’t care, the lyrics are just so perfect. Sasha recently released two singles, ‘Here’ and ‘Hurt’ which will hurt your heart in a good way. I’m obsessed with everything she does and I hope to catch her at a festival this year.

You can catch Sasha at Bonanza, Common Ground Music Festival, and Outside Lands.

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Photo by Janell Shirtcliff 

Amy Shark

Anyone who knows me knows that I am an Amy Shark ride or die. I have seen her perform live more than any other musician, and according to Spotify, ‘Drive You Mad’ was my most played song of 2017. Amy’s song ‘Adore’ was voted number two in Triple J’s Hot 100 contest in 2017 and she is just coming off of a tour. She’s so down to earth you will leave her set wishing she was your best friend. You will also leave adoring her even more. Yes, I just made that pun and I hate myself for it. But seriously, her music is everything and she is fantastic live.

You can catch Amy at Ocean Rhythms, Bottlerock, Lollapalooza, and Osheaga.

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Photo by me (on the wrong settings) 

Elohim

I have recently been on an electro-pop, trap, synth-pop kick and I’ve been listening to a lot of Elohim’s music. It just makes me feel happy. Elohim recently toured with Louis the Child and Alison Wonderland, who are also performing at Coachella. Her set is one of my most anticipated sets of the entire weekend and I’ve been watching so many of her live performances on YouTube in anticipation. Definitely keep Elohim on your radar this year because this girl has big things coming!

You can catch Elohim at Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Electric Forest.

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Photo by Chase O’Black 

Liz Huett

If you’re a fellow swiftie, you may recognize Liz Huett. Liz toured with Taylor Swift and collaborated with her on ‘Speak Now.’ Over the past few months, Liz has been releasing fire single after fire single. Her most recent track ‘Don’t LV U Anymore’ dropped two days ago and it’s a shimmery mellow bop with 10/10 lyrics.

You can catch Liz at Bottlerock.

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Photo by Dallas Wilson 

Julien Baker

Julien Baker’s Instagram bio is “sad songs make me feel better” and I can’t think of a better description. Honestly, I can’t even describe how I feel when I listen to Julien’s music. Do I feel nostalgic? Do I feel sad? I don’t know, but I do know that I LOVE it. Her album ‘Turn Out the Lights’ is a work of art and more people need to know about her. She’s playing quite a few festivals this year so keep your eyes peeled!

You can catch Julien at The National Homecoming, Boston Calling, Sasquatch!, Pitchfork, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Osheaga, and End of the Road Festival.

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Photo by Nolan Knight

Carlie Hanson

Carlie Hanson may only have three songs out right now but they are all bops. I also want to let you know that this girl is only seventeen. SEVENTEEN! When I was seventeen I was crying over biology tests and driving around in the middle of nowhere and Carlie is over here releasing bangers that have been collectively streamed over 30 million times. You go girl! She is definitely proving that she is a pop artist you should be watching and I’m patiently waiting for her to release more music.

You can catch Carlie at Mamby On The Beach.

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Photo by Jaxon Dobbins 

Girlpool

If you’ve been following this blog, you know how I always bitch about how it’s so hard to find rock music that sounds like it did 20 years ago. I’m happy to announce I have found rock that sounds as good as the 90’s. The band’s name is Girlpool and they’re an indie-rock female duo that will make you forget you said 2018 rock music is shitty. I’m so happy I found these two!

You can catch Girlpool at Sasquatch! and Pitchfork.

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Photo by Shannon Kurlander

I’ve included a Spotify playlist below featuring all of these amazing ladies!