“Anything that uplifts, empowers, or highlights women’s creativity is a yes for me. The current state of the world is doing a number on women, and I want to contribute to their joy,” says Anita, who plays guitar and sings for Black Gold Sun.
Doll Fest cofounder Maria Chaos was similarly fed up with the status quo, and grew determined to create the change she wanted to see in punk.
“I became really tired of watching old white man bands hogging the stages and making these empty promises of tokenized statements,” she tells KQED via email.
All-female ska band El Colectivo Sabinas. (Artist photo)
Maria stepped up to the plate and built Doll Fest from the ground up alongside co-founder Freya Hausman, who until recently was the general manager of the Bay Area record label Alternative Tentacles. The two booked femme-led bands across the punk spectrum – from riot grrrl legends to ska-punk and alt-rock – prioritizing a group’s enjoyment, draw and morals relative to the fest’s local audience and ethos. The inaugural Doll Fest took over Cornerstone in Berkeley, a city chosen for its history of radical art and activism, with headliners Tsunami Bomb and Naked Aggression.
Veronica, Black Gold Sun’s bassist, has exclusively played in all-female bands, and performed at multiple women-focused events. “Punk music has always been about challenges, rebellion, DIY culture. This festival gives space for female-fronted bands to be seen and heard, and for folks to experience a range of styles and messages that can keep the scene fresh and energized,” she says.
The energy is contagious – and expansive. Doll Fest has grown to include multiple auxiliary events including a comedy night, boxing meet-up, a vinyl compilation, multiple fundraisers, and a two-day festival in Mexico City headlined by legendary L.A. punk Alice Bag. “Before anyone asks, no this is not going to be Vans Warped Tour 2.0,” Maria adds.
“Having bands come from other areas to the Bay Area can be quite costly or difficult,” she continues. “This is a family, a community. If they can’t come to us then I want to go to them.”
Doll Fest has a nationwide community of supporters. Just a few months after the first Doll Fest, Maria was at Florida’s Fest and spoke with many people who knew about her event. “They thought it was so cool and had been yearning for an event like this.”
At a Doll Fest benefit show in November featuring San Francisco OGs Frightwig, a performer recalled becoming jaded with life and music. “[She said] this event had given her a spark that she hadn’t felt in years,” Maria remembered. “I was in tears at one point…because the room felt like you were walking into a giant hug.”
Black Gold Sun’s Anita Lofton considers a femme-focused festival to be a powerful acknowledgment.
“The plain and simple truth is that seeing something makes it possible,” she says. “When you see women performing punk music, you know it’s real.”
Bad Cop Bad Cop, from Southern California, play this weekend’s Doll Fest. (So Finch Photography)
Like any production, putting on Doll Fest comes with logistical and emotional challenges. Maria says she experiences stress, imposter syndrome, and sometimes fears that she’s letting her team down.
Still, “hearing about how this event brings a type of joy to peoples’ lives…fuel[s] the fire,” Maria says. “I’ll keep doing these until I die.”
Doll Fest takes place Saturday and Sunday, March 28 and 29, at the California Ballroom (1726 Franklin St. Oakland). A pre-party gets underway Friday, March 27, at the Ivy Room. Tickets and more details here.