Ladyfest London 2002: preview

Look at the line ups for the main music festival this summer. Notice anything peculiar? No, me neither. Another year on and they’re still jam packed with the finest bands the male half of the species has to offer. It’s high time the ladies got a piece of the action and that’s why Ladyfest London is taking place – to showcase the creative and artistic talents of women in independent culture and to provide a space to discuss why this situation exists and what we can do to change it.

Since October of last year a gang of highly motivated, mainly female volunteers stopped sitting at home griping and got out to put together one hell of a festival, and between August 1st and 4th it all kicks off at The Garage and other venues in Highbury. Over the four days there’ll be evening shows featuring the likes of Chicks On Speed, Electrelane, Katastrophy Wife, Angelica, Kaito, Lolita Storm, Mika Bomb and Bangs, live music in the daytime from bands including We Start Fires, Moonkat, Riviera, The Blue Minkies, workshops where you can learn to DJ, write songs or perform a formation dance sequence with The Actionettes, discussions with musicians, writers and women who work in the music industry and performances from poets, cabaret artists and a troupe of radical cheerleaders.

If you thought your best hope for summer fun was standing in a corporately sponsored field watching the Stereophonics plough through their so-called hits you really need to come to Ladyfest. See you there.

For full details of Ladyfest London 2002 go to ladyfestlondon.org

Tickets are £40 for a full 4-day pass, Day tickets also available Aug 1 £10, Aug 2/3/4 £15 available from Rough Trade, Astoria Box office, Ticket Shop Camden and usual agents. Call 020 7344 0044 or order online from www.meanfiddler.com or ticketmaster.co.uk