Singer and producer Lykke Li has announced the first ever YOLA Fest. The festival will be held in Los Angeles and features an entirely female lineup of performers. The festival will feature Li herself, Charli XCX and variety of other female acts. Some of the other performers include iconic musician Courtney Love and singer-songwriter Cat Power. The focus of the event is to support the art and culture of women in society. The festival is named after the YOLA Mezcal brand, which is ran by Li and her partners, Yola Jimenez and Gina Correll Aglietti. The company distills mezcal in Oaxaca, Mexico using traditions passed down by Jimenez’s grandfather. The YOLA Mezcal bottling plant has an entirely female workforce, looking to help provide financial independence for women in the local community.
The event will also donate a portion of its proceeds to the Downtown Los Angeles Women’s Center. By partnering with the PLUS1 organization, YOLA Fest will donate a portion of each ticket sale to helping women in Los Angeles being affected by poverty and homelessness. PLUS1 is a group which works alongside artists and festivals to allow for them to donate to a variety of causes. The group helps connect organizers and musicians with non-profit organizations and funds in order to make donation as easy as possible. Overall, YOLA Fest has organized itself around the idea of providing a platform for positive change in the lives of as many women as possible.
One of the largest artists set to perform is pop singer Charli XCX. Releasing her first album in 2013, Charli XCX has become one of the largest singers of the decade. Her 2014 track “Boom Clap” brought the singer global fame, becoming a top 10 hit on the American music charts. Charli XCX is also well known for her features on the hit songs “I Love It” and “Fancy.” In recent years, the singer has spent her time continuing to release music and performing at festivals around the world. She is sure to put on a great performance at YOLA Fest.
Also performing is female punk legend, Courtney Love. The singer has been making headlines since her days founding Hole in the late 1980s. Love had a profound impact on the presence of women in punk rock music, becoming an inspiration to a whole generation of female punk bands. The singer’s envelope pushing lyrics and public antics have made her one of the most iconic figures of the 1990s. Now Love is bringing her incredible energy and passion to Los Angeles for YOLA Fest, where she will be performing a fully acoustic set. The set will be a rare occurrence for Love, and will feature her alongside The Chateau Band.
Another performer set to make an appearance at the festival is Cat Power. Chan Marshall, who performs under the name Cat Power, has been releasing music since the 1990s. Her emotional and unique lyrics and musical styles have set her apart from other performers. Releasing 10 full studio albums over the course of her career, Marshall has an extremely extensive catalog of music. The singer draws upon typically sparse production in order to highlight her natural voice. Her set at YOLA Fest is one to be sure to see. Tickets for the festival will go on sale on April 5th on the festival’s website. The event itself will take place on June 8th.
Photo Credits: Mauricio Alvarado
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