Girl School’s third annual 100% women-identified-fronted three-day music and ideas festival will take place at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles from February 2 – 4, 2017. The lineup includes Shirley Manson + The Girlschool Choir, Jay Som, Kristin Kontrol + Special Guests, Moon Honey, Amber Coffman, Boyfriend, FAARROW, Lauren Ruth Ward, Marian Mereba, Soccer Mommy, Low Leaf, Akua, Pinky Pinky, A.W., Mary Lattimore, Nick + Navi, Drum & Lace, Desi Mo, Chelsea Jade, and Polartropica. DJ sets by Zuri Adia, Rituals of Mine, and Kim + The Created. Speakers include Carrie Brownstein, a poetry stage curated by Jack Jones Literary Arts, a panel led by Whitney Bell, a Talking Circle by STRONGER, and a songwriting workshop by MUNA. Net proceeds will benefit WriteGirl. Tickets are now on sale here.
The festival kicks off with a keynote conversation with Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia, Sleater-Kinney), and includes two afternoons of talks, workshops, and panel discussions. The 2018 programming includes a poetry reading by Shauna Barbosa, Muriel Leung, Monica Sok, Rocio Carlos, and Morgan Parker curated by Jack Jones Literary Arts, which is a book publicity company that privileges narratives told by black women and women of color. There will also be a talking circle by STRONGER, a panel by Whitney Bell titled Hashtags Into Action: How To Turn Social Media Activism Into Real Change featuring Ashlee Marie Preston (Trans Activist / California State Assembly Candidate / Root 100s Most Influential African Americans) and Vera Papisova (Teen Vogue Health + Wellness Editor / Influencer), a panel addressing Representation In The Music Industry, a songwriting workshop by MUNA, and more TBA.
GIRLSCHOOL is a women-identified-led music festival and creative community based in Los Angeles, whose mission is to celebrate, connect, and lift women-identified artists, leaders, and voices. Founded by Anna Bulbrook (band member, the Airborne Toxic Event; violinist, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Beyoncé’s LEMONADE, Kanye West, Vampire Weekend, and more) in response to how few women she saw onstage in the alternative rock and festival worlds, GIRLSCHOOL has grown into a vibrant network of women-identified artists, leaders, and voices who have formed an empowering and visible community for one another while supporting women and girls. A portion of the proceeds from every ticketed GIRLSCHOOL event benefits a girl-positive 501c3.
GIRLSCHOOL has held two sold-out three-day women-identified-led music and ideas festivals in Los Angeles, and in March of 2017, partnered with TOMS to bring a capsule festival called WE ARE ONE to SXSW that was at capacity all three days. In November of 2017, they held their first IDEALAB in partnership with Phillip Lim and Glenfiddich that featured performances by Amber Coffman, Mecca Vazie Andrews, and a conversation between Ashlee Marie Preston and Whitney Bell. GIRLSCHOOL has worked with artists including KING, Chelsea Wolfe, Shirley Manson, the bird and the bee, Deap Vally, Bleached, Alice Bag, MUNA, Caroline Smith, Francisca Valenzuela, Gavin Turek, and many more, and is an official curator for Red Bull Sound Select in Los Angeles.
WriteGirl is a creative writing and mentoring organization that promotes creativity, critical thinking and leadership skills to empower teen girls.
Sponsors include: Nasty Gal, Noisey, MS Events Production, Bedrock LA, Bootleg Theater, Sid The Cat Presents, Gif Party, Elise Mesner Photography, and more.
