Ladyfest, that female-positive, queer-friendly bundle of music, arts and workshops, is hitting London in May.

“Ladyfest London is a music, film and activism festival,” explains one of the organisers Nathalie Blue. “It’s an opportunity for lots of people to get together for some inclusive DIY, grassroots action and have fun.”

There have been hundreds of ladyfests across the world since the first event in Olympia, USA, in 2000. Each ladyfest is run autonomously by volunteers, which means that each event is unique.

Headlining Ladyfest London is Kimya Dawson (ex Moldy Peaches, and pictured left) currently in the news for being on the soundtrack of Juno, the fastest US selling soundtrack since Saturday Night Fever.

But it’s not all about the music, as Nathalie explains: “The workshops are as important, if not more important than the music and arts in my opinion.”

“We’re expecting the Women in the Music Industry Panel and the Riot Grrl discussion to be pretty popular,” she adds. “I’m really looking forward to the Feminist Antique Roadshow – ladyfests tend to be this young indie girl thing, so we’re going to hear from some older feminists from the feminist library.”

Ladyfest London has a strong queer element, with some LGBT films, a workshop on queer feminism and a fair few queer bands. But it’s more than a gay-friendly straight event, or a straight-friendly gay event. “We’re trying to portray a modern view of feminism,” says Nathalie. And for Ladyfest London, that means including everything from queer and trans issues to the role of men in feminism.

Ladyfest London takes place on May 9-11, in Camden, London. Weekend tickets are £40+ booking fee.

Money raised by the festival will go towards various womens’ charities, including Southall Black Sisters, Women for Women Refugees, the Feminist Library and Women in Prison.

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