Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields Festival Raises $20M for Women’s Nonprofits
News Context
At a glance
- Olivia Rodrigo drew 45,000 fans to Irvine’s Great Park on Saturday for the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields music festival. The all-women festival featured a 14-artist lineup across two stages and raised $20 million for various philanthropic causes after Melinda French Gates doubled an initial $10 million pledge announced by Rodrigo.
- The sweltering Southern California heat hit the 90-degree range throughout the day, but crowds turned out in force for the sports complex venue. The grounds featured food trucks, brand activations, and a dedicated philanthropy village named the Daisy Chain Reaction. Attendees navigated two distinct performance areas known as the Marigold and Dandelion stages.
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Star-Studded Lineup Across Two Stages
- The festival showcased an all-women roster of performers. The Marigold stage hosted acts including Quiet Light, Rachel Chinouriri, Die Spitz, Bikini Kill, The Breeders, Garbage, and Not for Radio. Meanwhile, the Dandelion main stage featured Eli, Santigold, Devon Again, Mitski, Doechii, Chappell Roan, and Rodrigo herself, alongside several special guests.
- Girl group KATSEYE had to cancel their scheduled performance earlier in the week because member Megan injured her ankle. However, group members Megan, Lara, and Yoonchae still made a brief appearance on stage on Saturday. Doechii drew a large crowd for her early evening set with pink body paint and a 40-minute performance that included her collaboration with Blackpink’s Jennie, titled “XL,” before closing with “Denial is a River.”
- Chappell Roan later performed in a purple miniskirt and bob hairstyle, opening her set with “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl” and closing with “Pink Pony Club.” Rodrigo took the main stage shortly before her 8:40 p.m. headlining set to update fans on the event’s fundraising milestones.
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Philanthropic Impact and Melinda French Gates Donation
Photo: hollywoodreporter.com - Rodrigo announced a $10 million donation from the festival proceeds during a press conference the day prior and reiterated the figure to the festival crowd. The pop star then brought out Melinda French Gates, who announced she would double the contribution. The matching funds brought the total evening donation up to $20 million.
- The funds support organizations focused on reproductive rights, maternal health, economic empowerment, domestic violence prevention, and gender equity. The participating beneficiaries housed within the Daisy Chain Reaction village included Baby2Baby, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Center for Reproductive Rights, FreeFrom, Jhpiego, Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Institute for Reproductive Health, National Women’s Law Center, and Planned Parenthood.