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Organizations like Calling All Crows, But there are ways inside of that that can be
HeadCount, and Hope for the Day are doing thoughtful. That you’re using a local hamburg-
amazing work on-site, with fans, artists, and er company that has a restaurant nearby that
festival producers to engage with audiences you can support. We work a lot in the brewery
of all types to educate and promote strong space, so we have local craft beverages in
messages around equality, diversity, mental our concessions that normally don’t get the
health, civic engagement, consent, inclusion, opportunity because they aren’t distributed by
and safety. a major like Constellation Brands.
Music has always been a force for change,
and about giving voice to the most marginal- A couple of years ago,
ized / angry / compelling / beautiful commu- much was made about
nities. The intersection of music, culture and
social change is exactly where these organiza- festival lineups being pre-
tions are living, and I’m here for it. More Pussy dominantly male. Do you
Riot on all festivals, please! see the diversity of lineups
improving, about the same,
Sophie Lobl, Talent Buyer, C3 Presents: We try
Sheri Sternberg to be more diverse and more creative every or getting worse?
year to provide new fan experiences. So many
Behind the banner of working together, you Medina: One hundred percent yes. I am proud
can call the venue or whoever booked them festivals currently do such a great job. At of the fact that I work for a company that
and ask for an exception. Oftentimes, once Bonnaroo this year, we have House of Yes works hard to make sure that we are doing
that festival sells out you can book or involve coming back to produce our first ever pride everything in our power to level the playing
the band. parade alongside some of the artists playing field for artists of all genders.
the festival, which we’re really excited about.
We’ve found artist-curated experiences work At Bourbon & Beyond, which takes place
Medina: The reality is that we have to sell more in Louisville, Kentucky, we made a concerted
tickets than most headlining shows which really well for us. effort to have women at all tiers in the lineup,
is hard to do without having the “exclusive This year we have Hayley Williams curating including Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Jenny
play” with a band in the area. We also want to her “Sanctuary of Self Love” and last year we Lewis, Grace Potter, Margo Price, Pearl, Edie
encourage fans to take that needed break from had Matt Shultz’s “Happy Roo.” Both are so Brickell & New Bohemians, Samantha Fish,
reality that they deserve and travel a bit for a different and awesome, providing us insight Maggie Rose and Caroline Jones. We also had
weekend vacation filled with incredible music. into the artist’s brain and allowing us to be a Stevie Nicks as a headliner in our first year of
small part in showcasing what is important to
the artist. Bourbon & Beyond.
I think that over the next five years, we will
We also have a female and non-binary
Check your crystal ball: campsite that we are curating with Mothership see lineups slowly evolving to host a healthier
What do you think the to provide a safe space for them to enjoy the balance of talent.
next trend or innovation in festival and camp.
festivals will be? Please
explain. Medina: I am a big fan of interactive worlds
and activations where fans can feel as if they
have made their stamp on an event which they
enjoy attending every year. I also think that
out-of-the-box, artist-driven offerings (outside
of a musical performance) will continue to be
a growing trend. It allows fans to connect with
their favorite artists through a new medium in
addition to the music. For instance, we feature
an activation called the Caduceus Wine Garden
at our rock festivals. Caduceus Cellars is May-
nard James Keenan’s (singer for Tool/A Perfect
Circle/Puscifer) wine and it is consistently the
busiest space on site every year.

Vantress: I think the continued focus on the Lindsey Medina
entire experience, and the impressiveness.
I look to Insomniac, which has really written Corbin: C3 has made a conscious effort to
the script on making the festivalgoer feel like balance the lineups with gender and ethnic di-
they’re the star. They are the talent.
Virginia Schmitt versity but some factors are out of our control
But when it comes to core amenities, there’s (i.e., touring schedules, availability, etc.).
Virginia Schmitt, Director, Special Event Planning more events I would tend to want to go to
& Risk Management, Danny Wimmer Presents: I because they have nicer bathrooms or I hear Schmitt: This one is tough, because the base-
think we’re going to keep seeing a heavy trend that parking’s not a hassle. line is skewed. In a society / culture / industry
towards social justice and activism at festivals. Or the biggest thing, that the company where male voices have always been promi-
Fans are equal parts ANGRY, PUMPED, AND wants to pay attention to heightening the food nent, dominated the whole of the lineup, and
HOPEFUL about the world as it is, and they’re and drink so concessions aren’t just turn-and- largely (not always – SHOUT OUT TO STACY
ready to find ways to plug in and engage – sta- burn. It’s funny, you spend all this time with VEE!) been the ones doing the booking and
tistically, engagement is most successful if you concessions, and things like pizza and hot dogs decision-making, it’s not enough to sprinkle
can reach people where they are. and hamburgers tend to be your best sellers. a few female-oriented artists in to a 30-act

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