IRVINE — Daisy Chain Fields placed female-fronted rock at the music festival’s center, tracing the connection between the genre’s rebellious roots and feminist expression.
The charity-focused outdoor music festival took place Saturday at Great Park in Irvine and unfolded across two stages. The day started with Quiet Light’s set and concluded with founder and headliner Olivia Rodrigo. The all-women lineup also included performances from artists such as Doechii, Mitski and Chappell Roan. Rodrigo announced in an Instagram post in June that 100% of the net proceeds would go to charities advocating for women and girls.
The event also featured art installations from female artists. Astria Suparak’s art installation called “Grrrl Germs: Punk feminism goes viral, 1991 – 2026” explored Riot Grrrl’s legacy of DIY creativity, community-building and resistance. The installation flowed throughout the festival through music, zines, flyers and listening spaces. Similar to the expansiveness of the installation throughout the festival, riot grrrl punk feminism blossomed as a movement started by young women in the early 1990s, growing into an international network that inspired artists and activists across generations.
[Related: Concert preview: Daisy Chain Fields promises colorful performances with all-women lineup]
Read on for the Daily Bruin’s coverage of the female-led punk bands at Daisy Chain Fields.
Die Spitz
The four-piece girl group from Austin, Texas, brought hardcore rock and grunge to the stage at 1:40 p.m. The group consists of Ava Schrobilgen, Eleanor Livingston, Kate Halter and Chloe de St. Aubin.
The set kicked off with an introduction from Jen Stowe and Ai-jen Poo, the executive director and the president of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, respectively. The band started with its 2024 single “I hate when GIRLS die.” Die Spitz also performed “Punishers” and “Voir Dire,” both songs portraying how women’s emotions are depicted to be at the whims of men’s actions, singing “Underneath every thumb is a man with a plan, / ’cause he’s selling you what you love.”
Livingston then descended down the stairs and dove into the crowd for “Groping Dogs Gushing Blood,” a fast-paced and high energy guitar-forward track that started the first real mosh pit of the day.
The up-and-coming girl band ended with the lead single off of the 2025 album and their most streamed song, “Throw Yourself to the Sword,” as the crowd ran around in circles, letting go into the rhythm of punk.
Bikini Kill
After an introduction from Sonya Passi, the founder of FreeFrom, which provides direct cash to survivors of gender-based violence, the classic feminist punk band took the stage. The ‘90s girl band, known for its fierce anthems, brought its riot grrrl vibes and began its set at 2:50 p.m.
“I was thinking that on the way here, ‘What a gift! What a gift we have to be able to play for you! What a gift Olivia has given all of us to do this festival,” said lead singer Kathleen Hanna. “I just want to have fun – it’s a basement party.”
The group, composed of Hanna, Billy Karren, Kathi Wilcox and Tobi Vail, are widely credited as the originators of the riot grrrl movement. The group opened with “Double Dare Ya!” and later moved into “This Is Not a Test,” “Suck My Left One,” “Carnival” and “Reject All American,” with the members alternating instruments between them.
To conclude their set, they played one of their most popular songs, “Rebel Girl,” during which they brought out a garage rock band composed of three teenage girls and discussed the growth of female representation in punk.
“Bikini Kill helped teach an entire generation that you don’t wait for permission to be loud about what matters,” Passi said. “That’s exactly the spirit of what FreeFrom does, and exactly the spirit of this festival.”
[Related: Q&A: Santigold reflects on womanhood, genre-bending career ahead of Daisy Chain Fields]
The Breeders
Another classic ’90s American alternative rock group, consisting of Pixies bassist Kim Deal, her twin sister Kelley Deal, Josephine Wiggs, and Jim Macpherson, took to the stage at 4:30 p.m. The group wore simple black outfits, with frontwoman Kim Deal donning a shirt dedicated to Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress.
The alternative rock band was introduced by representatives from the Center for Reproductive Rights, which consists of lawyers and advocates who defend reproductive freedom in court.
The band started with “Doe” from the 1990 album “Pod.” When they performed “No Aloha,” the crowd’s energy soared as they chanted the opening line, “No bye, no aloha.”
“Against the dystopian tide, believe that human well-being is a human right, not a privilege,” Wiggs said. “Thank you to Olivia for inviting us to be a link in the daisy chain, and for reminding us that we rise or fall together.”
The band also debuted two new songs and ended with one of the new tracks called “Alien Eyes.”
The crowd embraced each of the band’s sometimes unconventional choices – such as playing a whistle – and bopped, sang and screamed along.
Garbage
The last rock band to take the stage was the 1993-founded Garbage, fronted by Scottish musician Shirley Manson and also featuring Duke Erikson, Steve Marker, Butch Vig and new touring bassist Nicole Fiorentino. After an introduction by the president of the National Women’s Law Center, Fatima Goss Graves, the group started with “There’s no Future in Optimism,” moving into “I Think I’m Paranoid.”
Manson, donning bold eyeliner, sunglasses and a high ponytail braid, interacted with the crowd throughout their set, stopping to give advice and tell stories.
“This has been astounding and galvanizing an entire generation of women to stand up for ourselves,” Manson said. “So a night like tonight is very, very important for all of us women, to be part of this daisy chain that will stick with you for the rest of your life.”
The singer took the opportunity to say that you don’t always have to be perfect, and that is what live music is about. “Stupid Girl,” released in 1995, received the loudest crowd reaction.
As the last female-fronted rock stint of the day came to a finish, Garbage closed its set with 1995 hit “Only Happy When It Rains,” as the sun started to fade and the daisy chain was stronger than ever.
Olivia Rodrigo
The headliner closed off the night with a run of songs spanning her three albums, “SOUR,” “GUTS” and June release “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.” The longest set of the night also featured special guest appearances from more of the female artists Rodrigo said she has looked up to.
The festival founder brought out Sarah McLachlan, the founder of the first-ever women-only festival lineup, Lilith Fair, which Rodrigo said was a direct inspiration for Daisy Chain Fields. Together, the artists sang two of McLachlan’s songs, including piano ballad “Angel” as a tribute to Dolly Parton.
Alanis Morissette also accompanied Rodrigo as they performed “Ironic” after announcing that Karen O, who was previously scheduled to perform with Rodrigo, couldn’t make it. Rodrigo said Morissette’s music had inspired her growing up.
To round out the evening, the headliner and festival founder brought out Stevie Nicks to perform “Landslide.” After a day of sets celebrating punk feminism and highlighting women in the industry, the crowd swayed to the melodic lyrics of the over fifty-year-old song – concluding a festival of music and community.
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