Olivia Rodrigo announced a new music festival featuring an all-female lineup of artists in Irvine on June 22. Aug. 29. Daisy Chain Fields will be held in Irvine’s Great Park on Aug. 29 and aims to support non-profit organizations committed to advocating for women and girls.
The one-day festival will feature performances from the Grammy Award-winning artist herself and fellow headliners such as Bikini Kill, Die Spitz, Eli, Garbage, Katseye, Mitski, Not for Radio, Quiet Light, Rachel Chinouriri, Santigold and The Breeders. Special guests include Karen O, Sarah McLachlan and Stevie Nicks.
For some UCI students who are fans of Rodrigo or other artists on the lineup, the summer timing of the festival is disappointing. Those who do not live near Irvine, and UCI students in the area said they may not be able to attend either due to the sheer demand of the festival. First year psychology student Valentina Gallardo told New University that she and her friends will not be attending the event, stating that securing tickets is “very competitive.”
According to Newsweek, tickets for the festival sold out in 30 minutes during the presale on Wednesday. Although there is a waiting list on the Daisy Chain Fields website for fans who did not get tickets, there is no guarantee that any will become available.
Parking passes at Great Park must be purchased in advance for $95 per car, according to the website. Shuttles to the festival will also be available from UCI and OCVIBE at the Honda Center, with tickets sold for $50.
The Orange County Register reported that the city is creating a “dash pass” program designed to assist residents in accessing their neighborhoods during the festival.
Gallardo shared her thoughts on how a festival of this magnitude could affect surrounding neighborhoods.
“I know it’s gonna be loud. I feel like it’d be like Coachella loud,” Gallardo said. “So I think some people might be bothered.”
While she believes some people will be bothered by the noise, she said that because Rodrigo is such a popular artist, people will not mind as much and may even enjoy hearing the live music.
City of Irvine spokesperson Melissa Haley estimates that 40,000 attendees will be present at the event. Since the Great Park Live venue can only accommodate up to 10,000 attendees, the event will use a temporary Dandelion Stage that will be constructed on the park’s soccer fields.
According to Haley, the Great Park was a location Rodrigo was interested in using for the festival.
“We did a site walk with her in 2025, and she was impressed by the Great Park,” said Haley.
The event will extend beyond live music. In the Daisy Chain Fields mission statement, Rodrigo expresses that the festival was “founded on the belief that joy, community and creativity can inspire meaningful change.” She added that the event seeks to commemorate the accomplishments of women in the music industry and create a safe space where all are welcome.
“Daisy Chain offers more than live performances; it provides opportunities for education, dialogue and engagement around issues affecting women and girls in the United States and globally,” Rodrigo said.
Festival attendees will have the opportunity to interact with educational resources and connect with organizations focused on issues such as women’s health, gender equity and domestic violence prevention. Some of Daisy Chain Field’s non-profit partners include Baby2Baby, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Center for Reproductive Rights, FreeFrom and Planned Parenthood.
All net proceeds from the festival will go to non-profit organizations dedicated to advancing women and girls.
“Her mission is honestly beautiful,” Gallardo said.. She said that Daisy Chain Field’s all-women lineup resonated with her, stating the significance of empowering other women through music. “It’s important to have that support in our community.”
Nevaeh Medina is a News Intern for the summer 2026 quarter. She can be reached at nevaem1@uci.edu.
Edited by Anika Denny and Tracy Sandoval.
