Festivals may have a women problem – namely, that they don't include enough of them on their line-ups – but most women don't have a problem with festivals. We adore festival fashion (feathered headdresses and "tribal" prints notwithstanding), festival beauty (give us all the dry shampoo and biodegradable wet wipes) and festival hair trends. But mostly we just love drinking lukewarm beers with our friends while dancing to our favourite music.
This year's festival season is in full swing, with the likes of All Points East, Parklife, Wireless and Latitude having been and gone, but we've still got many others to look forward to. Wilderness, Boomtown, Reading and Leeds and Bestival are all still to come. We asked three female-fronted acts playing Reading and Leeds to talk us through their summer soundtracks and failsafe outfits. And, given this year's heatwave, there's not a welly in sight.
What’s your song of the summer so far?
"Under The Pines" by Twin Peaks.
What’s your favourite thing to wear to a festival and why?
We discovered how to use eyeshadows properly a few months back and we are so into it! Ana and Amber use a lot of Urban Decay’s eyeshadows, as well as a palette by NYX cosmetics with some crazy colours. Ade uses Kiko’s eye pencils, mostly in silvery and blue colours. Carlota uses glitter from NYX Cosmetics too. We all have Eastpak fanny packs [bum bags] which are very useful.
What’s the worst behaviour you’ve ever seen backstage?
Probably us sneaking into a band’s dressing room when they'd left the site to steal all their rider’s pizza and beers at Green Man Festival last summer! We won't mention the band’s name, but they're friends of ours.
What’s your song of the summer so far?
What’s your favourite thing to wear to a festival and why?
Jeans shorts, a crop top and Dr Martens. It's dressy and comfy at the same time. My makeup has to look fleeky at all times, especially my eyebrows. I can't live without fleeky eyebrows.
What’s the worst behaviour you’ve ever seen backstage?
None, at least not yet.
Rakel from Dream Wife
What’s your song of the summer so far?
"Nights in White Satin" by Moody Blues. I've been putting it on in the mornings when the sun comes into my kitchen.
What’s your favourite thing to wear to a festival and why?
50+ sunscreen is essential all over. For my face, tinted sunscreen and maybe red lipstick. I like it when the freckles finally come out and everyone looks good in the golden sunshine glow. I like to wear summer dresses or two-pieces in the crowd, but on stage it’s quite a physical workout so the outfit has to work with all the jumping and running. It has to be flexible and breathe well. I'm really into baggy trousers and crop tops now, TLC got it right. I have some excellent pieces from Illustrated People and I.AM.GIA that I frequently mix up.
What’s the worst behaviour you’ve ever witnessed backstage at a festival?
From my experience, 99% of people in current touring bands that I’ve been around are kind, hardworking and polite people. So I haven't got any drama to spill because I haven't really seen anything out of order. The production usually creates a really lovely and welcoming backstage environment too, so if you're feeling social it’s easy to mingle with the bands you’re interested in.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
New Music To Know This Week: Santigold, Charli XCX & King Princess Rock The World
This Icelandic Music Festival Proves A Gender-Equal Lineup Is Possible
Blake Lively May Just Be The Biggest Taylor Swift Stan Of Them All