Montaigne's 8 Aussie Female Artists That Should Be Headlining Festivals Right Now

Although Aussie female musicians have been increasingly notably absent from festivals around the world and, indeed recently here at home, there is no doubt that there has been a rise in top-notch female artists setting a high standard for the industry at large.

Concerns around the lack of female representation has not gone unnoticed. Artists and industry from around the country have been vocal and determined to change the mindset of festival organisers.

One of Australia’s foremost pop musicians and no stranger to a lineup slot herself, Montaigne, gave Music Feeds a list of her top Aussie performers that should be headlining festivals across the country.

Bec Sandridge

Bec is not as well known as she should be, but she has a unique voice and lots of attitude, some sweet guitar chops and excellent songs. I’ve seen her play solo (just her and a guitar with some pedals) and it was captivating and beautiful. She’s actually about to play Yours & Owls Festival, and I’m glad they’ve booked her. I hope to see her on more line ups in future.

George Maple
George Maple’s done heaps of cool shit and is a cool performer. Aesthetic on point, and very good at looking as if everything she’s doing is effortless. Siq option 4 u.

E^ST
What a gal. She’s young AF and so so talented and improves every time I see her live. She tours HEAPS and has great songs and is just such a precious gem in our pop scene. Also has an incredible and unique voice that needs to be heard in the flesh to be believed.

https://youtu.be/QMNgHhRVGKw

Ecca Vandal
So much energy! She’s a fiend on stage, and a very nice person IRL. She’s the only woman doing the music she’s doing, and perhaps the only person of any gender doing her thang. I played Come Together Festival on the same line up as her last year, and hopefully will see her on more festivals this year.

Ngaiire
Amazing voice, amazing songs, killer band. Seasoned artist and cool as hell. I think she’s on a few festivals coming up. If you’re lacking women on your line up, this is your guy.

Olympia
As you can see, Olympia is a great performer. She’s just so damn cool. I saw her playing Rolling Stone Live Lodge at Newtown Social Club last year, never having heard her, or of her, before and I was so happy hearing such a great voice and seeing such a special performer. So cool. I reckon she could play any of the majors, really.

Sampa The Great
Who the hell doesn’t know about Sampa by now? What a lovely person and amazing talent. She is zesty and flavoursome, bringing her roots to her music in lyric and sound, adding to Australia’s musical landscape with something refreshing and new in the mainstream. I’ve seen her live several times and she knows how to give people a groove and show them how to use it. Perfect festival material. She’s already all over the place, now let’s just put her to good use.

https://youtu.be/lHoE43gcB1A

Tkay Maidza
I feel like Tkay has played pretty much every festival in Australia by now and has exhausted her stay for a bit, now moving onto bigger things overseas, but I think it’ll soon be round the time for her to start touring the country’s venues and festival circuits. Tkay always makes shit go off.