Hands Off Our Fest returns to bring you female-fronted bands, drag, and comedy at Blue Island Beer Co.
Celebrating the women, femmes, and thems of the Chicago punk scene, this music festival brings a gold mine of a musical lineup. After last year’s success, this year promises to be bigger and better than before, featuring live musical performances, drag, stand-up comedy, a Halloween costume contest, and much more. The event will be hosted at Blue Island Beer Company in Blue Island, IL on October 19th from 3pm to 11 pm.
Birdy Vee, founder of H.O.O.F. and frontwoman of Chicago lipstick-punk band, Sweetie, was emboldened by the success and joy of last year’s very first Hands Off Our Fest, and she boasts that this year will be even more ‘delightful and bewitching’.
“When I began organizing the first H.O.O.F., I was feeling really run down and intimidated by many of the experiences I had dealt with as a woman in the music scene,” said Vee, who sings and plays guitar for Sweetie. “There were times where I felt really upset and afraid. Instead of quitting, I put my background in community organizing to the test and took on the task of organizing my own festival.”
“I really wanted to make something that would bring together the women, femmes, thems, and queer folks of the Chicago music scene and give us the opportunity to bond, grow our community, and create space for ourselves,” Vee said. “Last year’s event was truly so special and heartwarming that I knew I absolutely needed to organize another Hands Off Our Fest. Last year’s festival had the same joyful, bubbly vibes as a slumber party, and I hope this year is even more fun and jubilant. Especially since the lineup this year is, once again, absolutely killer!” The lineup of musicians include Sweetie, The Rumours (IA), The Daddy Sisters (KY), Boybrain, The Cell Phones, Sparkling Urbana, Carnivore Mommy, and Peach Vomit.
“We are also excited to announce that this year we are partnering with Dying Scene, an online music publication that covers everything punk rock and its related subgenres.” Vee said. “ Boasting to be ‘for the punks, by the punks,’ Dying Scene is a news source for album releases, concert reviews and helping fans discover new artists no matter their size.”
This event also features a drag show hosted by Kai Valentine, with performances by Ichabod Vicious, Dr. Caligirlie, and Dolce Vita, accompanied by standup comedy from The Queeny Bitch. Teddi Garson of Electric Tattoo Parlour returns once again with their HOOF-themed on-site flash tattoos, donating part of their proceeds to Youth Outlook, a local charity supporting local LGBTQ+ youth. The festival is all ages (concertgoers under 17 must bring an adult). Tickets can be found on the Blue Island Beer Co. website for $25 presale and $30 at the door.
Want to get into the HOOF spirit? Check out the playlist below and listen to some of the artists playing this year and some from HOOF’s first year!
