To round up our feature of the month on International Women's Festivals we spoke to Mariah Hanson, founder of The Original Dinah Shore Weekend (aka The Dinah) shortly after the amazing 24th event, the biggest lesbian party in the world attracting in the regional of 15,000 women.
Read about our experience at the 2014 party.
Planet London (PL): 24 years is a long time to run a festival; for anyone who hasn’t been – what should they expect and how has it evolved over the years?
Mariah Hanson (MH): It's the wildest and certainly the most fun filled five days imaginable. You can expect meeting thousands of women from all over the globe, as excited as you are to have the time of their lives. Expect top notch entertainment, seeing your favorite artists close up and personal and then don’t be surprised when after the concert they come on to the dance floor and party all night. Many have and we expect will keep on living up to the tradition that 'What happens at The Dinah, stays at The Dinah ;)
PL: No other event gets 15,000+ lesbians in one place every year, How do you keep the event fresh & growing?
MH: I stay on top of the latest trends in music and we don't toy too much with the basic structure of the event. Basically we are five days of the most amazing girl parties imaginable.
PL: The introduction of the film festival has been popular, will the continue and will you be adding more similar events to the schedule?
MH: We are still growing the film festival and like to focus on our new endeavors before we add new options. That said, we have also added celebrity poker.
PL: This year was a stellar line up, with the L Word reunion, plus first timers Mary Lambert and Tegan & Sarah to name a few – how did it feel to have such top level entertainment?
MH: We have top level entertainment every year. Past alumni have included Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, India.Arie, Salt and Pepa, Ke$ha, Natasha Bedingfield, Dev and The Cataracs, Colbie Caillat. At The Dinah, you can always expect amazing acts ;)
PL: So how on earth are you going to make the 25th Dinah Shore bigger and better? You’ve set quite a bar this year…
MH: I'm thinking ... I'm thinking.
Showing posts with label lesbian festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lesbian festival. Show all posts
Sunday, 11 May 2014
Thursday, 10 April 2014
International Women's Festivals - interview with Cindy Edwards, Festival Director of L Fest, L Fest Del Mar and L Festive
In March Planet London started a new 'featured theme of the month'. For obvious reasons March was 'Marriage Equality' and we ran a number of interviews and articles on this subject as well as publishing some informative; yet interesting blog pieces.
April has arrived; and our latest featured theme of the month is 'International Women's Festivals'.
This is the second in a series of interviews with women who work on these festivals.
This interview is with Cindy Edwards, Director of lesbian festivals L Fest (UK) and L Fest Del Mar (Spain) along with fringe festival L Festive (UK).
This video features some outtakes at the end because we lost Cindy part way through the recording; and well a girl's got to keep herself amused!
Enjoy!
Thursday, 27 March 2014
Living la Vida LFEST Del Mar!
L Fest Del Mar line-up released and new website!
We are so excited to announce that the L Fest Del Mar full line-up of awesome artists has now been released!
With DJs
and artists from Spain, Czech, Austria, UK, Germany and Russia,
and pool parties to live acoustic music on the beach, L Fest Del Mar is
going to be a hit all round. And with current prices for flights,
festival ticket and beach front accommodation all coming to under £250,
we think it's pretty awesome value too!
The fantastic new website design and overall brand is bold and bright. We're loving the new djs and artists section,
why not check it out? Here you'll find everything you could possibly
wish to know about the artists, you can even listen to some of their
sounds!
Take a look today at http://www.lfest.co.uk
Monday, 15 July 2013
It's L Fest week! Full timetable released, website updated & go green with our car share scheme
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Friday, 5 April 2013
L Fest 2013 line up released
The line-up has finally been announced! L Fest released its secrets today for what it has planned for the 69 hours of fun in July. With a new location, an extra music stage and the retreat, where else would the lesbians be on the weekend of the 19th?
The Music
It's going to be an eclectic mix of country, soul, hip hop, R'n'B, rock, acoustic-folk and electro-pop, performed by a prestige selection of musicians who, like us, are proud to tread a different path.
L Word favourites BETTY will be performing their tight harmonies, fun melodies and clever lyrics and getting the lesbians hot under their sparkly collars and so will award winning US singer Rachael Sage, fresh off her tour. Red N Pink will be rapping, tapping and getting the crowd clapping and Heads Hearts will perform their electro dancy tracks along with AMiTY and Faye Bagley who has been performing on the L Fest crew's tour.
On the brand new stage there a range of talent handed to you on a plate, ready for you become a fan and discover some exciting new music. Cat Chinn, Nikki Rous and Jasmine Kennedy to name a few will all be showing off their acoustic guitar skills and range of lovely lyrics on the L Fest Presents stage.
The Arts
With literature there is so much talent in one place you'll be leaving with your mind full of wonderful stories and beautiful poetry. Festival regular VG Lee will perform her brand-new one-woman play 'The Lady of the Wild West Hill,' before taking it to the Edinburgh Fringe. There will be extracts from the book by Clare Summerskill 'Gateway to Heaven: Fifty years of lesbian and gay oral history,' a book that has been getting talked about more than Fifty Shades of Grey. Jackie Kay will also read from her latest work.
The Comedy
The laughing Cows comedy is set to be amazing this year. Lesbian favourite Jen Brister will take to the stage to make you laugh and cringe at stories of her relationships and the long list of things that she hates. Latitude New Act of the Year finalist, Suzi Ruffell will make you giggle with detailed stories of growing up and being told repeatedly that she can 'be cured,' of being gay and Julie Jepson and Kerry Leigh will complete the night with talented, witty quips and gay humour.
The Other Bits
With all that and more there's also some other lovely bits to make the weekend more enjoyable and even more girly, such as the retreat so you can pamper yourself after a hard day of watching bands. There are workshops galore, activities, a cinema to showcase some of the best films and of course The L Project will be performing their charity single.
Tickets are priced at £99 for the whole weekend so get yours now.
It's going to be an eclectic mix of country, soul, hip hop, R'n'B, rock, acoustic-folk and electro-pop, performed by a prestige selection of musicians who, like us, are proud to tread a different path.
L Word favourites BETTY will be performing their tight harmonies, fun melodies and clever lyrics and getting the lesbians hot under their sparkly collars and so will award winning US singer Rachael Sage, fresh off her tour. Red N Pink will be rapping, tapping and getting the crowd clapping and Heads Hearts will perform their electro dancy tracks along with AMiTY and Faye Bagley who has been performing on the L Fest crew's tour.
On the brand new stage there a range of talent handed to you on a plate, ready for you become a fan and discover some exciting new music. Cat Chinn, Nikki Rous and Jasmine Kennedy to name a few will all be showing off their acoustic guitar skills and range of lovely lyrics on the L Fest Presents stage.
The Arts
With literature there is so much talent in one place you'll be leaving with your mind full of wonderful stories and beautiful poetry. Festival regular VG Lee will perform her brand-new one-woman play 'The Lady of the Wild West Hill,' before taking it to the Edinburgh Fringe. There will be extracts from the book by Clare Summerskill 'Gateway to Heaven: Fifty years of lesbian and gay oral history,' a book that has been getting talked about more than Fifty Shades of Grey. Jackie Kay will also read from her latest work.
The Comedy
The laughing Cows comedy is set to be amazing this year. Lesbian favourite Jen Brister will take to the stage to make you laugh and cringe at stories of her relationships and the long list of things that she hates. Latitude New Act of the Year finalist, Suzi Ruffell will make you giggle with detailed stories of growing up and being told repeatedly that she can 'be cured,' of being gay and Julie Jepson and Kerry Leigh will complete the night with talented, witty quips and gay humour.
The Other Bits
With all that and more there's also some other lovely bits to make the weekend more enjoyable and even more girly, such as the retreat so you can pamper yourself after a hard day of watching bands. There are workshops galore, activities, a cinema to showcase some of the best films and of course The L Project will be performing their charity single.
If you're a parent there's somewhere for your little ones to stay and play and under sixteens go free so you can bring the whole family. The L Fest solo club is back so coming by yourself is more fun. A specific crew designated to meet and greet you and introduce you to others in the group as soon as you arrive. There's a solos camping area, a group meet & greet at 8pm on Friday at L Fest where you can meet others to take part in activities together.
Don't forget the sports and activities,taking you back to your youth with the School sports day and games such as rounders and tug of war, so put on your best St Trinian's outfit and join us on the field.
Full line up information and more details on www.lfest.co.uk
Tuesday, 26 March 2013
Just added to the Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend Line Up
LA REID, PHARRELL WILLIAMS & JERMAINE DUPRI’S
NEW PROTÉGÉ
LEAH LABELLE
JUST ADDED TO CLUB SKIRTS
DINAH SHORE WEEKEND LINE-UP.
The Former American Idol
Contestant, Now Music’s New “It” Girl
Is Ready To “SEXIFY”
The Dinah’s Monte Carlo Party!
PALM SPRINGS, CA – Club Skirts Dinah Shore
Weekend has just
announced the addition of Leah LaBelle to its 2013
Entertainment line-up.
Building
on its reputation as the inescapable venue for new recording artists to
breakthrough, in less than 2 decades, Club Skirts
Dinah Shore Weekend – the largest Lesbian event in the world - has
positioned itself as a trendsetting event that entertainment industry
insiders watch and jockey to book their artists’ performances.
As
a MUST DO venue that has proven to be the catalyst propelling new young artist
to superstar status, The Dinah was a logical choice for LaBelle’s record Label
and agency (CAA), who reached out to Mariah Hanson (founder & producer of
The Dinah) for a coveted spot on the 2013 Dinah Talent Roster.
Now
following the footsteps of Lady Gaga. Katy Perry, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Kesha,
Dev and Neon Hitch (to name a few), who, post-Dinah, have all gone to become
Grammy/VMA winners, #1 Billboard charters, and international hitmakers, LaBelle
is set to perform during the Dinah
“Monte Carlo” party held on Saturday, April 6 at the Palm Springs Convention
Center, following the buzz-heavy headlining performance by pop duo Karmin.
Showcasing her sensational voice and
flare, the talented young artist will deliver a variety of songs from her new
album (due out this year) including the hit single “Sexify” and her new track
“Lolita”, produced by Pharrell Williams, which recently premiered on Complex.com.
No
stranger to the music industry, Labelle was a contestant on the 3rd season of
American Idol, bowing out at a respectable 12th position. While she
certainly made her marks on the TV show, it
was her YouTube videos that made her an overnight phenomenon. As a result she
landed gigs singing backup for such artists as Jordin Sparks,
The Jonas Brothers, Eric Benet and Britney Spears.
The Canadian-born
daughter of Bulgarian refugees eventually caught the eyes and ears
of L.A. Reid, Pharrell Williams and Jermaine
Dupri who signed her to a joint deal with their respective
labels, Epic
Records, i.am.OTHER and So So Def Recordings.
This former American Idol contestant turned backup singer,
turned Youtube sensation (phew!), has now turned music’s new “IT” girl, making
a whole lot of noise as a solo artist.
A
star in the making Leah LaBelle is about to blow up so make sure you come along
for the ride …
To purchase tickets
go to: www.TheDinah.com
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