Delaware-based R&B singer Nadjah Nicole performs at Ladybug in 2017. Photo courtesy of Gable Music Ventures. |
The annual Ladybug Festival, presented by Chase, has announced dates for its 7th consecutive year. Noted as the largest of its kind in the U.S., the two-day block party-style music festival will take place July 20-21, 2018 and feature over 75 acts, including emerging and established women artists.
“A number of studies show that female-fronted acts account for a little more than ten percent of festival lineups across the country. We are proud to present a lineup that celebrates and welcomes dynamic women-identified musicians,” said Gayle Dillman, founder of Gable Music Ventures and co-creator of The Ladybug Festival. “As a woman-owned business, our vision is to not only play a prominent role in the development of independent artists, but also to continue our work as a disrupter of the status quo and create a more inclusive culture.”
The Ladybug Festival was co-created by Gayle Dillman and Jeremy Hebbel of Gable Music Ventures as a response to the lack of representation for women-identified artists on festival stages in the region and across the country. Since its inception seven years ago, Ladybug has staged over 300 solo artists and bands for the annual celebration of women in music. The stage has previously seen notable acts such as Caroline Rose, Larkin Poe and Grammy-nominated Mary Lambert.
An addition this year, the event will be utilizing the historic Queen Theater, a Live Nation venue in the heart of downtown Wilmington. “As a woman working within a heavily male-dominated music industry, I really gravitated toward the concept of Ladybug and the goals that Gable Music Ventures set out to accomplish many years ago,” said Christianna Labuz of Live Nation. “I love that their mission rings true not only on stage but at front of house as well; Gayle and Jeremy hire the best female sound engineers and production staff to make sure the musicians sound their very best. Ladybug is always one of my favorite summertime events in Wilmington, and I couldn’t be more excited for The Queen to be involved this year and for many years to come.”
The first Ladybug Festival was attended by an audience of approximately 300. Since that time, the festival has witnessed tremendous growth, greeting approximately 10,000 attendees last year in downtown Wilmington. The 2018 Ladybug Festival will mark Chase’s second year as the presenting sponsor. The bank’s downtown Wilmington campus, where over 3,000 employees work, is just steps from the site of the event.
“We see this event as a great opportunity to bring vitality to the downtown Wilmington community which we’re part of and support a local business that celebrates women and their artistry,” said Kathy Witsil, managing director at Chase. “We’re truly proud to be a part of this festival and watch it grow.”
Additional information about the festival can be found online at theladybugfestival.com. Founded in 2011, The Ladybug Festival is the largest female fronted music festival on the country that takes place annually in Wilmington, Delaware. Each year, thousands come from all gender and cultures, cutting across age and socioeconomic boundaries, to join in this celebration of women and their contribution to music.