Olivia Rodrigo launches Daisy Chain Fields festival in Irvine after raising $10 million for charity

Charity funding and nonprofit partners

Olivia Rodrigo opened the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival at Great Park in Irvine, California, after confirming that ticket sales, sponsor commitments, and individual donations generated $10 million for charitable causes. The festival allocated 100% of its net proceeds across ten nonprofit partner organizations dedicated to advancing health, legal protections, and family resources for women and girls. Beneficiaries include Baby2Baby, which distributes diapers, infant formula, clothing, and food to children, and the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, which supplies resources to Black mothers before, during, and after pregnancy. Funding also supports the Center for Reproductive Rights, Jhpiego, the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, Planned Parenthood, the National Institute for Reproductive Health, FreeFrom, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and the National Women's Law Center. Every artist on the roster agreed to perform without taking an appearance fee to maximize the financial distribution to the partner charities.

At a press conference on Friday, Rodrigo presented the fundraising total ahead of the event.

It's a real honor to announce that we are donating $10 million to be given directly to these 10 nonprofit partners.

Lineup curation and stage schedule

The daylong festival operates across two stages arranged with alternating, non-overlapping performance schedules to enable attendees to watch every act on the roster without conflicts. Rodrigo assembled a fifteen-artist bill spanning multiple generations of rock and pop performers. The lineup features Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Garbage, The Breeders, Santigold, Bikini Kill, Die Spitz, Eli, Not For Radio, Quiet Light, and Rachel Chinouriri, alongside special guest appearances by Karen O, Sarah McLachlan, and Stevie Nicks. The roster underwent a late adjustment on Thursday when the girl group Katseye withdrew after member Megan sustained a sprained ankle, leading organisers to add Devon Again to the concert schedule.

Lilith Fair legacy and backstage staffing

Rodrigo structured the project as a direct homage to Lilith Fair, the touring concert series founded by Sarah McLachlan in the late 1990s that showcased female performers. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Rodrigo reflected on how that historical precedent helped demonstrate the commercial viability of female-led festivals.

Before Lilith Fair, women were told that they couldn't lead a festival, that no one would come, that they couldn't get sponsors, and those women proved everyone wrong.

The festival also extended its focus on gender equity behind the scenes. Organisers arranged for event photography to be handled primarily by women, transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming photographers, ensuring representation among the working media crew.

Heat mitigation and on-site infrastructure

Warm weather conditions in Southern California prompted organizers to establish extensive health and safety precautions across the Great Park venue, where midday temperatures were forecast to reach 34 degrees Celsius. Event planners installed five designated hydration stations and five cooling areas to ensure attendees remained hydrated throughout the day. The site also includes two shade zones and two fully staffed medical tents equipped with misting fans, air ventilators, and nearby air-conditioned buses prepared to transport visitors who require emergency cooling or medical assessment.