The Book More Women Blog
Keep up with the Org, our new activities, and our community
Dolly Parton at Newport Folk Festival 2019: One More Chorus
In 2019, Brandi Carlile curated Newport Folk Festival's first-ever all-female headlining collaboration. What followed was one of those sets you spend the rest of your life trying to describe to people who weren't there. I was there. Here's my attempt.
Introducing the BOOKED Accountability Program
BOOKED is a festival accountability partnership program by Book More Women that supports music festivals in turning their commitment to diversity into measurable goals and action. We provide our partners with the data and platform for setting meaningful targets and celebrate their efforts and improvement.
Welcome to the Next Chapter of Book More Women
Today marks the start of a new chapter for Book More Women. We are no longer stopping at presenting the data; we’re putting it to work.
At The Festival: Newport Folk Festival 2025
Experience Newport Folk Festival 2025 through Book More Women’s recap, featuring surprise guests, unforgettable moments, and new artist insights. Alongside acoustic guitars and harmony, there was funk, gospel, rap, indie-rock, and even New Orleans bounce.
Behind the Festival: South Sound Block Party 2025
Now in its fourth year, South Sound Block Party has become the summer home of the best music of Olympia, the PNW, and beyond. Last year’s headliners were Bikini Kill and X, and 2025 continues that incredible trend with L7 and Bratmobile. This year they also took some bigger swings on reggae acts, have their first country performer, and really embraced the “something for everyone” approach. Between the music, the food, and the unique location, it has become a true showcase of Olympia.
Behind the Festival: Fort Worth African American Roots Music Festival
For five years, the Fort Worth African American Roots Music Festival has been creating space for Black artists in American roots music, reclaiming traditions, fostering community, and challenging erasure. Brandi Waller-Pace, the festival’s founder, shares how their background as an educator led to creating the festival, and the impact of FWAAMFest on artists and audiences. As the festival continues to grow, financial support remains crucial to sustaining its mission: helping to ensure that Black musicians, culture bearers, and tradition keepers receive the recognition and opportunities they deserve.
At The Festival: Girls Just Wanna Weekend 6
Last month, I attended the 6th (and my 6th!) Girls Just Wanna Weekend Music Festival at the all-inclusive Barceló Maya Resort in Tulum, Mexico. The festival was created by Brandi Carlile and first announced in the summer of 2018. Relive the festival with my in-depth recap covering performances and more at the 2025 edition of the festival, including Shania Twain, MUNA, Maren Morris, the festival’s first ever ‘90s theme night, and much more!
At The Festival: Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2024
In 1927, Ralph Peer of the Victor Talking Machine Company traveled to Bristol, TN from NY and made some of the most important recordings in early country music, including the first ever of Jimmie Rodgers. These “Bristol Sessions,” have been called the “Big Bang” of country music. The Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion was established in 2001 in Bristol, TN/VA to celebrate the legacy of these sessions and the region’s musical heritage. Sitting right on the state line and spread across 12 stages, the festival presents established headliners and up-and-coming artists in a variety of country-adjacent genres.