Post Date: 05/23/2018 1:30 PM

The country’s largest female-fronted music festival is now in its 7th year

Mayor Mike Purzycki today joined Gayle Dillman and Jeremy Hebbel of Gable Music Ventures in encouraging music lovers from Wilmington and around the country to celebrate women in music at the annual Ladybug Music Festival in Downtown Wilmington. The FREE two-day block party style festival, presented by Chase with support from the City of Wilmington and a host of other sponsors, will take place on Friday, July 20 and Saturday, July 21 and will feature over 75 female acts.

You can view the complete lineup of performers by accessing www.theladybugfestival.com.

“We are proud to have an event like this in Wilmington each summer,” said Mayor Purzycki, “and I’ve enjoyed watching how much it has grown over the years. This is a perfect way to showcase our City and support local businesses, while presenting a first-rate musical experience that celebrates female artists which is unrivaled anywhere in the country.”

The Ladybug Festival was co-created by Gayle Dillman and Jeremy Hebbel of Gable Music Ventures as a response to the lack of representation of female artists on festival stages in the region and across the country. The first Ladybug Festival was attended by an audience of approximately 300. Since then, the festival has witnessed tremendous growth, greeting approximately 10,000 attendees last year in downtown Wilmington. Ladybug has staged over 300 solo artists and bands, including emerging and established women artists, including such notables as Nalani & Sarina, Caroline Rose, Larkin Poe, and Grammy-nominated Mary Lambert.

“A number of studies show that female-fronted acts account for a little more than ten percent of festival lineups across the country, “said Gayle Dillman, founder of Gable Music Ventures. “We are proud to present a lineup that celebrates and welcomes dynamic women-identified musicians.”

This year’s event will utilize 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 the 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 2018 Ladybug Festival will mark Chase’s second year as the presenting sponsor. “We see this event as a great opportunity to bring vitality to the downtown Wilmington community which we’re a 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.”

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News and information from the Office of Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki

John Rago

Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Communications

Mobile: (302) 420-7928

Email: jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov



Paul Ford Jr.

Communications Specialist

Mobile: (302) 530-2171

Email: plford@WilmingtonDE.gov



Dan Sanchez

Digital & Social Media Manager

Mobile: (302) 605-0026

Email: dsanchez@WilmingtonDE.gov