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Liberation Weekend

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Liberation Weekend
GenreMusic and arts festival, Trans, LGBTQ
Date(s)May 30, 2025 (2025-05-30)–May 31, 2025 (2025-05-31)
VenueBlack Cat, DC9 Nightclub
Location(s)Washington, D.C.
CountryUnited States
FoundersGender Liberation Movement, Ekko Astral
PeopleJael Holzman
Websitelinktree.com/liberationwknd

Liberation Weekend was a two-day music and arts festival that took place in Washington, D.C. on May 30–31, 2025. The festival was organized by Ekko Astral and Gender Liberation Movement. The event sought to support the transgender community, with proceeds funding Gender Liberation Movement's actions against trans discrimination by businesses and policymakers. Featured performers included Ekko Astral, Home Is Where, Ted Leo, Speedy Ortiz, and others.[1]

Background

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The founding of Liberation Weekend came from a collaboration between the punk band Ekko Astral and the non-profit, collective organization Gender Liberation Movement. In December 2024, Jael Holzman (a co-founding member of Ekko Astral) published an article in Rolling Stone skeptical of the Democratic Party's willingness to protect trans rights and access to trans health care in the face of future attacks by the Trump administration.[2] Following publication, Holzman was asked if she wanted to report on a protest at the U.S. Capitol that was organized by Gender Liberation Movement, in response to the Capitol bathroom ban that barred trans people from using bathrooms other than those of their sex assigned birth.[3] Inspired by Gender Liberation Movement's efforts, Holzman instead wanted to aid in their activism. With the support of Ekko Astral and their community, she and Gender Liberation Movement spent the next four months planning a music festival that would raise funds to support trans rights. The organizers faced obstacles in raising money to host the festival; some companies refused to sponsor the event because they did not want to be publicly associated with it, despite having been supporters of Ekko Astral in the past.[4]

This work resulted in the inaugural Liberation Weekend festival, which was announced publicly on April 2, 2025. The event was billed as "two days of music & arts for trans liberty"[5] with "our nation's most forward-thinking rock and pop acts". In addition to live bands, the event advertised a dance afterparty, DJ sets, stand-up comedy, and performance pieces.[6] The festival would take place May 30–31, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (at venues Black Cat and DC9) as part of WorldPride 2025, with all net proceeds benefiting trans activism activities by Gender Liberation Movement. Public sponsors included Topshelf Records, Father/Daughter Records, the nonprofit organization No More Dysphoria, the music distribution and patronage site Mirlo, and Right Proper Brewing Company.[7] Supporters such as Audrey Zee Whitesides (of the band Speedy Ortiz) and Dust Reid (of Red Hot Organization) expressed their enthusiasm for the event and its dedication to supporting trans rights. In addition to providing financial support to trans activism, Holzman claimed that the festival was meant to inspire artists to "stand in vocal support of the trans community."[8]

Liberation Weekend was included in Vulture's 2025 list of "can't-miss" upcoming music festivals.[9] The event was received favorably, with one writer stating it "feels like a landmark moment in D.C.'s punk history."[10] The festival was praised for its community-driven model of supporting those advocating for trans rights, a diversity of energetic performances, and celebratory attitude in the face of anti-trans attacks.[5][10]

Lineup

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According to Holzman, Liberation Weekend artists were selected to represent what a "truly inclusive trans-forward and trans-fronted music festival could really look like" across a range of musical genres.[4] Performances spanned genres such as pop, rock, post-punk, noise rock, folk rock, punk, and shoegaze.[5] Bands primarily came from the DIY and indie music subcultures, emphasizing bands with trans members and those who advocate vocally in support of trans issues.[5] The lineup was majority-LGBTQ.[10]

For the first day of the festival (occurring Friday, May 30, 2025 from 6PM–3AM), the initial announcement listed musical performances by Home Is Where, Pinkshift, Combat, Pretty Bitter, Perennial, Zora, Um, Jennifer?, and two "special secret artists" that were later revealed to be Greg Freeman and Pop Music Fever Dream.[11] It also listed DJ sets by LeCamille, Vanfleet, pet wife, and Midnight Ecstasy.[7]

For the second day of the festival (occurring Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 2PM–3AM), the initial announcement listed musical performances by Ted Leo, Speedy Ortiz, Downtown Boys, Ekko Astral, Pure Adult, Vaelastrasz, Big Girl, and FAITH/VOID. The second day also included two showcases: the Red Hot Org/TRA​И​Ƨ​A Showcase featuring TRA​И​Ƨ​A artists L'Rain, Bartees Strange, and Asher White and the Locals Only Showcase featuring Washington, D.C. DIY and queer artists Pinky Lemon, Cherub Tree, Massie, and Berra.[5] It also listed DJ sets by Eev Frances, Time Wharp, Clear Channel, and DJ horse jeans.[7]

On May 7 2025, Liberation Weekend organizers announced an updated lineup in which The Ophelias would headline on Day 1, replacing Combat who were no longer performing for unstated reasons.[12] Additional lineup changes were announced in May. An updated schedule included a performance by Miri Tyler as part of the Locals Only Showcase, replacing Cherub Tree who could no longer perform due to a band member injury.[11][13] Additionally, emcees were included in the schedule: Day 1 was hosted by stand-up comedian Charlie Girard and the nonprofit organization Trans Music Archive. Day 2 was hosted by cartoonist Mattie Lubchansky, comedian Josh Gondelman, and writer Rax King. Rax King also participated in an unofficial Liberation Weekend 'Eve' event on May 29 at Black Cat in conversation with fellow writer Niko Stratis.[10][11] The event featured a reading and Q&A session with Stratis regarding her recently published book, The Dad Rock That Made Me A Woman.[14]

Lineup by day and venue

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May 30, 2025 (Day 1)
Black Cat DC9
  • pet wife[b]
  • Perennial
  • Zora
  • Midnight Ecstasy[b]
  • Um, Jennifer?
  • LeCamille[b]
  • Vanfleet[b]
May 31, 2025 (Day 2)
Black Cat DC9

^ a. Solo performance[11]
^ b. DJ performance[15]
^ c. Featured in Red Hot Org/TRA​И​Ƨ​A showcase[15]
^ d. Featured in Locals Only showcase[5][16]
^ e. Included performances with members of bands/artists Latchkey Kids, Home Is Where, Big Girl, Bad Moves, Berra, and Ted Leo.[5][10]

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References

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  1. ^ Green, Walden (2 April 2025). "Ekko Astral and Gender Liberation Movement Announce Liberation Weekend in Washington, D.C." Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  2. ^ Holzman, Jael (10 December 2024). "Will Democrats Let the GOP Gut Trans Health Care?". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 11 December 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  3. ^ Szilagy, Sarah (5 December 2024). "Activists Occupied Bathrooms in the US Capitol to Protest the Trans Ban". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  4. ^ a b Jenkins, Craig (9 April 2025). "'We Created a Pitchfork Fest for Trans Rights'". Vulture. Archived from the original on 8 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Campbell, Caleb (2 June 2025). "DC's Trans Rights Festival Liberation Weekend Brought An Urgent DIY Spirit To The Fore". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 2 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  6. ^ Ruckle, Taylor (2 April 2025). "Ekko Astral Announces LIberation Weekend: Two Day D.C. Music Festival Supporting Trans Rights". Washington City Paper. Archived from the original on 4 April 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  7. ^ a b c Jones, Abby (2 April 2025). "New DC Trans Rights Festival Liberation Weekend Announces Lineup". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 8 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  8. ^ Martoccio, Angie (2 April 2025). "Bartees Strange, Speedy Ortiz, L'Rain to play inaugural 'Liberation Weekend' fest". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 22 April 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  9. ^ Reilly, Dan (9 April 2025). "The Ultimate Guide to 2025's Can't-Miss Music Festivals". Vulture. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d e Robins-Somerville, Grace (4 June 2025). "Liberation Weekend: The Trans Punk DIY Music Festival That Could Spark a Movement". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 5 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d Liberation Weekend [@liberationwknd]; (23 May 2025). "Secret performers announced". Archived from the original on 9 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025 – via Instagram.
  12. ^ Liberation Weekend [@liberationwknd]; (7 May 2025). "New schedule announcement". Archived from the original on 9 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025 – via Instagram.
  13. ^ Cherub Tree [@cherubtreeband]; (8 May 2025). "Cherub Tree show cancellations". Archived from the original on 8 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025 – via Instagram.
  14. ^ Grimes, Taylor (11 June 2025). "Community, Solidarity, and Good Fucking Music: Liberation Weekend Recap". Swim Into The Sound. Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  15. ^ a b Hatfield, Amanda (2 April 2025). "Ekko Astral announce Liberation Weekend fest ft. Home is Where, Ted Leo, Bartees Strange, L'Rain, more". Brooklyn Vegan. Archived from the original on 2 April 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Liberation Weekend - LOCALS ONLY". DICE. DICE FM Holdings Ltd. Archived from the original on 10 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
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