Inaugural VERSA Festival Brings Women-Powered Event to Chicago This June
The inaugural femme-affirming VERSA music, comedy, and cultural festival will roll into Chicago this June with a women-led, woman-powered event featuring some of the most influential and innovative talent working in arts and entertainment today. Presented by Four Leaf Productions, the festival is set to take place June 11-12 at Lincoln Park’s South Fields with headliners Ellie Goulding, Kali Uchis, Kim Petras, Liz Phair, Monica, Mon Laferte, Jamila Woods, and more.
They’ll be supported by a slate of established and emerging artists such as rapper Young M.A., New Orleans bounce queen Big Freedia, Against Me! founder Laura Jane Grace, R&B star Yuna, country singer/songwriter Ingrid Andress, and electronic music producer and drummer Madame Ghandi among others. Stay tuned for more names to be added in the near future.
Laughter is a another key component of the festival with some of comedy’s biggest names set to perform including superstar Chelsea Handler, Broad City’s Ilana Glazer, Patti Harrison, Fortune Feimster, Aida Rodriguez, Dulcé Sloan, Sydnee Washington, and more.
Another highlight is the VERSA Ball presented by Oakland-based Hype Kitty Productions, a community-centered organization that creates dance-focused events at the intersection of performing arts and wellness. The ball aims to exult and empower femme identities while celebrating ballroom and dance culture.
Fans can also feed their heads as well as their bodies with an extensive speaker program and a selection of exceptional cuisine. Headlined by feminist icon Gloria Steinem and artist and LGBTQ activist Alok Vaid-Menon, the speakers series will be led by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and producer Dyllan McGee and best-selling author Luvvie Ajayi with more names to be announced. In between music, comedy, and speakers, attendees can sample dishes from top-tiered chefs curated by author and Top Chef judge Gail Simmons.
“The core of what we wanted this to be was to reflect the multidimensionality and the multifacetedness of women, to really have all women and people be seen through this experience,” said Versa senior marketing director Vanessa Buenger in a statement to the Chicago Tribune. “We’re here to make every woman feel seen no matter where she is on her journey, no matter how she expresses her gender. Versa at its core is our chance to do things differently.”
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased via the festival’s official website. For more information, click on the links below.
VERSA
Website
Tickets