Out of Mind Fest promises inclusion with a beat

CONCERTS

Performers scheduled for the Out of Mind Fest include, from left, Grouptherapy, Jackie Lipson, Rituals of Mine and Storyboards. The event takes place at The Echo in L.A. on Feb. 25. COURTESY OF LANCE WILLIAMS

COURTESY OF MALLORY TURNER

COURTESY OF JEFFREY LATOUR

COURTESY OF ASHER PHOENIX

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By Holly Alvarado

halvarado@scng.com

Out of Mind Fest, a music and arts festival that welcomes artists of all races and sexual orientations, is returning to The Echo in Los Angeles on Feb. 25.

Presented by Gay Asstrology, Half Moon and Errant Ent in association with Live Nation, the event will feature pop, R&B and dance music. Artists include Grouptherapy, Rituals of Mine, Gay Hollywood, Jackie Lipson with Vavá, Storyboards and guests Blush and Mae Martin. The night will be capped by DJ sets from Bri Giger and Gay Asstrology.

Founded by Dani Oliva, a trans music executive and attorney who uses he/him pronouns, Out of Mind Fest aims to create a community where rising LGBTQ and disabled artists can be seen, heard and paid.

“We started in 2019 because we noticed that many independent artists don’t necessarily have a place to perform, or the places that are available require minimum ticket sales, or no pay or low pay,” Oliva said during a recent phone interview. “And so we wanted to create a space for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC artists to perform in front of an audience while getting paid fairly.”

Oliva’s credentials include doing legal work for artists, co-founding the Indigenous- and LGBTQ-owned record label Alt Eden and managing his music company, Muk-Posh. Yet, Oliva makes the time to try to ensure the Out of Mind Fest is something memorable for the community.

The first installment of the event took place in September 2019 under the moniker of HomoBOP!, but the name was changed to be more inclusive. The concept worked and the fest sold out.

It’s now an annual event in Los Angeles, and Oliva’s team is working on installments elsewhere, including New York City and possibly Toronto in 2024.

Partnering with the monthly LGBTQ dance party company Gay Asstrology was an easy decision for Oliva, as he said the two share a similar ethos of creating an inclusive space. Likewise, Half Moon, an independent media and music company that reinforces emerging artists worldwide, also fit the Out of Mind family.

“My friends have also been in the music industry for quite some time, so they understand what it takes to make something like Out of Mind,” Oliva said. “They’ve always wanted to do a live music festival that was inclusive of the queer community, and so we just thought, ‘Let’s give it a go.’ So now we’re here, and it’s been great so far. And Half Moon has a good ear on the pulse of who’s coming up in the music industry. They are also very plugged into the independent music scene and pride themselves on creating a community for folks interested in being a part of it, whether in New York or Los Angeles. They get what we’re about.”

One aspect of the Out of Mind Fest is that artists can send in music submissions for the chance to play the event. The festival will also host local vendors, who can fill out an application to pop up a booth with no vendor fees or merchandise cuts. Vendors on the list this year include Little Moon x So Cute, The Rooted Zodiac and Megan Boykoff.

There will also be several interactive elements including Hidden Hearts, worn symbols that allow attendees to show if they are single, ready to mingle or simply enjoying the night. Out of Mind merchandise will also be available, with proceeds going to the ACLU, an organization committed to fighting anti-trans legislation.

“There’s not many events that truly feature up-and-coming artists, especially ones that don’t have label support,” Oliva said. “Out of Mind Fest really comes out of a genuine desire to uplift creators. It all comes down to supporting our community, and I believe we do a good job of doing just that.”