A 'Man-Free' Music Festival Is Coming To Sweden

For the ladies who’ve been dreaming of a music festival sans men, book your flights for Sweden in 2018.

The announcement comes after reports of 23 sexual assaults and four rapes at the country’s largest festival, Bråvalla, which took place this past weekend. Hosted in Östergötland, and boasting headliners like The Killers, The Chainsmokers, and System of a Down this year, police received numerous calls about sexual assaults and rapes at Bråvalla in 2016 as well, leading organizers to cancel the 2018 iteration.

“Certain men… apparently cannot behave. It’s a shame. We have therefore decided to cancel Bråvalla 2018,” festival organizers told The Guardian.

In response to these horrific reports, Swedish comedian Emma Knyckare suggested that someone start a festival where only women can attend.

“What do you think about putting together a really cool festival where only non-men are welcome?” at least “until all men have learned how to behave.”

https://twitter.com/Knyckare/status/881563265414955008

A day later, she went on to answer her own call, writing on Instagram (translated by The Independent):

“Sweden’s first man-free rock festival will see the light next summer. In the coming days I’ll bring together a solid group of talented organizers and project leaders to form the festival organizers, then you’ll hear from everyone again when it’s time to move forward.”

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven condemned the sexual attacks during a televised segment on Sunday, calling for increased surveillance at festivals and saying these acts “must stop.”

“This is so disgusting. These are obnoxious acts by deplorable men,” Löfven told the Swedish daily newspaper, Expressen.

About the author

Ryan Kristobak

Music Editor

Hailing from the booming metropolis that is Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Ryan grew up surrounded by Amish farms and performed in a variety of questionable musical acts. After studying journalism at Penn State and working as an editor at the startup blog Onward State, Ryan moved to New York City to work for The Huffington Post as the Music and Entertainment Social Media Editor. When he isn't pouring through new music or managing the artists Angelo Mota and Marathon, he is endlessly quoting "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia", "Archer" and "Kroll Show" to anyone that will listen.