SWEDISH pop star Zara Larsson has had enough, and demands that UK music festivals sort out their line-ups now. A BBC study found only 13 per cent of 2022 festival headliners are a female solo act or an all-female band. “They need to book more women,” she told us. “It’s not like women aren’t making music.”
The Symphony singer, right, says it is the tip of an industry-wide gender imbalance. “It’s behind the scenes as well. I’ve been in many sessions with only men, when I was really young, speaking about weird topics. People are like ‘my dick is this big’, ‘I’ve f*cked this many girls’,” she says. “I don’t want to be in a room with just men anymore. I’m over it.” Larsson is building a female team to make a change, but faces a dilemma. “I really want an all-girl band, but I’ve been with my band seven years now — I just don’t have the heart to fire them!” They live to play another day.
Everett’s pill for Jubilee
HOW to celebrate the Jubilee? Rupert Everett plans to pop a pill and just get through it. When asked what is on the cards for the break, the actor said: “Valium, probably.” Fair enough. “I’m a country bumpkin, so I’m going to be in... my village enjoying it”. He bought a rural pile in Carlow, Ireland, last year to concentrate on writing his fourth novel. Perhaps the drug will spark a new storyline.
ABBA and Alice + Olivia have a blast
PRESENTERS AJ Odudu and Miquita Oliver attended a lively supper laid out by fashion label Alice + Olivia, hosted by founder Stacey Bendet. Princess Beatrice and Melanie C joined them at The Maine, Mayfair, yesterday evening. Miles east at the ABBA Arena, Stratford, Kylie Minogue, Keira Knightley and James Righton tackled the red carpet before watching the hologram-style show. Keith Richard’s granddaughter Ella, and Sascha von Bismarck, hosted denim brand DL1961’s cocktail night enjoyed by Daphne Guinness, and Craig David got a Boohoo bash moving in Marylebone.
