At Ladyland, Everyone Wanted to ‘Protect the Dolls'

New York Times

19 hours ago

The L train had an even more carnival-esque energy than usual this weekend, as skimpily dressed revelers boarded it after streaming out of Ladyland, a two-day music festival held underneath the Kosciuszko Bridge for Pride Month. Colorful characters packed the cars trading joyful gossip, some returning home giddy from hours of dancing and others heading with friends to their next techno conquest.
Ladyland, according to its founder, Rayne Baron — the 48-year-old high-priestess of nightlife known professionally as Ladyfag — is like the 'pre-party to your rave.' Founded in 2018, the annual event was conceived as a subway-accessible music festival for queer people. Though it has taken place at several venues, for the past few years it has happened at Under the K Bridge Park, which, as its name suggests, is underneath the bridge connecting Queens and Brooklyn.
But it was never a rainbow-themed Pride event. Ladyland offers something 'just a little more alt,' Ladyfag said in her British-tinged-with-New-York accent.
The first festival took place at the mega-club Brooklyn Mirage, featuring the rapper Eve as its headliner, alongside then-lesser-known acts such as 070 Shake and King Princess. Throughout its seven-year run, Ladyland has continued to book big name artists and emerging acts alike. Superstars such as Christina Aguilera, who performed in 2021, and Madonna, who surprised fans with a vogueing contest last year, have been joined by local legends and underground favorites.
This year's headliners were FKA Twigs and Cardi B, who in 2017 performed at Ladyfag's Holy Mountain party — right before the release of the rapper's first hit, 'Bodak Yellow' — for a fee of $4,000. Now Cardi B is a superstar and plays Ladyland as an acknowledgment of Ladyfag's early support. Other acts on this year's lineup included drag performances and DJ sets to neoperreo, a type of reggaeton, J-pop, rap and electro music.
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