Matty Healy promises the 1975 will only play gender-balanced festivals

Matty Healy of the 1975 stated the band will no longer be playing festivals where the lineup doesn’t have equal gender representation.

Rage Against The Machine are set to headline this year’s festival. Other acts include All Time LowAs It IsSleeping With Sirens and more. It is a very male-dominated lineup.

Read more: Hayley Williams shares camcorder footage for raw “Simmer” lyric video

Of the 90 acts that were announced, 20 of them feature women and only three of the eighteen mainstage artists are women.

Matty Healy made his stand to only perform at festivals with gender-balanced lineups during a discussion with The Guardian Music Editor Laura Snape on Twitter. The editor called out the Reading and Leeds Festival for not having an equal amount of gender representation on the stage.

After Healy replied to her tweet saying she has a good point, Snape encouraged the singer to use his platform to help women and non-binary performers get their time during festivals.

The vocalist responded saying the band would no longer be playing festivals that didn’t have equal gender representation. He did say that they may have already signed to festivals that don’t have this rule, but he doesn’t want to let fans down.

Healy continues saying that even though his agents may not appreciate it, he won’t be backing down. The musician also says he believes having more women artists at the festival would make it even better.

Read more: The 1975 drop nostalgic romance-fueled “Me & You Together Song” video

In a later interview with The GuardianHealy expanded on his thoughts and his stance. He says it’s important to be able to see yourself in an artist on a festival stage.

“People that go to [festivals] feel more included and more represented,” he states. “It’s as simple as that. All the best art for me made me feel personally addressed.”

He went on to say that he thinks other musicians should take a stand with him to make sure everyone is included on festival stages.

Read more: The 1975 give “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America” live debut

“It’s all about action,” he says. “When it comes to big sociopolitical issues and governments are involved, sometimes action or protest can just be ignored, but when it comes to the music industry, we can change that. It’s not a geopolitical nightmare: it’s the music industry, and it’s something that if everyone gets on board, we can fix.”

Last year, Healy mused over the idea of the band having their own festival one day. One thing is certain if it ever comes to fruition, we’re positive Healy would make sure the lineup is gender-equal.

More on Matty Healy and the 1975

The band’s next LP Notes On A Conditional Form is due out April 24 and preorder is available here.

The 1975 are hitting the road starting in April with a slew of North American dates throughout the U.S. and Canada. Dates are listed below and tickets are available here.

Dates:

03/20 – Guadalajara, Mexico @ Auditorio Telmex ^
04/15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre ^*
04/16 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint ^*
04/25 – Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theater ^*
04/26 – Vancouver, BC @ Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre ^*
04/27 – Portland, OR @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum ^*
04/29 – Orem, UT @ UCCU Center ^*
04/30 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre ^*
05/02 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory ^*
05/03 – Austin, TX @ Austin360 Amphitheater ^*
05/04 – Sugar Land, TX @ Smart Financial Centre ^*

05/07 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory ^*
05/08 – Chicago, IL @ United Center ^*
05/11 – Rochester Hills, MI @ Meadow Brooks Amphitheatre ^*
05/12 – Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center ^*
05/14 – Columbus, OH @ The LC Pavilion ^*
05/15 – Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheater ^*
05/18 – Atlanta, GA @ State Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park ^*
05/19 – Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre ^*
05/21 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem ^*
06/02 – Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Amphitheater *
06/03 – Toronto, Ontario @ Budweiser Stage *

^ with Pale Waves
* with No Rome

Do you think more artists should join Matty Healy in his decision? Sound off in the comments below!

See more: 16 memorable band photos

[envira-gallery id=”186668″]