THE first all-female music festival is to take place in Dorset later this year following controversy over male-dominated events.

Singer Lily Allen and DJ Annie Mac have previously criticised the dearth of female performers at some festivals.

Organisers say that 70 per cent of the UK festival line-ups in 2018 were all-male bands.

HearHer will be “the only UK festival to boast an 100 per cent female bill”, organisers say, and is solely created – everything from set design and sound engineering to lighting – by women.

The festival which takes place at Sandford Holiday Park at Holton Heath “aims to promote female empowerment and diminish inequality and discrimination in the music industry”. The event – which follows a trial run, then called the Diva Music Festival last year – is curated by singer-songwriters KT Tunstall and actress and singer Heather Peace.

It will “elevate female talent into the positions they have rightfully earned, provide a positive space in which to nurture female grassroots talent, and embrace and champion women both on and off stage”.

The Friday line-up will be headlined by Synth-pop star Shura and the Saturday bill will be led by Northern Irish musician SOAK.

There will also be performances from Bang Bang Romeo, Cat Burns and Hannah Trigwell, across three stages.

The unique event is supported by Keychange, a foundation which encourages festivals to deliver gender-balanced line-ups, and supports domestic abuse charity Refuge as its charity partner.

* The festival, hearherfestival.com, runs from October 11 to 13.

The full line up:

Shura

Soak

Ariana and the Rose

Bang Bang Romeo

Betty

Caitlyn Scarlett

Cat Burns

Charlotte

Carpenter

Grace Savage

Hannah Trigwell

Heather Peace

Kal Lavelle

Katey Brooks

Laky

Lanta

Lots Holloway

Lucy Whittaker

Saara Aalto

Toya Delazy

The Coaltown Daisies

Xylaroo