My usual, predictable complaint about Beale Street Music Festival (and some other festivals) is that it’s usually pretty lean on acts fronted by or featuring women. This year’s fest boasted Katy Perry, Susan Tedeschi, the Reba Russell Band, and Bonnie Raitt. Assuming I haven’t completely overlooked someone (it’s possible, please comment if so), that’s four out of nearly 60 acts. I’m always curious what’s behind that disappointing ratio. Is it an inability to lure female artists onto the bill? Is it a deliberate decision by festival organizers because there’s an assumption that festival tickets don’t get sold if there are too many women on the bill? Et cetera and so on.

Anyway, after a weekend of seeing dudes endlessly strut onto and off of stages like they own the place (they do, clearly), how completely awesome to see Bonnie Raitt take the stage and completely own it, own her guitar(s), and own her crowd. The woman rocks and she knows it. I, for one, would love to see more of that at BSMF.

— Lindsey