To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Vans Warped Tour, the gender-equity platform Gritty in Pink, backed by Live Nation partners to launch their own female led touring series.
In 2004, Shira Yevin—founder of Gritty in Pink—fresh from the riot grrrl scene in New York City joined Warped Tour. As a musician, she quickly questioned why no women appeared on stage, despite knowing countless talented women in punk rock bands. That disconnect revealed a deeper issue within the music industry’s ecosystem.
Determined to create change, Shira pitched a “Girl’s Garage Tent” to the Warped Tour team. They suggested revisiting the idea the following year for the 10th-anniversary tour. But at just 21, a year felt like a decade and famously crashed the tour in a pink RV, parking it right next to the skate ramp. When the gates opened, crowds of women flooded the RV, eager to discover what this bold new space had to offer. The response earned Shira and her team an invitation to join the rest of the tour—and the ShiraStage was born.
Over the years, the platform showcased more than 300 female-fronted acts, including icons like Joan Jett and a then-unknown Paramore on their first-ever tour. The groundbreaking stage earned Shira a feature in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and sparked a lifelong mission to empower women in music. That mission eventually led to the founding of Gritty in Pink, backed by investment from Live Nation.
Now, 20 years later, Shira’s story comes full circle. Warped Tour is back for its 30th anniversary, and Gritty in Pink is reuniting with the tour to honor its roots. The Gritty In Pink: Warped Warmup Tour will travel through the Northeast, SoCal, and Southeast, hosting high-energy shows and building momentum ahead of each Warped Tour festival date. Headliners include Sweet Pill, Royal & the Serpent, Sophie Powers, Millionaires, Chandler Leighton, and Sheblime. These shows will serve as official Vans Warped Tour pre-parties and special events, leading up to each festival date.
Beyond the music, Gritty in Pink will activate an on-site experience called the Gritty Garage, designed to uplift female artists, fans, and aspiring music industry pros. Attendees can enjoy a beauty station, grab gift bags featuring MadHippie goodies, and meet artists like Royal & The Serpent, Nova Twins, LØLØ, Sweet Pill, AvaMaybee, and Mary Jo through exclusive meet-and-greets at select dates.
Don’t miss the Gritty In Pink: Warped Warmup Tour this summer as it brings coast-to-coast performances and highlights fresh local talent discovered through Gritty In Pink and She Is The Music’s talent search. Get tickets HERE.
Northeast Dates: (featuring Sweet Pill headlining the Northeast run)
- June 8 – Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA
- June 10 – Arrow at The Archer Music Hall, New Haven, CT
- June 11 – Gramercy Theatre, New York, NY
- June 12 – Black Cat, Washington, DC
Southwest Dates:
- July 20 – Garden Amp, Garden Grove, CA (featuring Sophie Powers, Millionaires)
- July 22 – Voodoo Room at House of Blues, San Diego, CA (featuring Chandler Leighton)
- July 23 – Saint Rocke, Hermosa Beach, CA (featuring Sheblime and Mama Troy)
- July 24 – The Echo, Los Angeles, CA (featuring Royal & the Serpent)
Meet and Greet Experience at Vans Warped Tour:
- June 15 – Washington DC: Sweet Pill, Royal & The Serpent
- July 26 – Long Beach, CA: LØLØ, Nova Twins, Ava Maybee, Sweet Pill, Royal & The Serpent
- November 15 – Orlando, FL: LØLØ, Mary Jo, Royal & The Serpent
