October 2, 2025
From fronting her band Sweetie to founding the all-female and queer-centered punk festival H.O.O.F. (Hands Off Our Fest), Birdy Vee has become a fearless force in the local punk scene. What started as frustration with the misogyny in music spaces has grown into a movement of empowerment, community, and unapologetic creativity. Now a familiar face at the Egyptian Theatre — and even a self-proclaimed “future ghost” of the building alongside her Rocky Horror castmates — Birdy shares how she got hooked on punk, the dream bands she’d love to book, and why creating inclusive, safe spaces for artists and audiences alike is at the heart of everything she does. Interview conducted by Marketing Intern Juli Reyes.
JULI: How did you get into the punk scene? Was there a band that you were inspired by?
BIRDY: For me there are two different moments: when I got into punk music, and then later when I got into the punk scene itself. I got into punk music probably when I was about 12 or 13 years old. My dad showed me bands like The Ramones and The Cramps, and then my cousin got me into AFI, and the rest is history! As for the punk scene itself, I’d say I was about 17 years old when I went to my first “official” punk show, which was a Flatfoot 56 show in the basement of a church in Lombard. It was absolutely insane and I was forever hooked.
J: Is there a dream artist or band you would like to perform at H.O.O.F.?
B: Oh man, a dream artist for HOOF? If we’re shooting for the stars, I’d say The Distillers or Amyl and the Sniffers. But I’ve also definitely got my eye on several bands in the area that I am dying to book for future HOOFs! But in all honesty, every band that I’ve had on for HOOF has been an absolute DREAM to work with! Turns out the band Carnivore Mommy, who played the 2nd year of HOOF, was actually formed because their frontwoman was inspired by the first HOOF to make her own band! How amazing is that!
J: How did you come up with the idea of creating your own festival?
B: Coming up with the idea for HOOF came from years of frustration of dealing with the misogyny in the punk scene and entertainment industry. I was feeling really intimidated and often unsafe in these spaces. I also noticed that every time a “girl punk” festival would come up, it was almost always organized by men; some of them even being organized by known violent abusers of women. After years of wading through the muck, I reached an ‘enough is enough’ point, and decided to create HOOF, telling them Hands Off Our Fest!
J: And how did you come up with the name of your band?
B: As for the band name ‘Sweetie’, that goes way back! It just sort of popped into my head and that was that!
J: Why is it important for you to include your francophone roots in your music and at events you perform at?
B: Culturally and linguistically, French stuff has always been a big part of who I am and what I like, and I always love to combine my passions where I can.
J: What does it mean to you to have your own event at the Egyptian Theatre, where you are the house band and close friend with the cast members for the Rocky Horror Picture Show?
B: I ABSOLUTELY ADORE the Egyptian Theatre! At this point in my life, the theatre truly feels like a second home to me. I will be with the Rocky Horror cast in the theatre, and we’ll look around and say to each other, ‘God, aren’t we so lucky?’ The cast members and I even have a joke that when we die, we all plan to haunt the Egyptian Theatre as ghosts, so we can all be with our favorite people in one of our all-time favorite spaces together. As for having the festival at the Egyptian, HOOF is such an important event to me, and a big part of HOOF is working with a venue that is a safe and inclusive space for women and queer folks. The Egyptian staff have always provided a safe and inclusive space for the community, and we are so lucky to be able to have HOOF here this year.
