Musician Aerin Fogel decided to create Venus Fest after recognizing an inherent need for a safe space where women and non-binary musical artists as well as music fans could thrive in.

Now in its second year, the Toronto music festival and concert series will be held September 20-22 with headliners Moor Mother, Zola Jesus, Bully and Partner.

We sat down with Aerin to talk about navigating through the many pitfalls of launching and sustaining a music festival, breaking the long history of sexual assault and microaggressions at music festivals, and how Courtney Love and the music of Hole inspired her to pick up the guitar