When Danielle LoPresti and Alicia Champion, who are both musicians, connected in San Diego, their mission became to create a venue for artists to express diverse points of view and network with one another.

By networking bands, LoPresti and Champion hope to grow the local music scene and promote strong indie artists, culture and activism.

From its humble beginnings at The Abbey to the parking lot at Kung Food, the women have grown the festival this year to seven stages and more than 70 artists, with a beer garden and children’s areas.

Despite the growth, the women have stayed true to their mission.

“We’re pooling our resources, working our asses off, to bring out amazing, diverse, enlightened, inspired music art and activism,” LoPresti said.

New to the festival, which runs from noon to midnight on Saturday, March 29, is the Indie Film Stage, presented by Sun & Moon Vision Productions at the Birch North Park Theatre, featuring the Academy Award-winning documentary short, Freeheld, about a dying New Jersey lesbian’s fight to secure benefits for partner.

LoPresti and Champion, who have performed at the Dyke March and participate in the Pride parade, said a substantial element of the festival is advocating for human rights.

“A lot of people think it’s a big party – and for some, it is, but we sew activism into this,” LoPresti said. “How many more years before we’re treated as equal citizens? It’s about human rights. It’s in our fiber. It’s in everything we do. It’s the crux of everything, it’s why I’m here – moving out of apathy and into action.”

Main Stage 29th Street @ North Park Way

Noon The Uh Oh Explosion

12:45 Social Green

1:30 Scissors For Lefty

2:15 Runhoney

3:20 Semi Precious Weapons

5:00 Delta Nove

6:00 James Marsters

7:00 Alicia Champion

7:45 Danielle LoPresti & The Masses

9:00 Beth Hart

10:15 Kid Beyond

Acoustic Stage, Old Time Music San Diego, 2852 University Ave.

Noon Podunk Nowhere

1:30 Mary Grasso

2:15 Paul Abbott

3:00 Veronica May

3:45 Donnis Trio

4:30 Bella Sorella

5:15 Josh Damigo

6:00 Steph Johnson

6:45 Isaac Cheong

7:30 Greg Friedman

8:15 Jane Lui

9:00 Derren Raser

Mature Audiences Stage, The Rubber Rose, 3812 Ray St.

12:15 Moonshyne

1:00 Linda Sargent

1:45 V.I.T.A.L. Emcee

2:45 Circus Finelli

4:30 Semi Precious Weapons

5:30 Tragic Tantrum

6:30 Sistas In The Pit

7:30 Una

8:30 Sutro

Green Stage, 29th Street @ University Avenue

Noon Tam Tam Mandingue

12:15 A Band Called Pain

1:00 Seis Pistos

1:45 Kontious

2:30 Misty & The Sneaker Junkies

3:15 Lawa

4:15 The Cuban Cowboys

5:15 Saucy Monky

6:15 Jibilian

7:15 The Shambles

8:00 Rupa & The April Fishes

8:45 Antedote

9:30 Hectic Watermelon

Indie Film Stage, Birch North Park Theatre, 2891 University Ave.

1:00 RESULTS - Everyday Heroes

1:20 Reversing The Ripples of War

1:45 Q&A with Rebecca and Kathy Sangha

2:00 The Devil Came On Horseback

3:30 Lovers, Liars, and Lunatics

4:00 Q&A with Amber Benson

5:20 Freeheld

6:15 Made In L.A.

7:30 Q&A with Special Guests

7:45 This Film Is Not Yet Rated

Women’s History Stage, Claire de Lune. 2906 University Ave.

12:15 Meg Baier

1:00 Celeste Astara

1:45 Rhythm & The Method

2:45 Francesca Valle

3:30 DURGA AWARDS PRESENTATION

4:15 Jennie Laws

5:00 Carol Ames

5:45 Holly Light

6:30 Katrina Parker

7:15 Calaveras

8:00 Elena

8:45 Beth Preston

9:30 Theresa Perez

10:15 Liah Alonso

11:00 DarZana

11:45 Angie Evans

World Stage, Eveoke Dance Theatre, 2811 University Ave.

5:00 Jessica Fichot

6:00 Ricardo Garcia

7:00 Tam Tam Mandigue

8:00 Evren Ozan

9:00 Middle Earth Ensemble