“Something we try to do for ourselves” festival and feminine resistance in the Brazilian underground scene

This paper investigates women’s participation and resistance in Brazil's underground rock scene, focusing on the Bruxaria festival and collective, based in Brasilia. The study discusses the notion of unusual spaces for women in rock, a genre historically dominated by white, cisgender men. Based on interviews with members of Bruxaria, the article explores the dynamics of gender, intersectionality and feminist activism present in the creation of more inclusive and safe spaces. The research reveals how the movement, aligned with the D.I.Y. spirit, seeks to subvert patriarchal norms and create an environment where women participate and lead, autonomously shaping the alternative music scene. Furthermore, through its association with occult and magical iconography, Bruxaria (meaning Witchcraft) aligns itself with the contemporary feminist movement, which sees the figure of the witch as a representation of feminine power and a connection with nature, while legitimising the subcultural identity of the collective. The work offers an analysis of the strategies that sustain female resistance in the underground, making visible the intersections between music, gender and activism in post-colonial Latin America.