Lilith Fair

The main stage, September 22, 1998, Great Woods, Mansfield, Massachusetts.

Lilith Fair was a concert tour and travelling music festival, founded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, Nettwerk Music Group's Dan Fraser and Terry McBride, and New York talent agent Marty Diamond. It took place during the summers of 1997 to 1999, and was revived in the summer of 2010. It consisted solely of female solo artists and female-led bands. In its initial 3 years, Lilith Fair raised over $10M for women's charities throughout North America.

History

In 1996, Canadian Sarah McLachlan became frustrated with concert promoters and radio stations that refused to feature two female musicians in a row. Bucking conventional industry wisdom, she booked a successful tour for herself and Paula Cole. At least one of their appearances together — in McLachlan's home town, on September 14, 1996 — went by the name "Lilith Fair" and included performances by McLachlan, Cole, Lisa Loeb and Michelle McAdorey, formerly of Crash Vegas.

The next year, McLachlan founded the Lilith Fair tour, taking Lilith from the medieval Jewish legend that Lilith was Adam's first wife.

In 1997, Lilith Fair garnered a $16 million gross, making it the top-grossing of any touring festival. Among all concert tours for that year, it was the 16th highest grossing.

The festival received several pejorative nicknames, including "Breast-fest" and "Girlapalooza".

In 2010, Lilith Fair staged a revival with mixed results, as several dates were canceled and many performers backed out of scheduled performances.

In March 2011, co-founder Sarah McLachlan declared that the Lilith concept was no longer being considered for future shows due to changing audience views and expectations.

Performers

1997

The artists appearing at Lilith Fair varied by date (with McLachlan and Suzanne Vega the only artists to play all dates). Appearances were organized into three stages. Almost all Village Stage artists performed only one or two dates. Many of them won slots on the bill in a series of local talent searches in their home cities.

Main Stage artists Sarah McLachlan Tracy Chapman Jewel Paula Cole Suzanne Vega Mary Chapin Carpenter Fiona Apple Joan Osborne Cardigans Emmylou Harris Lisa Loeb Indigo Girls Shawn Colvin Meredith Brooks Tracy Bonham India.Arie

Second Stage artists Jenny Labow Cassandra Wilson Suz Andreasen Leah Andreone Mudgirl Wild Colonials September '67 Tara Maclean Victoria Williams Autour De Lucie Holly Cole Juliana Hatfield Once Blue Susanna Hoffs Abra Moore Kelly Willis Katell Keineg Mary Black Davina Madeleine Peyroux Patty Griffin Yung Chen Lhamo Dayna Manning Lhasa de Sela Wild Strawberries Dar Williams Mary Jane Lamond MJL Morcheeba

Village Stage artists Pat Benatar Kinnie Starr Lauren Hoffman Kim Fox Garrison Starr Lori Carson Joy Askew Jill Sobule Alana Davis Beth Orton Michelle Malone Holly McNarland Elise Knoll Lovechild Dayna Manning Catherine Kidd Oh Suzanna Camille Billy Maning Q. Alisha’s Attic

Dates and venues

Saturday July 5 George, WA The Gorge Sunday July 6 Salem, OR L.B. Day Amphitheatre Tuesday July 8 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre Wednesday July 9 Irvine, CA Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre Saturday July 12 Winter Park, CO Winter Park Music Festival Monday July 14 Bonner Springs, KS Sandstone Amphitheatre Tuesday July 15 Maryland Heights, MO Riverport Amphitheatre Thursday July 17 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center Friday July 18 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre Saturday July 19 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre Sunday July 20 Canandaigua, NY Finger Lakes P.A.C. Tuesday July 22 Mansfield, MA Great Woods Center Thursday July 24 Hartford, CT Meadows Music Theatre Friday July 25 Wantagh, NY Jones Beach Saturday July 26 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center Sunday July 27 Camden, NJ Blockbuster-Sony E-Centre Tuesday July 29 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion Wednesday July 30 Raleigh, NC Walnut Creek Pavilion

Thursday July 31 Charlotte, NC Blockbuster Pavilion Friday August 1 Atlanta, GA Coca Cola Lakewood Sunday August 3 Woodlands, TX Woodlands Monday August 4 Dallas, TX Starplex Wednesday August 6 Antioch, TN Starwood Amphitheatre Thursday August 7 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center Friday August 8 Noblesville, IN Deer Creek Music Center Saturday August 9 Chicago, IL New World Music Theater Sunday August 10 Columbus, OH Polaris Amphitheater Tuesday August 12 Burgettstown, PA Star Lake Wednesday August 13 Scranton, PA Montage Mountain Friday August 15 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre Saturday August 16 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre Sunday August 17 Montreal, QC Stade Du Maurier Tuesday August 19 Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amphitheatre Wednesday August 20 Shakopee, MN Canterbury Park Friday August 22 Calgary, AB McMahon Stadium Sunday August 24 Vancouver, BC Thunderbird Stadium

1998

The artists appearing at Lilith Fair varied by date (with McLachlan the only artist to play all dates). Appearances were organized into three stages. Almost all Village Stage artists performed only one or two dates. Many of them won slots on the bill in a series of local talent searches in their home cities.

Main Stage artists Indigo Girls Erykah Badu Sinéad O'Connor Sheryl Crow Natalie Merchant Paula Cole Bonnie Raitt Emmylou Harris Joan Osborne Angie Delight Tracy Bonham Sarah McLachlan Lauryn Hill Missy Elliott Queen Latifah Mary Chapin Carpenter Des'ree Neneh Cherry Shawn Colvin Me'shell Ndegeocello Liz Phair Suzanne Vega Meredith Brooks Luscious Jackson Diana Krall Chantal Kreviazuk Lisa Loeb Cowboy Junkies

Second Stage artists K's Choice Mono Sister 7 Heather Nova Morcheeba Rebekah Lucinda Williams Victoria Williams Abra Moore Neneh Cherry Elise Knoll Mary Lou Lord Tuesdays Billie Myers N'Dea Davenport Martina McBride Litany Paris Hampton Davina Beth Orton Holly Cole Diana King Chantal Kreviazuk Eden Wild Strawberries Patty Griffin Lhasa de Sela Angelique Kidjo Imani Coppola Lucy Gamelon Kacy Crowley Holly McNarland Ebba Forsberg Catie Curtis Letters to Cleo Neko Case Fisher

Village Stage artists Tara MacLean Sinéad Lohan Autour De Lucie Ana Gasteyer Garrison Starr Emm Gryner Anggun Kacy Crowley Bic Runga Melanie Doane Abra Moore Joaelle Ndine Romero Tia Texada Jenny Bird Sherri Jackson 1/2 Mad Poet Mono Thornetta Davis Julie Kryk Lori Amey Fontaine Donna Martin Abba Rage Deni Bonet Jabber Victoria Eden White Antigone Rising Paris Hampton Nancy Falkow Dead Girls and Other Love Riot Trish Murphy The Nields Glassoline Roadie Ray INHOUSE Audra Jost Clandestine Gordian Knot Cling Frankly Scarlet Sixpence None The Richer Robyn Ragland Rose Polenzani Alexis Antes Amy Rigby Erin Echo Syd Straw Laurie Geltman Melissa Ferrick Lenni Jabour Ali Eisner Swamperella Alison Pipitone Nina Storey Julianne Blue

Dates and venues

Friday June 19 Portland, OR Civic Stadium Saturday June 20 George, WA The Gorge Amphitheatre Sunday June 21 George, WA The Gorge Amphitheatre Tuesday June 23 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre Wednesday June 24 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre Friday June 26 Del Mar, CA Del Mar Fairgrounds Saturday June 27 Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl Sunday June 28 Phoenix, AZ Desert Sky Pavilion Monday June 29 Bernalillo, NM New Mexico Wine Festival Wednesday July 1 Oklahoma City, OK All Sports Stadium Thursday July 2 Bonner Springs, KS Sandstone Amphitheatre Saturday July 4 Noblesville, IN Deer Creek Sunday July 5 Columbus, OH Polaris Amphitheater Monday July 6 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre Tuesday July 7 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre Wednesday July 8 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Friday July 10 Rochester, NY Finger Lakes Saturday July 11 Hartford, CT Meadows Music Theatre Sunday July 12 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center Monday July 13 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center Wednesday July 15 Jones Beach Theater Jones Beach Theatre Thursday July 16 Wantagh, NY Jones Beach Theater Friday July 17 Camden, NJ Blockbuster-Sony E-Centre Saturday July 18 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion Sunday July 19 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion Tuesday July 21 Virginia Beach, VA GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheatre Wednesday July 22 Raleigh, NC Hardee’s Walnut Creek Amphitheatre Thursday July 23 Charlotte, NC Blockbuster Pavilion Friday July 24 Atlanta, GA Coca-Cola Lakewood Amphitheatre

Sunday July 26 West Palm Beach, FL Coral Sky Amphitheatre Monday July 27 Orlando, FL Central Florida Fairgrounds Wednesday July 29 Houston, TX Woodlands Pavilion Thursday July 30 Houston, TX Woodlands Pavilion Friday July 31 Austin, TX South Park Meadows Saturday August 1 Dallas, TX Coca-Cola Starplex Amphitheatre Monday August 3 Nashville, TN Starwood Amphitheatre Tuesday August 4 St. Louis, MO Riverport Amphitheatre Wednesday August 5 Tinley Park, IL new World Music Theatre Thursday August 6 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center Saturday August 8 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center Sunday August 9 Pittsburgh, PA Star Lake Amphitheatre Monday August 10 Hershey, PA Hershey Park Stadium Tuesday August 11 Mansfield, MA Great Woods Wednesday August 12 Mansfield, MA Great Woods Friday August 14 Ottawa, ON Lansdowne Park Saturday August 15 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre Sunday August 16 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre Monday August 17 Darien, NY Darien Lake Theme Park Resort Wednesday August 19 Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amphitheatre Thursday, August 20 Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amphitheatre Friday August 21 Minneapolis, MN Canterbury Park Sunday August 23 Denver, CO Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre Tuesday August 25 Park City, UT The Canyons/Wolf Mountain Ski Resort Wednesday August 26 Nampa, ID Idaho Center Amphitheatre Friday August 28 Calgary, AB McMahon Stadium Saturday August 29 Edmonton, AB Commonwealth Stadium Monday August 31 Vancouver, BC Thunderbird Stadium

1999

The artists appearing at Lilith Fair varied by date (with McLachlan the only artist to play all dates). Appearances were organized into three stages.

Main Stage artists Sandra Bernhard Shawn Colvin Deborah Cox Sheryl Crow Dixie Chicks Indigo Girls Queen Latifah Lisa Loeb Luscious Jackson Martina McBride Sarah McLachlan Natalie Merchant Monica Mýa Me'shell Ndegeocello Liz Phair The Pretenders Joanelle Romero disappear fear Suzanne Vega

Second Stage artists Battershell Cibo Matto Kacy Crowley Dance Hall Crashers Dido Melanie Doane Patty Griffin Emm Gryner Innocence Mission Joan Jones Elise Knoll Band Jennifer Knapp K's Choice Sinéad Lohan Tara MacLean Aimee Mann Melky Sedeck Medieval Baebes Morley Trish Murphy Bif Naked Beth Orton Kendall Payne Bijou Phillips Samsara Sixpence None the Richer Splashdown Susan Tedeschi Wild Strawberries Victoria Williams Kelly Willis

Village Stage artists Christina Aguilera Coco Love Alcorn Badi Assad Bertine Zetlitz Toni Blackman Diana Braithwaite Cowlily Kacy Crowley E.G. Daily Keren DeBerg Anne E. DeChant Jennie DeVoe Eden AKA Ana Egge Essence Nancy Falkow Amy Fairchild Fleming and John Nelly Furtado Fuzzy Comets Glassoline Grace in Gravity Greta Gaines Kitty Gordon Nina Gordon Kay Hanley Noella Hutton Jarah Jane Brenda Kahn Jennifer Kimball Nikol Kollars Nicol Lischka Ginger Mackenzie The Marty Winkler Group Melissa Mathes Lori McKenna Tiffany Shea The Murmurs Leona Naess Juliana Nash Kari Newhouse Leslie Nuchow Maren Ord Ginny Owens Deborah Pardes Adrienne Pierce Melissa Reaves Renann Doria Roberts Loni Rose Rachael Sage Tegan and Sara Summer Sage Lisa Sanders Stephanie Schneiderman Bree Sharp She-Haw Shelley Doty X-Tet Alexandra Sleightholm Soul Miner's Daughter Sozzi Surrender Dorothy Kinnie Starr Melanie Susuras Swati Kashi Tara Tekla Too Cynical to Cry Deborah Vial Victoria White Wendy Woo zoebliss Xolie Morra & The Strange Kind

Dates and venues

Thursday July 8 Vancouver, BC Thunderbird Stadium Friday July 9 George, WA The Gorge Amphitheatre Saturday July 10 George, WA The Gorge Sunday July 11 Portland, OR Civic Stadium Tuesday July 13 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre Wednesday July 14 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre Friday July 16 San Diego, CA Coors Amphitheatre Saturday July 17 Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl Sunday July 18 Phoenix, AZ Desert Sky Pavilion Tuesday July 20 Austin, TX South Park Meadows Wednesday July 21 Dallas, TX Starplex Amphitheatre Friday July 23 Atlanta, GA Lakewood Amphitheatre Saturday July 24 Atlanta, GA Lakewood Amphitheatre Sunday July 25 Nashville, TN First American Music Center Tuesday July 27 Charlotte, North Carolina Blockbuster Pavilion Wednesday July 28 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion Friday July 30 Camden, NJ Blockbuster Sony E-Centre Saturday July 31 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium Sunday August 1 Canandaigua, NY Finger Lakes Community College Tuesday August 3 Mansfield, MA Tweeter Center

Wednesday August 4 Hartford, CT Meadows Music Theatre Friday August 6 Wantagh, NY Jones Beach Theater Saturday August 7 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center Sunday August 8 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center Tuesday August 10 Columbus, OH Polaris Amphitheater Wednesday August 11 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center Friday August 13 Pittsburgh, PA Star Lake Amphitheatre Saturday August 14 Detroit, MI Pine Knob Sunday August 15 Detroit, MI Pine Knob Tuesday August 17 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center Wednesday August 18 Indianapolis, IN Deer Creek Music Center Thursday August 19 Chicago, IL World Music Theater Saturday August 21 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre Sunday August 22 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre Tuesday August 24 Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amphitheater Wednesday August 25 Shakopee, MN Canterbury Park Thursday August 26 Bonner Springs, KS Sandstone Amphitheatre Saturday August 28 Denver, CO Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre Sunday August 29 Denver, CO Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre Tuesday August 31 Edmonton, AB Commonwealth Stadium

2010 revival

In an April 25, 2009 Twitter post, Nettwerk founder Terry McBride announced that a Lilith Fair tour through North America would be relaunched for the summer of 2010, with a two-week tour of Europe to follow.

The tour was plagued with financial problems from the beginning. The first seven shows were sparsely attended and the eighth show was the first to be cancelled. Initially Sarah McLachlan claimed (in an interview posted on the Arizona Republic website on July 9) that the July 8th Phoenix show was canceled in protest of Arizona Senate Bill 1070, which she strongly opposes.

The tour fell apart on the road as headliners Carly Simon, Norah Jones, Kelly Clarkson, The Go-Go's, and Queen Latifah dropped out of the tour, fearing that they would not be paid for their performances.

Due to poor ticket sales, 13 shows (about one-third of the tour) were scratched (two announced on June 25, ten more on July 1, one additional on July 2) and one reassigned to a smaller venue.

The artists appearing at Lilith Fair vary by date (with McLachlan the only artist to play all dates). Appearances are organized into three stages. Below is a list of artists who have performed at Lilith Fair in the 2010 revival.

Main Stage artists Ann McNamee / Ann Atomic Anya Marina The Bangles Beth Orton Brandi Carlile Cat Power Chantal Kreviazuk Colbie Caillat Court Yard Hounds Emmylou Harris Erykah Badu A Fine Frenzy Gossip Heart Indigo Girls Ingrid Michaelson Janelle Monae Jenni Rivera Lights Mary J. Blige Metric Miranda Lambert Missy Higgins Rosie Thomas Sara Bareilles Sarah McLachlan Serena Ryder Sheryl Crow Sugarland Suzanne Vega Tegan and Sara

Second Stage artists Anjulie Ash Koley Donna De Lory Erin McCarley Jasmine Chadwick Jennifer Knapp Kate Miller-Heidke Kate Nash Kina Grannis Marina and the Diamonds Nikki Jean Nneka The Submarines Susan Justice Vedera Vita Chambers The Weepies

Village Stage artists Xolie Morra & The Strange Kind Sierra Noble Airplanes Amanda Lucas & Audrey Cecil Bella Ruse Butterfly Boucher Cara Salimando Corrin Campbell Darrelle London Elizaveta Jes Hudak Jesca Hoop Jetty Rae Joy Ike Jill Hennessy Julia Othmer Kate Tucker Katie Todd Kitten Lissie Lucy Schwartz Marié Digby Meagan Smith Melissa McClelland Molly Jenson Sara Swanson Tara MacLean Terra Naomi Winterbloom (Antje Duvekot, Anne Heaton, Meg Hutchinson, Rose Polenzani, Natalia Zukerman) Zee Avi

Dates and venues Sunday June 27 Calgary, AB McMahon Stadium Monday June 28 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place Thursday July 1 West Vancouver, BC Ambleside Park Friday July 2 Vancouver, WA The Amphitheater at Clark County Saturday July 3 George, WA The Gorge Amphitheatre Monday July 5 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre Wednesday July 7 San Diego, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre Friday July 9 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday July 10 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Tuesday July 13 Denver, CO Comfort Dental Amphitheatre Thursday July 15 Kansas City, MO Capitol Federal Park @ Sandstone Friday July 16 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Saturday July 17 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre Sunday July 18 Minneapolis, MN Target Center Tuesday July 20 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center Wednesday July 21 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre Saturday July 24 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre Tuesday July 27 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center Wednesday July 28 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center Friday July 30 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center Saturday July 31 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center Sunday August 1 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre Tuesday August 3 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion

Cancelled dates and venues Thursday July 8 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Wireless Pavilion Monday July 12 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre Friday July 23 Montreal, QC Bell Centre Wednesday August 4 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek Friday August 6 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte Saturday August 7 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena Sunday August 8 Atlanta, GA Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood Tuesday August 10 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre Wednesday August 11 Tampa, FL 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre Thursday August 12 Birmingham, AL Verizon Wireless Music Center Birmingham Saturday August 14 Austin, TX Never determined Sunday August 15 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Monday August 16 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center

See also

• Moondance International Film Festival

External links

• External Connections Paula Cole Interview
• Sarah McLachlan Official Lilith Fair Website