# Lilith Fair

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 three years, Lilith Fair raised over $10 million for charity.

## History

In 1996, Canadian musical artist 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 Vancouver, British Columbia 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 Jewish lore that Lilith was Adam's first wife who refused to be subservient to him.
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. McLachlan followed this success with two more rounds, in 1998 and 1999.
In 2010, Lilith Fair staged a revival with mixed results, as several dates were cancelled and many performers backed out of scheduled performances.
In March 2011, McLachlan declared that the Lilith concept was no longer being considered for future shows, due to changing audience views and expectations.
Three volumes of Lilith Fair: A Celebration of Women in Music documented the performances.

## 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.

#### Dates and venues

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| July 5 | George | United States | The Gorge |
| July 6 | Salem | United States | L. B. Day Amphitheatre |
| July 8 | Mountain View | United States | Shoreline Amphitheatre |
| July 9 | Irvine | United States | Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre |
| July 10 | Phoenix | United States | Desert Sky Pavilion |
| July 12 | Winter Park | United States | Winter Park Music Festival |
| July 14 | Bonner Springs | United States | Sandstone Amphitheatre |
| July 15 | Maryland Heights | United States | Riverport Amphitheatre |
| July 17 | Cuyahoga Falls | United States | Blossom Music Center |
| July 18 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre |
| July 19 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre |
| July 20 | Canandaigua | United States | Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center |
| July 22 | Mansfield | United States | Great Woods Center |
| July 24 | Hartford | United States | Meadows Music Theatre |
| July 25 | Wantagh | United States | Jones Beach |
| July 26 | Holmdel | United States | PNC Bank Arts Center |
| July 27 | Camden | United States | Blockbuster-Sony E-Centre |
| July 29 | Columbia | United States | Merriweather Post Pavilion |
| July 30 | Raleigh | United States | Walnut Creek Pavilion |
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| July 31 | Charlotte | United States | Blockbuster Pavilion |
| August 1 | Atlanta | United States | Coca-Cola Lakewood |
| August 3 | The Woodlands | United States | Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion |
| August 4 | Dallas | United States | Starplex |
| August 6 | Antioch | United States | Starwood Amphitheatre |
| August 7 | Cincinnati | United States | Riverbend Music Center |
| August 8 | Noblesville | United States | Deer Creek Music Center |
| August 9 | Tinley Park | United States | New World Music Theater |
| August 10 | Columbus | United States | Polaris Amphitheater |
| August 12 | Burgettstown | United States | Star Lake |
| August 13 | Scranton | United States | Montage Mountain |
| August 14 | Ottawa | Canada | Frank Clair Stadium |
| August 15 | Toronto | Canada | Molson Amphitheatre |
| August 16 | Toronto | Canada | Molson Amphitheatre |
| August 17 | Montreal | Canada | Stade Du Maurier |
| August 19 | Milwaukee | United States | Marcus Amphitheater |
| August 20 | Shakopee | United States | Canterbury Park |
| August 22 | Calgary | Canada | McMahon Stadium |
| August 24 | Vancouver | Canada | Thunderbird Stadium |
| December 16 | West Palm Beach | United States | Coral Sky Amphitheater |

### 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. Though Neneh Cherry and Lauryn Hill were scheduled to play some shows, both had to cancel. 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.

#### Dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| June 19 | Portland | United States | Civic Stadium |
| June 20 | George | United States | The Gorge Amphitheatre |
| June 21 | George | United States | The Gorge Amphitheatre |
| June 23 | Mountain View | United States | Shoreline Amphitheatre |
| June 24 | Mountain View | United States | Shoreline Amphitheatre |
| June 26 | Del Mar | United States | Del Mar Fairgrounds |
| June 27 | Pasadena | United States | Rose Bowl |
| June 28 | Phoenix | United States | Desert Sky Pavilion |
| June 29 | Bernalillo | United States | New Mexico Wine Festival |
| July 1 | Oklahoma City | United States | All Sports Stadium |
| July 2 | Bonner Springs | United States | Sandstone Amphitheatre |
| July 4 | Noblesville | United States | Deer Creek |
| July 5 | Columbus | United States | Polaris Amphitheater |
| July 6 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre |
| July 7 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre |
| July 8 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre |
| July 10 | Canandaigua | United States | Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center |
| July 11 | Hartford | United States | Meadows Music Theatre |
| July 12 | Saratoga Springs | United States | Saratoga Performing Arts Center |
| July 13 | Holmdel | United States | PNC Bank Arts Center |
| July 15 | Wantagh | United States | Jones Beach Theatre |
| July 16 | Wantagh | United States | Jones Beach Theatre |
| July 17 | Camden | United States | Blockbuster-Sony E-Centre |
| July 18 | Columbia | United States | Merriweather Post Pavilion |
| July 19 | Columbia | United States | Merriweather Post Pavilion |
| July 21 | Virginia Beach | United States | GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheatre |
| July 22 | Raleigh | United States | Hardee's Walnut Creek Amphitheatre |
| July 23 | Charlotte | United States | Blockbuster Pavilion |
| July 24 | Atlanta | United States | Coca-Cola Lakewood Amphitheatre |
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| July 26 | West Palm Beach | United States | Coral Sky Amphitheatre |
| July 27 | Orlando | United States | Central Florida Fairgrounds |
| July 29 | The Woodlands | United States | Woodlands Pavilion |
| July 30 | The Woodlands | United States | Woodlands Pavilion |
| July 31 | Austin | United States | South Park Meadows |
| August 1 | Dallas | United States | Coca-Cola Starplex Amphitheatre |
| August 3 | Antioch | United States | Starwood Amphitheatre |
| August 4 | Maryland Heights | United States | Riverport Amphitheatre |
| August 5 | Tinley Park | United States | New World Music Theatre |
| August 6 | Cuyahoga Falls | United States | Blossom Music Center |
| August 8 | Cincinnati | United States | Riverbend Music Center |
| August 9 | Burgettstown | United States | Star Lake Amphitheatre |
| August 10 | Hershey | United States | Hersheypark Stadium |
| August 11 | Mansfield | United States | Great Woods |
| August 12 | Mansfield | United States | Great Woods |
| August 14 | Ottawa | Canada | Lansdowne Park |
| August 15 | Toronto | Canada | Molson Amphitheatre |
| August 16 | Toronto | Canada | Molson Amphitheatre |
| August 17 | Darien | United States | Darien Lake Theme Park Resort |
| August 19 | Milwaukee | United States | Marcus Amphitheater |
| August 20 | Milwaukee | United States | Marcus Amphitheater |
| August 21 | Shakopee | United States | Canterbury Park |
| August 23 | Greenwood Village | United States | Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre |
| August 25 | Park City | United States | The Canyons/Wolf Mountain Ski Resort |
| August 26 | Nampa | United States | Idaho Center Amphitheatre |
| August 28 | Calgary | Canada | McMahon Stadium |
| August 29 | Edmonton | Canada | Commonwealth Stadium |
| August 31 | Vancouver | Canada | 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.

#### Dates and venues

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| July 8 | Vancouver | Canada | Thunderbird Stadium |
| July 9 | George | United States | The Gorge Amphitheatre |
| July 10 | George | United States | The Gorge Amphitheatre |
| July 11 | Portland | United States | Civic Stadium |
| July 13 | Mountain View | United States | Shoreline Amphitheatre |
| July 14 | Mountain View | United States | Shoreline Amphitheatre |
| July 16 | Chula Vista | United States | Coors Amphitheatre |
| July 17 | Pasadena | United States | Rose Bowl |
| July 18 | Phoenix | United States | Desert Sky Pavilion |
| July 20 | Austin | United States | South Park Meadows |
| July 21 | Dallas | United States | Starplex Amphitheatre |
| July 23 | Atlanta | United States | Lakewood Amphitheatre |
| July 24 | Atlanta | United States | Lakewood Amphitheatre |
| July 25 | Antioch | United States | First American Music Center |
| July 27 | Charlotte | United States | Blockbuster Pavilion |
| July 28 | Columbia | United States | Merriweather Post Pavilion |
| July 30 | Camden | United States | Blockbuster-Sony E-Centre |
| July 31 | Hershey | United States | Hersheypark Stadium |
| August 1 | Canandaigua | United States | Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center |
| August 3 | Mansfield | United States | Tweeter Center |
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| August 4 | Hartford | United States | Meadows Music Theatre |
| August 6 | Wantagh | United States | Jones Beach Theater |
| August 7 | Holmdel Township | United States | PNC Bank Arts Center |
| August 8 | Holmdel Township | United States | PNC Bank Arts Center |
| August 10 | Columbus | United States | Polaris Amphitheater |
| August 11 | Cincinnati | United States | Riverbend Music Center |
| August 13 | Burgettstown | United States | Star Lake Amphitheatre |
| August 14 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob |
| August 15 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob |
| August 17 | Cuyahoga Falls | United States | Blossom Music Center |
| August 18 | Noblesville | United States | Deer Creek Music Center |
| August 19 | Tinley Park | United States | World Music Theater |
| August 21 | Toronto | Canada | Molson Amphitheatre |
| August 22 | Toronto | Canada | Molson Amphitheatre |
| August 24 | Milwaukee | United States | Marcus Amphitheater |
| August 25 | Shakopee | United States | Canterbury Park |
| August 26 | Bonner Springs | United States | Sandstone Amphitheatre |
| August 28 | Greenwood Village | United States | Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre |
| August 29 | Greenwood Village | United States | Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre |
| August 31 | Edmonton | Canada | 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 8 Phoenix show was cancelled 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, fearing that they would not be paid for their performances.
Due to poor ticket sales, thirteen 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 performed at Lilith Fair in the 2010 revival.
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| June 27 | Calgary | Canada | McMahon Stadium |
| June 28 | Edmonton | Canada | Rexall Place |
| July 1 | West Vancouver | Canada | Ambleside Park |
| July 2 | Ridgefield | United States | The Amphitheater at Clark County |
| July 3 | George | United States | The Gorge Amphitheatre |
| July 5 | Mountain View | United States | Shoreline Amphitheatre |
| July 7 | Chula Vista | United States | Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre |
| July 9 | Las Vegas | United States | Mandalay Bay Events Center |
| July 10 | Irvine | United States | Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre |
| July 13 | Greenwood Village | United States | Comfort Dental Amphitheatre |
| July 15 | Bonner Springs | United States | Capitol Federal Park @ Sandstone |
| July 16 | Maryland Heights | United States | Verizon Wireless Amphitheater |
| July 17 | Tinley Park | United States | First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre |
| July 18 | Minneapolis | United States | Target Center |
| July 20 | Noblesville | United States | Verizon Wireless Music Center |
| July 21 | Clarkston | United States | DTE Energy Music Theatre |
| July 24 | Toronto | Canada | Molson Amphitheatre |
| July 27 | Cuyahoga Falls | United States | Blossom Music Center |
| July 28 | Camden | United States | Susquehanna Bank Center |
| July 30 | Mansfield | United States | Comcast Center |
| July 31 | Holmdel | United States | PNC Bank Arts Center |
| August 1 | Hartford | United States | Comcast Theatre |
| August 3 | Columbia | United States | Merriweather Post Pavilion |
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| July 8 | Phoenix | United States | Cricket Wireless Pavilion |
| July 12 | West Valley City | United States | USANA Amphitheatre |
| July 23 | Montreal | Canada | Bell Centre |
| August 4 | Raleigh | United States | Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek |
| August 6 | Charlotte | United States | Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte |
| August 7 | Nashville | United States | Bridgestone Arena |
| August 8 | Atlanta | United States | Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood |
| August 10 | West Palm Beach | United States | Cruzan Amphitheatre |
| August 11 | Tampa | United States | 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre |
| August 12 | Pelham | United States | Verizon Wireless Music Center Birmingham |
| August 14 | Austin | United States | Never determined |
| August 15 | The Woodlands | United States | Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion |
| August 16 | Dallas | United States | Superpages.com Center |