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 and a retrospective documentary, Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery - The Untold Story, premiered in 2025.

Performers

1997

The artists appearing at Lilith Fair varied by date. 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
  • Fiona Apple
  • Tracy Bonham
  • Meredith Brooks
  • The Cardigans
  • Mary Chapin Carpenter
  • Tracy Chapman
  • Paula Cole
  • Shawn Colvin
  • Sheryl Crow
  • Indigo Girls
  • Emmylou Harris
  • Jewel
  • Lisa Loeb
  • Sarah McLachlan
  • Joan Osborne
  • Suzanne Vega
;Second stage artists
  • Leah Andreone
  • Autour de Lucie
  • Mary Black
  • Holly Cole
  • Patty Griffin
  • Juliana Hatfield
  • Susanna Hoffs
  • Katell Keineg
  • Mary Jane Lamond
  • Yungchen Lhamo
  • Lhasa de Sela
  • Tara MacLean
  • Dayna Manning
  • Abra Moore
  • Mudgirl
  • Once Blue
  • Madeleine Peyroux
  • September '67
  • Wild Colonials
  • Wild Strawberries
  • Dar Williams
  • Victoria Williams
  • Kelly Willis
  • Cassandra Wilson
;Village Stage artists
  • Fleming and John
  • Dido
  • 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
  • Alisha's Attic
  • Gena and Sum Girl
  • Marley & Lizann
  • Sensual World
  • Jenny Labow
  • Suz Andreasen
  • Davina
  • Morcheeba
  • K's Choice
;Dates and venues
DateCityCountryVenue
July 5GeorgeUnited StatesThe Gorge
July 6SalemUnited StatesL. B. Day Amphitheatre
July 8Mountain ViewUnited StatesShoreline Amphitheatre
July 9IrvineUnited StatesIrvine Meadows Amphitheatre
July 10PhoenixUnited StatesDesert Sky Pavilion
July 12Winter ParkUnited StatesWinter Park Music Festival
July 14Bonner SpringsUnited StatesSandstone Amphitheatre
July 15Maryland HeightsUnited StatesRiverport Amphitheatre
July 17Cuyahoga FallsUnited StatesBlossom Music Center
July 18ClarkstonUnited StatesPine Knob Music Theatre
July 19ClarkstonUnited StatesPine Knob Music Theatre
July 20CanandaiguaUnited StatesConstellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
July 22MansfieldUnited StatesGreat Woods Center
July 24HartfordUnited StatesMeadows Music Theatre
July 25WantaghUnited StatesJones Beach
July 26HolmdelUnited StatesPNC Bank Arts Center
July 27CamdenUnited StatesBlockbuster-Sony E-Centre
July 29ColumbiaUnited StatesMerriweather Post Pavilion
July 30RaleighUnited StatesWalnut Creek Pavilion

DateCityCountryVenue
July 31CharlotteUnited StatesBlockbuster Pavilion
August 1AtlantaUnited StatesCoca-Cola Lakewood
August 3The WoodlandsUnited StatesCynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
August 4DallasUnited StatesStarplex
August 6AntiochUnited StatesStarwood Amphitheatre
August 7CincinnatiUnited StatesRiverbend Music Center
August 8NoblesvilleUnited StatesDeer Creek Music Center
August 9Tinley ParkUnited StatesNew World Music Theater
August 10ColumbusUnited StatesPolaris Amphitheater
August 12BurgettstownUnited StatesStar Lake
August 13ScrantonUnited StatesMontage Mountain
August 14OttawaCanadaFrank Clair Stadium
August 15TorontoCanadaMolson Amphitheatre
August 16TorontoCanadaMolson Amphitheatre
August 17MontrealCanadaStade Du Maurier
August 19MilwaukeeUnited StatesMarcus Amphitheater
August 20ShakopeeUnited StatesCanterbury Park
August 22CalgaryCanadaMcMahon Stadium
August 24VancouverCanadaThunderbird Stadium
December 16West Palm BeachUnited StatesCoral Sky Amphitheater

1998

The artists appearing at Lilith Fair varied by date. 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.
;Main stage artists
  • Sarah McLachlan
  • Bonnie Raitt
  • Chantal Kreviazuk
  • Cowboy Junkies
  • Des'ree
  • Diana Krall
  • Emmylou Harris
  • Erykah Badu
  • Indigo Girls
  • Joan Osborne
  • Lisa Loeb
  • Liz Phair
  • Luscious Jackson
  • Mary Chapin Carpenter
  • Meredith Brooks
  • Meshell Ndegeocello
  • Missy Elliott
  • Natalie Merchant
  • Paula Cole
  • Queen Latifah
  • Shawn Colvin
  • Sheryl Crow
  • Sinéad O'Connor
  • Suzanne Vega
  • Tracy Bonham
;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
  • The Tuesdays
  • Billie Myers
  • N'Dea Davenport
  • Martina McBride
  • Litany
  • Paris Hampton
  • Davina
  • Beth Orton
  • Holly Cole
  • Diana King
  • Chantal Kreviazuk
  • Eden aka
  • Wild Strawberries
  • Patty Griffin
  • Lhasa de Sela
  • Angélique 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 Hogg
  • 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
  • Idina Menzel
  • Noëlle Hampton
  • Arone Dyer
  • India Arie
;Dates
DateCityCountryVenue
June 19PortlandUnited StatesCivic Stadium
June 20GeorgeUnited StatesThe Gorge Amphitheatre
June 21GeorgeUnited StatesThe Gorge Amphitheatre
June 23Mountain ViewUnited StatesShoreline Amphitheatre
June 24Mountain ViewUnited StatesShoreline Amphitheatre
June 26Del MarUnited StatesDel Mar Fairgrounds
June 27PasadenaUnited StatesRose Bowl
June 28PhoenixUnited StatesDesert Sky Pavilion
June 29BernalilloUnited StatesNew Mexico Wine Festival
July 1Oklahoma CityUnited StatesAll Sports Stadium
July 2Bonner SpringsUnited StatesSandstone Amphitheatre
July 4NoblesvilleUnited StatesDeer Creek
July 5ColumbusUnited StatesPolaris Amphitheater
July 6ClarkstonUnited StatesPine Knob Music Theatre
July 7ClarkstonUnited StatesPine Knob Music Theatre
July 8ClarkstonUnited StatesPine Knob Music Theatre
July 10CanandaiguaUnited StatesConstellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
July 11HartfordUnited StatesMeadows Music Theatre
July 12Saratoga SpringsUnited StatesSaratoga Performing Arts Center
July 13HolmdelUnited StatesPNC Bank Arts Center
July 15WantaghUnited StatesJones Beach Theatre
July 16WantaghUnited StatesJones Beach Theatre
July 17CamdenUnited StatesBlockbuster-Sony E-Centre
July 18ColumbiaUnited StatesMerriweather Post Pavilion
July 19ColumbiaUnited StatesMerriweather Post Pavilion
July 21Virginia BeachUnited StatesGTE Virginia Beach Amphitheatre
July 22RaleighUnited StatesHardee's Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
July 23CharlotteUnited StatesBlockbuster Pavilion
July 24AtlantaUnited StatesCoca-Cola Lakewood Amphitheatre

DateCityCountryVenue
July 26West Palm BeachUnited StatesCoral Sky Amphitheatre
July 27OrlandoUnited StatesCentral Florida Fairgrounds
July 29The WoodlandsUnited StatesWoodlands Pavilion
July 30The WoodlandsUnited StatesWoodlands Pavilion
July 31AustinUnited StatesSouth Park Meadows
August 1DallasUnited StatesCoca-Cola Starplex Amphitheatre
August 3AntiochUnited StatesStarwood Amphitheatre
August 4Maryland HeightsUnited StatesRiverport Amphitheatre
August 5Tinley ParkUnited StatesNew World Music Theatre
August 6Cuyahoga FallsUnited StatesBlossom Music Center
August 8CincinnatiUnited StatesRiverbend Music Center
August 9BurgettstownUnited StatesStar Lake Amphitheatre
August 10HersheyUnited StatesHersheypark Stadium
August 11MansfieldUnited StatesGreat Woods
August 12MansfieldUnited StatesGreat Woods
August 14OttawaCanadaLansdowne Park
August 15TorontoCanadaMolson Amphitheatre
August 16TorontoCanadaMolson Amphitheatre
August 17DarienUnited StatesDarien Lake Theme Park Resort
August 19MilwaukeeUnited StatesMarcus Amphitheater
August 20MilwaukeeUnited StatesMarcus Amphitheater
August 21ShakopeeUnited StatesCanterbury Park
August 23Greenwood VillageUnited StatesFiddler's Green Amphitheatre
August 25Park CityUnited StatesThe Canyons/Wolf Mountain Ski Resort
August 26NampaUnited StatesIdaho Center Amphitheatre
August 28CalgaryCanadaMcMahon Stadium
August 29EdmontonCanadaCommonwealth Stadium
August 31VancouverCanadaThunderbird Stadium