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
;Second stage artists
;Village Stage artists
;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
;Second stage artists
;Village Stage artists
;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

1999

The artists appearing at Lilith Fair varied by date. Appearances were organized into three stages.
;Main stage artists
;Second stage artists
;Village Stage artists
;Dates and venues
DateCityCountryVenue
July 8VancouverCanadaThunderbird Stadium
July 9GeorgeUnited StatesThe Gorge Amphitheatre
July 10GeorgeUnited StatesThe Gorge Amphitheatre
July 11PortlandUnited StatesCivic Stadium
July 13Mountain ViewUnited StatesShoreline Amphitheatre
July 14Mountain ViewUnited StatesShoreline Amphitheatre
July 16Chula VistaUnited StatesCoors Amphitheatre
July 17PasadenaUnited StatesRose Bowl
July 18PhoenixUnited StatesDesert Sky Pavilion
July 20AustinUnited StatesSouth Park Meadows
July 21DallasUnited StatesStarplex Amphitheatre
July 23AtlantaUnited StatesLakewood Amphitheatre
July 24AtlantaUnited StatesLakewood Amphitheatre
July 25AntiochUnited StatesFirst American Music Center
July 27CharlotteUnited StatesBlockbuster Pavilion
July 28ColumbiaUnited StatesMerriweather Post Pavilion
July 30CamdenUnited StatesBlockbuster-Sony E-Centre
July 31HersheyUnited StatesHersheypark Stadium
August 1CanandaiguaUnited StatesConstellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
August 3MansfieldUnited StatesTweeter Center

DateCityCountryVenue
August 4HartfordUnited StatesMeadows Music Theatre
August 6WantaghUnited StatesJones Beach Theater
August 7Holmdel TownshipUnited StatesPNC Bank Arts Center
August 8Holmdel TownshipUnited StatesPNC Bank Arts Center
August 10ColumbusUnited StatesPolaris Amphitheater
August 11CincinnatiUnited StatesRiverbend Music Center
August 13BurgettstownUnited StatesStar Lake Amphitheatre
August 14ClarkstonUnited StatesPine Knob
August 15ClarkstonUnited StatesPine Knob
August 17Cuyahoga FallsUnited StatesBlossom Music Center
August 18NoblesvilleUnited StatesDeer Creek Music Center
August 19Tinley ParkUnited StatesWorld Music Theater
August 21TorontoCanadaMolson Amphitheatre
August 22TorontoCanadaMolson Amphitheatre
August 24MilwaukeeUnited StatesMarcus Amphitheater
August 25ShakopeeUnited StatesCanterbury Park
August 26Bonner SpringsUnited StatesSandstone Amphitheatre
August 28Greenwood VillageUnited StatesFiddler's Green Amphitheatre
August 29Greenwood VillageUnited StatesFiddler's Green Amphitheatre
August 31EdmontonCanadaCommonwealth 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 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 were scratched and one reassigned to a smaller venue.
The artists appearing at Lilith Fair vary by date. Appearances are organized into three stages. Below is a list of artists who performed at Lilith Fair in the 2010 revival.
;Main stage artists
;Second stage artists
;Village Stage artists
;Dates
DateCityCountryVenue
June 27CalgaryCanadaMcMahon Stadium
June 28EdmontonCanadaRexall Place
July 1West VancouverCanadaAmbleside Park
July 2RidgefieldUnited StatesThe Amphitheater at Clark County
July 3GeorgeUnited StatesThe Gorge Amphitheatre
July 5Mountain ViewUnited StatesShoreline Amphitheatre
July 7Chula VistaUnited StatesCricket Wireless Amphitheatre
July 9Las VegasUnited StatesMandalay Bay Events Center
July 10IrvineUnited StatesVerizon Wireless Amphitheatre
July 13Greenwood VillageUnited StatesComfort Dental Amphitheatre
July 15Bonner SpringsUnited StatesCapitol Federal Park @ Sandstone
July 16Maryland HeightsUnited StatesVerizon Wireless Amphitheater
July 17Tinley ParkUnited StatesFirst Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
July 18MinneapolisUnited StatesTarget Center
July 20NoblesvilleUnited StatesVerizon Wireless Music Center
July 21ClarkstonUnited StatesDTE Energy Music Theatre
July 24TorontoCanadaMolson Amphitheatre
July 27Cuyahoga FallsUnited StatesBlossom Music Center
July 28CamdenUnited StatesSusquehanna Bank Center
July 30MansfieldUnited StatesComcast Center
July 31HolmdelUnited StatesPNC Bank Arts Center
August 1HartfordUnited StatesComcast Theatre
August 3ColumbiaUnited StatesMerriweather Post Pavilion

;Cancelled dates and venues
DateCityCountryVenue
July 8PhoenixUnited StatesCricket Wireless Pavilion
July 12West Valley CityUnited StatesUSANA Amphitheatre
July 23MontrealCanadaBell Centre
August 4RaleighUnited StatesTime Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
August 6CharlotteUnited StatesVerizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte
August 7NashvilleUnited StatesBridgestone Arena
August 8AtlantaUnited StatesAaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood
August 10West Palm BeachUnited StatesCruzan Amphitheatre
August 11TampaUnited States1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre
August 12PelhamUnited StatesVerizon Wireless Music Center Birmingham
August 14AustinUnited StatesNever determined
August 15The WoodlandsUnited StatesCynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
August 16DallasUnited StatesSuperpages.com Center