Lilith Fair

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

Lilith Fair is a concert tour and traveling music festival, founded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, Nettwerk Music Group's Dan Fraser and Terry McBride, and New York talent agent Marty Diamond, which took place during the summers of 1997 to 1999. Its website says that it will return in 2010. It consisted solely of female solo artists and female-led bands. In its 3 years, Lilith Fair raised over $10M for women's charities throughout North America, helping to pave the way for female musicians the world over.

History

In 1996, Sarah McLachlan became frustrated with concert promoters and radio stations that refused to feature two female musicians in a row.^[1] 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.^[1] Among all concert tours for that year, it was the 16th highest grossing.^[1]

Because of its all-female line up, the festival received several pejorative nicknames, including "Breast-fest" and "Girlapalooza".^[2][3]

Performers

1997

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