Lilith Comes Back from the Dead

Back in late 1995, I was fielding an idea for an all-girl music tour that I had dubbed Chick Fest. I had a groovy logo and a few artists very interested, so I was shopping around for an established promoter to partner with. Progress was being made. The dude I was talking to at Goldenvoice loved it when I called just so he could hear his assistant say, “It's Kelly from Chick Fest.” He was a dude. What can I say?

Then, in early 1996, I attended a Paula Cole/Suzanne Vega/Sarah McLachlan show and saw how well the femme-centric model worked. Turns out, that was a dry run for Lilith Fair and the announcement was made soon after that Lilith was in the works. Most of the artists I had been talking to were also on their wish list, including Natalie Merchant, Aimee Mann, Joan Osborne, Indigo Girls, and others.

Not wanting to go head-to-head with McLachlan and her team, I got in touch and told them what I'd been up to. The suggestion was made to partner and, perhaps, put me in charge of the second stage. I like that idea pretty well. This could've been my big break!

But, alas... Before we could even work out the details, lies were told and a knife got shoved into my back by one of the leaders in McLachlan's camp. I walked away with a bitter taste in my mouth and, because I ended up living in a meditation ashram in 1997, didn't attend any of the original Liliths.

So, here we are this many years later and Lilith has been resurrected. While I'd like to think the stab wound in my back has healed, I still find it hard to get excited about what should be my dream festival. I mean, a lot of my peeps are playing – The Bangles, Brandi Carlile, Butterfly Boucher, Donna DeLory, and Indigo Girls – not to mention that little hottie Sheryl Crow who I love so very much. Still, there's a little twinge of ick every time I think about the whole thing.

On top of that, don't you think Chick Fest is a way better name?

Full list of Lilith Fair 2010 artists announced as of March 24:
A Fine Frenzy, Anjulie, Ann Atomic, Anya Marina, Ash Koley, The Bangles, Beth Orton, Brandi Carlile, Butterfly Boucher, Cat Power, Ceci Bastida, Chairlift, Chantal Kreviazuk, Colbie Caillat, Corinne Bailey Rae, Court Yard Hounds, Donna Delory, Elizaveta, Emmylou Harris, Erin McCarley, Erykah Badu, Frazey Ford, The Go-Go’s, Gossip, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, Heart, Ima, Indigo Girls, Ingrid Michaelson, Janelle Monae, Jenni Rivera, Jennifer Knapp, Jesca Hoop, Jill Hennessy, Jill Scott, Julia Othmer, Kate Miller-Heidke, Kate Nash Katzenjammer, Kelly Clarkson, Ke$ha, La Roux, Lights, Lissie, Loretta Lynn, Lucy Schwartz, Marina & The Diamonds, Martina McBride, Mary J. Blige, Meaghan Smith, Melissa McClelland, Metric, Miranda Lambert, Miranda Lee Richards, Missy Higgins, Nikki Jean, Nneka, Norah Jones, Priscilla Renea, The Rescues, Rosie Thomas, Sara Bareilles, Sarah McLachlan, Selena Gomez, Serena Ryder, Sheryl Crow, Sia, Sugarland, Susan Justice, Suzanne Vega, Tara MacLean, Tegan and Sara, Toby Lightman, Vedera, Vita Chambers, The Submarines, The Weepies, Ximena Sarinana, Zee Avi

Full list of cities revealed as of March 24:
Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Boston, Calgary, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Edmonton, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, London, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Montreal, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, Toronto, Vancouver, DC, West Palm Beach