Helloooo, ladies. The Lilith Fair has announced its first tour dates and city lineups. Now, I’ll give you the first artist because we all know Sarah McLachlan will be there. I think her tombstone will read: Founder of the Lilith Fair and guilter of millions into donating to the ASPCA.
The first eight cities and their rosters on the 36-date North American tour have been revealed and it looks pretty promising so far. The whole thing kicks off July 2 in Portland. Playing that inaugural show will be McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Sugarland, Erykah Badu, Colbie Caillat, A Fine Frenzy, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Lucy Schwartz, Miranda Lee Richards and Marina and the Diamonds. Granted I’m only familiar with about half those artists, but this thing is just heating up.
The next stop is July 3 in Seattle. There the same lineup will play minus Lucy Schwartz and Miranda Lee Richards, but plus Ann Atomic and The Submarines. Still not impressed? Well, just wait for Chicago on July 17. There, an entirely new lineup (save for Sarah herself, the tour’s one constant) will play. They are Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Cat Power, Heart, La Roux, Vita Chambers, Vedera, Kate Nashand Meaghan Smith. Ah-ha. I can see it in your eyes. You’re impressed now.
Indianapolis follows July 20, with a similar lineup that adds Suzanne Vega, Miranda Lambert and Chantal Kreviazuk, and drops Heart, Cat Power, Vedera and Meaghan Smith.
On July 24, the tour moves to Canada and stops in Toronto. Playing to our neighbors to the north will be McLachlan, Blige, Clarkson, Kreviazuk, La Roux, Tara MacLean, Ash Koley, Kate Miller-Heidke and Lights.
Cleveland is next on July 27. Playing will be McLachlan, Blige, Clarkson, Court Yard Hounds(that’s the Dixie Chickssisters Martie Maguireand Emily Robison), Sara Bareilles, Anjulie, Serena Ryder, Zee Avi and Lights.
Atlanta kicks off the following month on August 8. Playing will be an almost entirely new lineup with McLachlan, Court Yard Hounds, Loretta Lynn, Indigo Girls, Gossip, Sia, Janelle Monáe, Corinne Bailey Rae, The Rescuesand Priscilla Renea. Hands down, that lineup wins for gayest so far. And, of course, I mean that in the best way possible.
The final announced date is West Palm Beach on August 10. New will be Norah Jones, Martina McBride, Katzenjammer and Ceci Bastida joining the returning McLachlan, Rae, Gossip, Sia, Court Yard Hounds and The Rescues.
Tickets for the first eight cities go on sale March 27. The remaining 28 cities (which are Boston, Los Angeles, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Detroit, Hartford, New York, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Denver, Phoenix, Dallas, St. Louis, Austin, Vancouver, Montreal, Charlotte, Washington, DC, Houston, Calgary, Minneapolis, Birmingham, Tampa, San Francisco, San Diego, Raleigh and Nashville) should be announced soon. Check the Lilith Fair website for more information.
And don’t worry, there’s plenty of talent left to play including (but not limited to) Tegan and Sara, Brandi Carlile, Jill Scott, Ke$ha, Metric, Missy Higgins, The Bangles and The Go-Go’s.
So, what do you think? Like what you see? Which tour stop is your favorite? So far, my heart is in a death match between Chicago and Atlanta. And I am crossing my fingers for California.
