August 15, 1998
Publication title: Canadian Press NewsWire, vol. -, Iss. -, pg. –
Place: Toronto
Writer: Unknown
Lilith Fair still hot summer ticket in second season
Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair rolled into town Saturday and once again, the all-woman music festival proved that female artists can pack in the crowds.
About 16,000, mostly women, packed into Toronto’s waterfront Molson Amphitheatre to hear the Halifax-born pop diva and her comrades.
On the main-stage bill for Saturday (the first of two back-to-back shows at the venue) were alternative rocker Liz Phair, country-folk legend Emmylou Harris, pop singer Paula Cole, and former 10,000 Maniacs lead singer Natalie Merchant.
On the show’s two side stages were Abra Moore, Eden A.K.A., Neko Case, Melanie Doane and local artists Lenni Jabour and Ali Eisner.
At a news conference before the concert McLachlan praised her co-performers, who flanked her at a long table.
“I think we have a great platform from which we can showcase not only a lot of great established acts, but also to help young, just started acts and give them a platform on which they can probably get a lot more people than on their own.
“None of us alone can probably draw up to 50,000 people a night . . . well maybe the rest of you. . .” McLachlan said hurriedly as her comrades laughed.
In a recent interview, McLachlan said next year’s Lilith Fair would be the last – she’s repeatedly stressed her desire to take a break and have children and said she doubted it would go on without her.
She backed away from that on Saturday.
“We just haven’t thought any farther than that,” McLachlan said.
Two local charities, Street Haven at the Crossroads and the redwood Women’s shelter each received a $15,000 cheque from McLachlan. One dollar from each ticket sold was donated to the charities.
The 57-date tour has already crossed much of the United States this summer. Last year’s inaugural tour surprised many by becoming the most popular touring summer festival in North America. McLachlan said she’s pleased with this year’s turnout as well.
“Definitely the fact that we had a very successful tour last year was very helpful,” she said.
“I think there’s been more of a comfort level and a really friendly vibe: not that there wasn’t any last year.”
That first tour came under fire from some critics for being made up of predominantly white, folk-rock artists. This year, the bill has included a more diverse blend of styles and performers: rappers Missy Elliot and Queen Latifah and R and B singer Eryka Badu headlined many dates in the U.S.
“Well, it’s a white-bread show today,” McLachlan said, glancing around the table at her colleagues.
“But we’ve had a lot different artists from different genres and different nationalities with us for this year and I think to some degree it had to do with the fact that last year nobody knew a lot about the festival.
As ever, Lilith Fair’s fan base was predominantly female at Saturday’s show. But Lilith’s appeal wasn’t lost on some of the men who did turn up.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – there are more cute girls per square foot here than anywhere else in the world right now,” said Jeff Berstein, 18, of Toronto.
“I like the music too, of course,” Berstein said as a female friend poked him hard in the ribs.
Tickets were from $26 to $46 – not a bad price when there are almost a dozen acts to be seen said Cathy Moresby, 46, who brought her seven-year-old son Greg and 12-year-old daughter Clara in from suburban Oakville for the concert.
“It’s nice to show your kids that women command respect, that they’re doing big, important things,” said Moresby.
“Now my daughter wants to play the guitar – when I was a kid I had to be forced to learn the piano. I think it shows just how much things are changing.”
Lilith Fair plays to five Canadian cities this summer, kicking off last Friday at Ottawa’s Lansdowne Park. After Toronto’s two sold out dates it moves to Calgary’s McMahon Stadium Aug. 28, Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton Aug. 29 and winds up Aug. 31 in Vancouver’s Thunderbird Stadium.
