Lilith Fair: Feminist Practice or Feminism Commodified?

Abstract

This case study explores the formation and significance of Lilith Fair, an all-women touring music festival established by singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan in 1997. When the festival initially toured from 1997-1999, it not only proved to be commercially successful, it provided a much-needed sense of community for women concertgoers and musicians. When McLachlan resurrected the tour as "Lilith" in 2010, however, audiences responded much differently than they had in the 1990s. The following case considers the cultural and historical circumstances which made Lilith Fair a success in the 1990s and contemplates why the 2010 Lilith may not have been as relevant or impactful in a new age of feminism.