Date: Fri 17-Jul-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Lilith-Meadows-McLachlan

Full Text:

(rev Lilith Fair @Meadows Music Theatre)

McLachlan & Co. Return To CT With Lilith Fair

BY SHANNON HICKS

HARTFORD -- One of the first things Sarah McLachlan did when she got on stage

Saturday night, after welcoming thousands of people to the traveling festival

called Lilith Fair with a performance of her song "Sweet Surrender," was make

sure everyone was having fun. McLachlan is the head honcho of Lilith Fair, and

as hostess she is not only able to perform the headlining spot each night of

the tour, but she is also somewhat responsible to make sure her "guests" are

having a good time.

"Are you having a good day?" McLachlan asked the thousands of audience members

who had been seeing a talented array of musicians performing all afternoon.

They were.

The Lilith Fair is in its third year of existence, although last year's tour

was the first full one -- with over 61 artists participating and dates across

the continent -- configured by McLachlan. This year, the lineup has widened to

include everyone from Erykah Badu and Neneh Cherry, to Missy Elliot and

Emmylou Harris. The number of participating artists on the popular summer

festival has doubled in one year, with over 120 artists on this year's roster.

Lilith also welcomed veteran Fair artists, including Meredith Brooks, Paula

Cole, Shawn Colvin and the Indigo Girls, among them. Unfortunately, none of

these artists were on the bill July 11, when the Lilith Fair returned to the

Meadows Music Theatre. Instead, Connecticut music lovers were treated to an

almost new bill of performers for this year's installation.

In addition to anchor-coordinator-Head Lilith Lady Sarah McLachlan, the

all-day concert at Hartford last Saturday included Natalie Merchant, Bonnie

Raitt, and Tracy Bonham. Last minute additions included Suzanne Vega as the

opener on the Mainstage, and Me'Shell Ndegeocello replacing Lauryn Hill.

Village Stage performers were Donna Martin (a Connecticut resident), Fontaine,

and Garrison Starr. On the venue's B Stage, performances came from Imani

Coppola, Heather Nova and Paris Hampton.

Last year, Lilith organizers donated $1 from every concert ticket sold to

female-oriented charities. The tour continues that practice this year, with

McLachlan herself presenting checks to local organizations during a press

conference prior to the opening of each Lilith Fair.

As of June 24, this year's total donations had amounted to just over $92,000.

On Saturday afternoon, McLachlan presented a check, on behalf of the Lilith

Fair and those who had purchased tickets before the beginning of the concert,

to Hartford Interval House for $13,600.

In addition to listening to music, Lilith ticket holders were invited to spend

the day milling through the village set up outside the main stage area.

Vendors offered a rainbow of nail polish in one booth, with each color named

after a different goddess; other booths offered pottery and ceramics,

clothing, and temporary tattoos. Tower Records was on site, with a tent

offering CDs by the musicians on the tour, whether they were performing in

Connecticut or not.

Even Starbucks had a tent at the fair, where employees were offering hot and

iced coffee alongside commemorative Lilith tumblers, Lilith-Starbucks CDs, and

Starbucks Magnetic Poetry kits.

Of course the biggest draw was the music. McLachlan concluded a day of

performances by some of the biggest names in music today, with a set that

featured music from her latest album, Surfacing . Released last year around

the same time Lilith hit the road, this time around the fans were much more

familiar with the music. Applause and cheering was ecstatic for the musician,

beginning with the opening chords of "Witness" early in the set, right through

to the album's latest release and the song she performed for her encore,

"Adia."

As has become a Lilith Fair tradition, once McLachlan finished her encore, she

invited all of Lilith's musicians to join her on stage for a finale. A good

hostess not only makes sure her guests are enjoying themselves, she never hogs

the spotlight, either.