Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery tells the story of Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, who in 1996 had something to prove to the music industry. Despite having hit after hit, she kept hitting obstacles: Commercial radio didn’t believe they could play two female artists in a row. That she couldn’t headline a bigger venue because there wasn’t an audience for female singers, and that people wouldn’t pay to see a show with more than one female-led band. She was determined to prove this conventional wisdom wrong. And so, Lilith Fair, a touring festival of mostly women artists, was born.

“Look at all these summer festivals: they’re all completely male dominated. Yeah, there’s all these amazing women out there making music — why don’t we ask some of them if they want to come do something? And it was as simple as that,” says McLachlan in the film

The new CBC documentary Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery documents the story of the festival’s incredible three-year run as it became an unstoppable cultural phenomenon that changed music history forever.

Lilith Fair was one of the top grossing tours of the ’90s, running from 1997 to 1999. It made 130 stops across North America, grossing more than $52 million, featuring more than 300 female artists and drawing 1.6 million fans. The tour played major outdoor venues with a rotating lineup and three stages.

Early dates featured Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Tracy Chapman, Emmylou Harris, Paula Cole, Indigo Girls, Missy Elliott and Fiona Apple, catapulting many of their careers into multi-platinum sales. It also launched the careers of new acts like Christian Aguilera, India Arie, Dido, Nelly Furtado and Tegan and Sara.

Not only did Lilith Fair feature some legendary performances, but it rocked popular culture, proving that a tide of ‘girl power’ could reimagine what a music festival could be. The patriarchal power structures, ego battles and atmosphere of traditional rock festivals were replaced with a safe space where performers and their audiences could celebrate their autonomy and fandom. It was a joyous celebration of women in music.

Says McLachlan in the film, “Look at what’s being created. Look at the beautiful feeling. Look at the sisterhood and everybody out there having this amazing experience. It was the best drug in the world.” The festival also donated over $10 million to local women’s shelters and community organizations for women and children fleeing abuse in the cities they played.

The documentary includes never-before-seen archival footage as well as new interviews and stories from fans, festival organizers and artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Erykah Badu, Natalie Merchant, Mýa, Jewel, Indigo Girls, Emmylou Harris, Brandi Carlile and Olivia Rodrigo. Concertgoers gush about how the festival changed their lives. It celebrated women, brought people together and created a safe space for women and queer people. It was a cultural awakening. 

Drawing on more than 600 hours of archival footage, the new documentary Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery tells the story of the groundbreaking concert tour. Watch Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery on CBC Gem and the CBC Docs YouTube channel. Read more about the festival and making of the documentary here.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.