Lots of love for Lilith’s ladies in Toronto

July 27th, 2010

Darelle London

Fans have been waiting eleven years for the triumphant return of Sarah McLachlan’s brainchild, Lilith Fair. Though the tour has been marred with dates canceled due to poor ticket sales and top billed acts pulling out, Lilith’s stop at the Molson Amphitheater on Saturday July 24 was nothing short of inspirational.

The two side stages were home to a set of performances by Aussie singer Kate Miller-Heidke, whose vocal acrobatics wowed the crowd, Ontario artist and Local Talent Winner Darrelle London and duo Ash Koley, whose catchy song “Don’t Let Your Feet Touch Ground” is highly recognizable as a result of its use in a Lotto 6/49 commercial. Canadian indie darling Tara MacLean’s sweet vocals were able to make the rain stop for a few moments so that fans could enjoy new songs of latest album, Wake, as well as old favourites, including her most successful single, If I Fall.

Two thirds of the Dixie Chicks in the form of Court Yard Hounds, also known as sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison, got things started on the main stage with a little country. The women were obviously able to hold their own with their firecracker lead singer Natalie Maines, though seeing the Dixie Chicks would have completed an already outstanding line-up.

Chantal Kreviazuk, a singer who has made a name for herself south of the border as an accomplished songwriter for pop stars like Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson, seemed to be just as in awe of her warm reception from the crowd as they were of her. Kreviazuk got the theater on their feet with her wildly popular cover of Leaving on a Jet Plane and invited Lilith founder McLachlan, as well as Butterfly Boucher, Melissa McLelland and Darrelle London on stage for her unofficial first-dance wedding song, Home.

Eletronic/pop singer and MuchMusic favourite Lights took the stage next to perform with her two piece band and keytar in hand. A first time performer at Lilith, if the 23 year-old was nervous in front of the huge crowd she didn’t show it and delivered a high energy performance.

The queen of R ‘n B showed that she could also take the title of Queen of Rock. Leaving everything on the stage, Mary J. Blige seemed to be genuinely overwhelmed at the ecstatic reception from the crowd of ticket holders to a mostly folk/rock festival. Miss Mary lit up the Amphitheater and kept the party going throughout her set of number one hits, including I Am, No More Drama, Real Love and the club anthem, Family Affair. But Blige’s shining moment was in performing her cover of Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven. Performing might not even be the correct word to describe Blige’s cover. She moved mountains with the song. Stairway to Heaven will be on Mary J.’s next album, but it’s difficult to believe that the performance that was witnessed on Saturday night could be captured in a recording studio.

Finally, the woman of the hour returned to the stage and took her place at the centre of our hearts. The admiration for McLachlan extends beyond the seats in the audience. McLean and Kreviazuk both spoke of the honour of sharing the stage with McLaughlan, with McLean pointing out that many of the women involved in Lilith Fair, including herself, owe their career to Sarah.

In the past eleven years McLaughlan has become a mother, a wife, and now a divorcee, a philanthropist, an Olympic performer and once again a festival organizer, all without aging in the slightest. In addition to performing new tracks from her Laws of Illusion album, McLaughlan delighted fans with the songs that have won her eight Junos and three Grammys over the years, including Possession, Building a Mystery, Sweet Surrender, Ice Cream, World On Fire and I will Remember You. Taking moments in between songs to speak of her love for her fellow musicians and the fans that make Lilith Fair possible, McLaughlan shared that her favourite part about being on stage during Lilith was feeling like, for a moment, she was part of something bigger. We were all just lucky enough to be part of that moment.

The constant downpour of rain couldn’t cool the spirits of the 13,000 plus crowd at the outdoor Toronto venue. Armed with ponchos, umbrellas and the common bond of experiencing a festival that for many has been a mythical Woodstock they have yet to experience, the mostly female crowd braved the elements and were rewarded with a day of amazing music, inspired performances and finally stories of their very own Lilith Fair.

Tags: Chantal Kreviazuk, Court Yard Hounds, Dixie Chicks, lights, Lilith Fair, mary j blige, Sarah McLachlan, Tara MacLean