Lilith Fair enchants

Lilith Fair, or Lesbianpalooza if you will, was an eight-hour affair July 17 at the Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Ill. The variety of musical acts kept the long day fresh with punk singer Kate Nash, Courtyard Hounds (made up of two of the three Dixie Chicks), Heart, Mary J. Blige (who later had an afterparty at the club Le Passage) and singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan. The mastermind of the festival, McLachlan stated during a press conference earlier in the day that they are already talking about a five-year plan for the Fair. When asked by Windy City Times about a destination Lilith Fair where fans would travel to one location such as Lollapalooza, Sarah stated that they had discussed it and may be part of the future. She also commented on how thankful she is for everyone that comes to the festival, including her huge lesbian following, and that “we fall in love with who we fall in love with, we’re human beings and it shouldn’t make any bloody difference what sex they are.” The Chicago Women’s Health Center received a check for more than $10,000 on behalf of the tour.

Throughout the day, the mainly female crowd shopped booths in the outside pavilion, ate, drank and danced until dark.

The eclectic show drew to a close with the main headliners returning to the stage for a rendition of Patti Smith’s “Because the Night.”