Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, others sign up for Lilith Fair return

For the first time since 1999, Sarah McLachlan has resurrected her all-female festival Lilith Fair and has revealed the first wave of confirmed artists, including Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow and Colbie Caillat.

Though dates have not yet been set, tour organizers so far have confirmed that the traveling festival will touch down in 17 North American cities and one European location. Those cities are listed below in alphabetical order.

"Being a part of Lilith Fair was inspiring on so many levels," McLachlan posted in a statement at the festival's website. "Besides discovering new music everyday and sharing the stage with an incredible array of talented women, it was wonderful to see established and new artists alike have the opportunity to play in front of much larger or more diverse audiences than usual."

McLachlan will headline the main stage during the 2010 event, according to the Lilith Fair website. Other confirmed performers include Brandi Carlile, Chantal Kreviazuk, Corinne Bailey Rae, Emmylou Harris, Erykah Badu, Indigo Girls, Jill Scott, Miranda Lambert, Sugarland, Tegan and Sara, Metric and Sara Bareilles.

Along with established musicians, the festival will feature local talent, as organizers have teamed with OurStage.com to launch the "Lilith Local Talent Search." The contest will find emerging female musicians to appear on the tour's Village Stage, according to a press release.

One artist will be chosen for each North American tour stop to perform a set of her music on the Lilith Village Stage, which in previous years has featured artists like Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado, and Tegan and Sara.

Interested artists who live in or near one of the cities on the Lilith tour can find details about the talent search at the OurStage website.

The Lilith Fair tour was created in part by McLachlan as a vehicle for female solo acts and female-led bands. During the tour's three-year run, 1997-1999, the festival featured Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Lauren Hill, Dixie Chicks, The Pretenders, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall, Erykah Badu, Emmylou Harris, Indigo Girls, Liz Phair and Lisa Loeb among its main-stage acts.

The lineup for the return of Lilith Fair hasn't been announced, but eventually will be revealed at the touring festival's website.

2010 Lilith Fair Cities

Atlanta, GA

Boston, MA

Calgary, Alberta

Chicago, IL

Dallas, TX

Denver, CO

London, England

Los Angeles, CA

Minneapolis, MN

Montreal, Quebec

New York, NY

Philadelphia, PA

Portland, OR

Seattle, WA

San Francisco, CA

Toronto, Ontario

Vancouver, British Columbia

Washington, DC