1999 Lilith Fair Itinerary, Talent Lineups Announced

Tour dates and talent rosters for the 1999 Lilith Fair tour were announced Tuesday (4/27) at a press conference held at New York's Irving Plaza, hosted by co-founder Sarah McLachlan and several of the tour's announced main stage and second stage acts. The tour, noted in press materials as the "North American Farewell," will begin July 8th in Vancouver, BC and end August 31st in Edmonton, ALB.

The press conference itself was stocked with a wide array of talent, tour sponsors and charity groups. Those on hand to announce their participation in the tour included Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Beth Orton, Martina McBride, Kelly Willis, Mya, Deborah Cox, Monica, Bif Naked, two thirds of the Dixie Chicks and Sheryl Crow via telephone.

The most noteworthy appreciation of the tour from a performer's perspective came from Ndegeocello, who said, ''Making music is wonderful, but what's really great is clean bathrooms. They give you massages, the food is happening, and there's clean bathrooms with tampons.''

With this year's lineup, the tour has given a country act co-headliner status for the first time with the inclusion of the Dixie Chicks on the main stage for most of the tour. Martina McBride, Sara Evans and Kelly Willis will each also be on board for a small number of dates.