Lilith Fair
Capital Federal Park at Sandstone Amphitheater, Bonner Springs, KS
July 15, 2010
Second Stage: Vedera, Jennifer Knapp, Erin McCarley, Sara Swenson, Julia Othmer
Main Stage: Ingrid Michaelson, Metric, Court Yard Hounds, Emmylou Harris, Heart, Sarah McLachlan
Words, and photos by Adam Tibbott
Lilith Fair 2010 in Bonner Springs: A Beautiful Return to a Festival I Thought I’d Missed Forever. For many music fans, Lilith Fair represented far more than just another summer tour. It was a celebration of artistry, community, and the incredible impact women have had on music. By the time the original Lilith Fair concluded after its 1999 run, I had never experienced it for myself. I missed the legendary 1997, 1998, and 1999 festivals and honestly believed that opportunity had passed forever. So when Sarah McLachlan announced that Lilith Fair would return in 2010, I couldn’t wait.
History tells us that the revival arrived during a very different era. The music industry had changed dramatically. Festival culture had evolved, album sales had collapsed, and audiences consumed music in ways that barely resembled that of the late ’90s. The 2010 version faced challenges the original never encountered, and unfortunately many dates suffered from poor ticket sales and even cancellations. Thankfully, the stop at Capital Federal Park at Sandstone Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, Kansas wasn’t one of them.
From the moment I walked through the gates, there was a sense of community that made Lilith Fair special from a decade ago. Even though the world had changed, that spirit remained. Fans of all ages gathered together, celebrating artists who had shaped generations while discovering newer voices carrying that legacy forward.
The lineup perfectly captured that blend of past and present. It was surreal seeing Sarah McLachlan, Heart, and Emmylou Harris share a bill with newer acts like Court Yard Hounds, Metric, Jennifer Knapp, Julia Othmer, and local band Vedera. Every artist brought something unique, and the day felt less like a series of performances and more like a celebration of women in music across generations.
One thing that made the experience even more special on a personal level was how much of the lineup was completely new to me. Out of all the artists who performed that day, Sarah McLachlan was the only musician I had previously seen live. Everyone else, from legendary names like Heart and Emmylou Harris to newer acts such as Court Yard Hounds and Metric, represented first-time experiences. That added an extra sense of discovery to the festival. Every set felt fresh, and there was a genuine excitement that came from experiencing so much new music and so many artists for the first time. It made the entire day feel like more than just a concert; it felt like an opportunity to broaden my musical horizons while witnessing a remarkable gathering of talent that literally spanned generations.
One of the most memorable aspects of Lilith Fair has always been the end of show collaboration, and the 2010 revival delivered a moment I’ll never forget. At the end of the night, artists from throughout the day gathered together onstage for a communal performance of the Patti Smith Group classic “Because the Night.” Seeing everyone united under the lights, dancing, singing together and celebrating one another, felt like the perfect embodiment of what Lilith Fair had always stood for.
Looking back now, it saddens my heart that 2010 ultimately became the final attempt to revive Lilith Fair. In many ways, I can’t help but think the festival arrived a decade too early. The concert landscape has continued to evolve, especially after the COVID Pandemic, and today audiences have enthusiastically embraced female-driven tours and festivals. It’s no longer unusual to see lineups featuring three or more female-fronted bands sharing the stage, and fans actively seek out those experiences. I truly believe a festival like Lilith Fair would resonate even more strongly today than it did in 2010.
Still, I’m grateful that I got to experience this chapter of music history. I may have missed the original festivals, but for one summer day in Kansas, I finally got to be part of something I had admired from afar for years. And as the voices of dozens of artists joined together for “Because the Night” beneath the cool summer sky, it felt like Lilith Fair’s message of community, creativity, and celebration had never really gone away.
Perhaps one day, someone will give it another chance.
