As one of the quintessential nineties concerts, the Lilith Fair made quite a splash when it debuted in 1997. Created by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, it was the first summer festival to focus on female musicians. Most concerts up until that point had refused to let more than two female acts perform in a row. Thanks to the massive success of the tour, people still remember it vividly. Now, in the summer of 2010, concert goers will once again take part as the Lilith Fair gets set for a revival tour.

Tracy Chapman, Fiona Apple, Joan Osmond and Lisa Loeb were just some of the stars who headlined the original tour. It’s no surprise that it was the highest grossing festival that year. Although the 2010 revival tour acts have yet to be confirmed, it wouldn’t be shocking to see current musicians such as KT Tunstall and Colbie Cailla take to the stage.

This festival, in particular, gained a reputation for having a real community vibe. While most summer concerts are filled with rowdy crowd members, pushing and shoving their way toward the front, this was another story. Not only were audience members polite, but they genuinely interacted with each other. It was common to see someone pull out a Takamine acoustic guitar and break into song. This is why many enjoyed it so much.

There are a lot negative stereotypes still floating around regarding the tour. Some people called it ‘Girlapalooza’ and others used even worse names. Probably because it was something new and different, people just didn’t understand it. Many just assumed the festival would be filled with women stepping off motorcycles with a black helmet in hand. At was very much not the case.

The tour not only made its impact musically, but there was many a fashion trend spotted and started on the festival grounds. Many attended with the idea that people were watching in mind. In fact, it’s more likely that many the audience would be wearing their best eye cream as opposed to sporting a biker jacket.

Those who were unable to attend the original tour might be inclined to think the audience was entirely female. This is not true. Although the acts were all women musicians, the crowd was quite diverse, which was proven through the sheer number of concert goers tallied over the summers.

Ten years after the original run of Lilith Fairs, there’s no doubt that a revival tour will be welcomed. Old fans can reminisce, while new music lovers can partake in a cultural phenomenon that they’ve heard stories about it.