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There's an argument that the first person in the US to anticipate the approaching juggernaut of the political shift – fully 17 years ahead of the initial vote of Trump – did not come from politics but the rock star Sheryl Crow. During 1999, Crow appeared at a interview session backstage at the female-led festival, the all-women music festival, at which she was questioned regarding a problematic gig she had just completed at the 1999 Woodstock revival. This was the Woodstock revival in northern New York tainted by aggression, harassment and an angry male crowd that taunted the handful of women present with, “show us your tits.” the singer, with a somber expression, commented, “I hope it does not reflect our country's destiny or the youth of America.”

A Mind-Blowing Introduction to the Festival

Indeed, in common parlance: alas. These statements appear in the film about the festival, a recent film by Ally Pankiw on the streaming service and a mind-blowing introduction to the event for individuals who missed it. Prior to watching the movie this week, I had only the vaguest idea of what it was, which for someone who came of age in the 90s renders me outdated (typical) and a uninformed LGBTQ+ member (ditto), but is not that rare. This event, which at the time garnered massive attention, has in the decades since faded almost entirely from view – and for the uninitiated, it is hard to overstate just how remarkable, exciting, authentically revolutionary and decidedly queer the festival, which visited US cities for three summers in the end of the 90s, appears from this distance. The exclusively women roster included some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Sinéad O’Connor, Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, Fiona Apple, Indigo Girls and the musician, as well as Crow, but viewing the film, the primary lesson is the divergent timeline it presents – and how agonisingly far it is from where we are now.

Context of Late 1990s Misogyny

She does a very good job of contextualizing Lilith (the name Lilith alludes to the mythological figure – imagine that) in the setting of that period's discrimination, always a shocking trip into the past considering it was not long ago. As shown, experts remind us that female musicians wouldn't be played one after another on numerous American stations to avoid it sent a signal that the outlet was overly feminine. In festival settings, the similar logic kept women in the small numbers and less prominent. Simultaneously, on TV, we see again a parade of grotesques in the form of Stern telling musician Suzanne Vega that male listeners were not interested (she shrinks so far visibly she almost vanished), the comedian describing the political controversy as Clinton “the incident”, and the host chewing Aniston's locks while on air. No surprise.

McLachlan's Concept

In this climate, McLachlan, the musician and multi-Grammy award winner, who was in her late 20s at the time, developed the idea of a traveling event including just female musicians. It was swiftly ridiculed, a outcry that only increased as the tour launched. Popular opinion at the time was that audiences wouldn't show up for an women-only bill, but from its debut year, the festival was a massive success and the most profitable tour of that year.

Behind the Scenes

The concert footage is glorious, but it’s the behind-the-scenes stuff that leaves a mark. It was dubbed in the press – not in a fun way – as a lesbian event and ridiculed by comedy series that, in the film, serve as a key point of how incorrect the show can be, and how right those of us who always hated the sitcom were. Sarah was under heavy scrutiny to add men on to the lineup, and almost did – until Harris urged her to stand firm. That's the way the festival worked: as an informal mentoring environment, a atmosphere that reached beyond the stage. Crowds unaccepted in different places, in music or life, noticed the shift at the festival. The star Dan Levy, who worked on the film, visited a festival show as a young closeted person and found acceptance for the very first time.

Critics and Fans

And a lot of critics were converted. the artist felt it was not for her for the festival but was talked into coming and was won over. Sandra Bernhard originally refused, “as I believed it had a ‘folk-inspired’ vibe – the earnestness of it.” After reviewing the lineup, realised she wanted to connect with the performers and realized it was radical, not overly sincere. The festival was efficiently run, encouraging, entirely without audience issues and, from its revenue, gave $10m to charity. In contrast, over at Woodstock ‘99, Kid Rock was encouraging people to litter at the venue and the mob set fire to concessions stands.

Alternative Outcomes

Dual possibilities of the what was to come at the new century – history shows the path chosen. During 2010, McLachlan attempted to revive the event at a period when the music industry was undergoing a uninspired phase and, with the president in the administration, the society appeared progressed to a brighter future. It's time to reach out; it’s time to launch another event once again.