Maclachlan's Angel launches her return to Lilith at Shoreline on July 5. Photo by Elizabeth Snow for mabearnews.com

The last time I saw a live show at an outdoor venue like Shoreline was when I was a sophomore in college. Friends and I trekked from Ann Arbor, MI to the suburbs to see the highly popular Lilith Fair at Pine Knob. Dressed to the nines in our birkenstocks and flowy skirts, we swayed the night away singing along to Sarah Mclachlan and rocking out to Liz Phair. The venue was sold out–we even saved our ticket stubs.

On July 5, Lilith made its way to the Shoreline, and Sarah Mclachlan, the Bangles, Miranda Lambert, Colbie Caillat and Heart did their best to keep the female vocalist vibe alive and current, despite the empty rows in the pavilion. While the place was far from sold out, the true fans for each act where in full force. Heart’s Barracuda brought out the rockers and Miranda Lambert’s The House that Built Me brought tears to the eyes of more than a few country fans. The Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs impressed fans with Walk like an Egyptian and Colbie Caillat looked like a ray of sun as she sang her bubblegum pop melodies.

While other acts performed on various stages, Mclachlan’s performance was the standout. Opening with her emotional hit Angel, she satisfied her fans with plenty of old favorites such as Ice Cream, Adia and Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, and even introduced her new album. She talked to the audience as if she were talking to old friends, explaining the hiatus the let Lilith Fair fall away for the past ten years.

In article in the July 20 Detroit FreePress, she explains how motherhood became her focus and that the rebirth of Lilith was a much needed support for her musically and personally.

While a lot has changed for her, and me thankfully, over the years, this concert experience was just as sweet as I remembered in 1995.

***MABEARNEWS.COM journalists attended 8 different shows at Shoreline this summer… stay tuned to read their posts!***