VANCOUVER (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Eleven more dates have been axed from the itinerary of the struggling Lilith festival as the prognosis for the summer touring season turns increasingly gloomy.
The dates for the latest round of cuts are Salt Lake City (7/12), Montreal (7/23), Raleigh (8/4), Charlotte (8/6), Atlanta (8/6), West Palm Beach (8/10), Tampa (8/11), Birmingham (8/12), Austin (8/14), Houston (8/15) and Dallas (8/16).
"We are in the midst of one of the most challenging summer concert seasons with many tours being cancelled outright," says Lilith co-founder Terry McBride. "Everyone involved with the tour would like to apologize to the fans and artists scheduled to play in these markets, and express appreciation for all the support for the festival’s return. Lilith remains the only tour of its kind, and we are confident that fans will be amazed by what each date has to offer."
News of the canceled dates were followed by another bit of bad news for the festival after Kelly Clarkson announced that she was pulling out her Lilith gigs. The festival's website still lists her on the lineup for the Cleveland date, but it is unclear if she will perform.
"With the news of canceled Lilith dates and my current progress in the studio, we've made the decision not to tour this summer. I'm going to miss seeing y'all, but hope that when you hear what we've been working on, you'll be as excited as I am. I've been working with some amazing people and am stoked about this next album," Clarkson wrote in a post on her website.
The show's co-founder, Nettwerk's Terry McBride, wrote an open letter to media critics on his blog to protest what he characterizes as the unfair coverage of the festival by the press.
"I have been amazed at the feeding frenzy of negativity by the media and bloggers around Lilith Fair. Such attacks are normally seen in the theatre of partisan politics that have poisoned western society." McBride wrote.
"What drives the passion to write negative and speculative commentary on what is a socially positive and giving festival? Why this desire to hurt and demean the efforts of thousands of people whom simply want to give back and make our society a better place?" he added. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
