Sarah McLachlan Defends Lilith Fair Despite High Prices And Low Ticket Sales

Despite a dizzying array of ‘what the hell?’ headliners at various music festivals this year (Gorillaz over Pavement at Coachella, the Axis of Evil for Lollapalooza, and now The Eagles – yes, really – for Austin City Limits), 2010 looks to be a good year for most fests – Coachella sold out (in more ways than one), and the continued buzz behind Lolla all but ensures a capacity audience.  Hell, even ACL will probably reach capacity (I mean, somebody out there had to have bought all those copies of Hell Freezes Over).

That said, Spinner reports that one fest is floundering a month before it even begins: the 2010 resurrection of the all-female Lilith Fair.  Maybe it’s those pre-surcharge $250 tickets, or the lack of a Gaga-like monstrosity on the bill.  Either way, Lilith may be in trouble.

In response to slow and lower-than-expected ticket sales, Lilith co-founder Sarah McLachlan says that too many people are focusing on the hefty $250 price tag:

“There’s about 300 seats out of 16,000 or whatever that are $250.  Then there’s 9,000 that are $25, so come on… We’re working our hardest to have reasonably priced tickets so it can be accessible for everyone and that people will want to come.  We might get slaughtered, I don’t know, but I kind of have blind faith in the fact we’re putting on a really great show and we always have, and that will bring people in the end.”

Further, in a move even more mind-boggling than booking Kelly Clarkson (which they did), Lilith co-founder Terry McBride is already planning to take the tour out of the U.S. and into Asia, Australia, and the U.K.:

“We’re definitely thinking 2010-2011.  And then we’re expanding it outside of North America. We’re going to Australia in September and the first week of October. We’re going to the UK marketplace indoors in late October. Then over to Japan and Asia in March. Back into North America for the summer of 2011. And what we’re trying to do is expand the Lilith brand and concept because this concept can work anywhere. It just has to be the people with the will and the desire and the passion to make it happen.”

While that may be wishful thinking on McBride’s part, don’t count Lilith Fair out just yet – at least wait until Ke$ha gets added to the bill.

What do you think could be done to help Lilith Fair’s sagging sales?