Head to Bottle & Cork on Friday, May 16 to catch Lilith Fest, a tribute to Lilith Fair and a celebration of local women in music.
In the 1990s, most radio stations refused to play two songs by women back-to-back. Artist Sarah McLachlan set out to amplify female voices and showcase the demand for female-fronted acts with a festival dedicated to women in music, and Lilith Fair was born. Iconic names like Tracy Chapman, Jewel, Sheryl Crow, Erykah Badu, and Fiona Apple graced the lineup, and the festival ran for three consecutive years. Lilith Fair sent a clear message to music industry leaders and raised more than $10 million for charity.
Our world today looks a little different than it did in the ’90s. Thanks to the women of that era, the music business was permanently transformed. If you look at a top 100 chart today, it would be impossible not to play two songs by women back-to-back. But that doesn’t mean the work is done, according to musician and Project HERA founder Cathy DiToro.
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“Project HERA came from a ladies night for women in music,” DiToro explains. Despite the progress made for women in the industry, it can still be hard for some women to find spaces where they feel supported creatively—especially when they’re just starting out. She began hosting open mic nights and pop-up events to encourage women in music to come together and support each other. These events evolved into a nonprofit dedicated to the same mission.
Lilith Fest at Bottle & Cork
DiToro took a break from the events during COVID shutdowns. When it was time to start planning new events, Lilith Fest was officially formed. With two festivals under her belt— Northern Virginia in 2023 and her hometown of D.C. in 2024—DiToro is ready to bring the show to Dewey Beach.
“I’m in cover bands that play in Dewey Beach,” she says. “I love that town.”
The premise of Lilith Fest is unique: local and regional performers cover songs by the performers on the Lilith Fair lineups of the ’90s. “It’s all female and all tribute,” DiToro explains. Included in Dewey Beach’s lineup is Delaware’s own Olivia Rubini. The “Heartless Woman” singer is no stranger to covering female-powered anthems. It was her cover of Linda Ronstadt’s “Long Long Time” that earned her a spot on NBC’s The Voice.
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 DiToro herself has also garnered a fanbase in Dewey Beach with her bands So Fetch and The Legwarmers. LauraLea, another regular Dewey Beach performer, will also make an appearance.
“There’s a tangible feeling,” DiToro says of the event. “Having all these women together and singing together for the first time—it’s a really magical experience.”
For fans of ’90s and 2000s music by women, Lilith Fest is a can’t-miss event in Dewey Beach. Tickets can be found online.
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