Sugarland photo by Kate Powers, courtesy of UMG Nashville.

The dates and lineups for the first eight of this summer’s Lilith Fair dates suggest organizer Sarah McLachlan is committed to providing a little country music in most of the outings. The rosters in six of those cities, released Tuesday, boast at least one country act — such as Miranda Lambert, Sugarland or Loretta Lynn — and the gigs in Atlanta and West Palm Beach have two apiece.

The lineup of all-female talent was a regular feature on the summer concert circuit during the late 1990s, and Sarah’s carting a reinstituted version of Lilith to a total of 36 cities this year. Each of the shows promises 11 acts from a pool of 80 performers. As it currently stands, a July 2 show in Portland is the earliest date on the schedule.

Sugarland is booked for that initial date, as well as a Seattle performance the following day. Miranda is on the bill for July 20 in Indianapolis, and Court Yard Hounds — a side project featuring Dixie Chicks Martie Maguire and Emily Robison — are slated for shows in Cleveland, Atlanta and West Palm Beach. The Hounds are the lone country act in Cleveland July 27, while they’re billed alongside Loretta in Atlanta Aug. 8 and Martina McBride in West Palm Aug. 10.

The initial Court Yard Hound appearances on Lilith come after the Dixie Chicks wrap an eight-concert stadium tour with the Eagles and Keith Urban in June. That itinerary includes stops in Toronto and Chicago, the two announced Lilith markets that have no country acts on the bill.

Emmylou Harris has also been tabbed as a Lilith performer, though she is not included in the initial eight lineups.

Highlights from the first round of Lilith lineups include:
• Portland, July 2: Sugarland, Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Colbie Caillat and Erykah Badu.
• Seattle, July 3: Sugarland, Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Colbie Caillat and Erykah Badu.
• Indianapolis, July 20: Miranda Lambert, Sarah McLachlan, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige and Suzanne Vega.
• Cleveland, July 27: Court Yard Hounds, Sarah McLachlan, Kelly Clarkson, Sara Bareilles and Mary J. Blige.
• Atlanta, Aug. 8: Loretta Lynn, Court Yard Hounds, Sarah McLachlan, Indigo Girls and Corinne Bailey Rae.
• West Palm Beach, Aug. 10: Martina McBride, Court Yard Hounds, Sarah McLachlan, Norah Jones and Corinne Bailey Rae.

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