CELEB
A Meeting of Musical Minds Across Continents
When two powerhouse artists from different corners of the music world come together for a summer tour, it's usually just a matter of scheduling and logistics. But for Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell, their new co-headlining run feels like something more. a meeting of kindred spirits who've each spent decades using music as a lifeline for audiences seeking solace and connection. McLachlan, the iconic Canadian singer-songwriter behind albums like "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy," is currently touring in support of her 2025 release "Better Broken," a follow-up to her widely celebrated 30th-anniversary trek for that very record. This time, she's brought along Allison Russell, the acclaimed artist who's spent recent years expanding her profile through high-profile opening slots for Hozier and a standout performance in the Broadway production of "Hadestown."
When Variety caught up with both artists via Zoom, the chemistry was immediately apparent. McLachlan joined from her home base in Vancouver, British Columbia, while Russell dialed in from New York City, where she was temporarily holed up to complete work on her forthcoming memoir. proof that even tour season can't pause the creative wheels from turning.
Nostalgia Meets the Present
Russell admitted during the conversation that she'd finally gotten around to watching "Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery," the Hulu documentary chronicling McLachlan's groundbreaking all-female touring festival from the 1990s. The timing felt almost prophetic. "I was literally a puddle," Russell confessed. "My daughter called me in the middle of it, and she could hear me crying through the phone. I told her she had to watch it immediately."
What struck Russell most was watching how her own daughter. a teenager in 2025. has developed a deep appreciation for the cultural artifacts of her mother's generation. "Our kids are so immersed in the '90s right now, and honestly, I get it," Russell explained. "They're exhausted by AI, by the constant surveillance of digital life, by spaces that feel manipulated and artificial. Last night, my kid cut our FaceTime short because she was heading to a coffee shop to play Dungeons & Dragons with friends. I thought, 'What year is it? It's 1995 all over again.'"
McLachlan nodded in agreement, pointing to the influence of shows like "Stranger Things" in bringing vintage aesthetics and analog culture back into the mainstream consciousness. "There's definitely a craving for authenticity and real human connection that's driving this resurgence," she noted.
Carrying Forward a Legacy of Healing
The connection between McLachlan and Russell goes deeper than shared Canadian heritage (though both wear their northern roots proudly). It's rooted in a philosophy that music can serve as medicine. that gathering together in amphitheaters and concert halls offers audiences a rare opportunity to "forget the madness" of daily life and simply melt into shared experience.
"We're not trying to recreate Lilith Fair," McLachlan clarified. "That was a whole festival, and this is something different. But the spirit? That's still there. We're just continuing the work we were doing before Lilith, during Lilith, and after Lilith. It's the same mission, just a different package."
For Russell, joining this tour represents a full-circle moment. "I've been running nonstop for years, and to finally slow down and watch Sarah's story made me realize how much her work shaped my own understanding of what a female artist could be," she said. "Now to be opening for her? It's humbling and exhilarating at the same time."
What Fans Can Expect This Summer
The tour, which kicked off recently, runs through August 9, giving fans across North America plenty of chances to catch this dynamic pairing. Audiences can expect a blend of McLachlan's timeless classics alongside newer material from "Better Broken," plus Russell's own emotionally resonant set that draws from her acclaimed solo work. The shows maintain many of the commemorative elements from the "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" anniversary tour while weaving in fresh material and energy.
What remains constant is the intention behind every performance: creating a space where people can set aside their devices, their anxieties, and their exhaustion, and remember what it feels like to be part of something beautiful together. As McLachlan put it simply, "That's always been the point. Nothing's changed."
