The artists are energetic, their songs are passionate and their message is powerful. This summer, the women of the Lilith Fair are traveling across the United States and Canada, capturing the hearts and enlightening the minds of those they entertain. Fortunately, Columbus was one of their stops.Among the crowds at Polaris were vendors of all shapes and sizes. Some displayed their finest silver and hemp jewelry, while others offered ice-cold beverages and tasty frozen treats. However, the booth that stood out the most belonged to the Columbus AIDS Task Force, the local charity chosen by Sarah McLachlan and the members of the Lilith Fair to receive a share of the concert’s profits.Sunday was a day of celebration like none I have ever experienced. Musical variations flowed from three stages: the Village Stage, the B Stage and the Mainstage. Each stage provided listeners with the unique and individual styles of several talented female musicians.First up on the mainstage was Lisa Loeb. She began her set with a little help in the rhythm section from Sarah McLachlan and Michelle Malone. Luckily, she did not stop there. While singing her song “Falling In Love” she was joined by musical great Emmylou Harris. But it was her song “Pulling Taffy” that I found most entertaining.Harris was the next to take center stage. She was joined by her all-male band, showing everyone, including the men in the audience, that this celebration of women in music was for everyone.Following the well-honed musical talent of Harris was Jewel. She dazzled with hits like “Foolish Games” and “Who Will Save Your Soul.” Before singing her closing song, Jewel talked about the times she spent waitressing and sleeping in her car, and how she would sing to herself to make her feel safe.I could barely contain myself for the 20 minutes it took to tear down Jewel’s set and get ready for the next group. Finally, the moment I had been waiting for all summer arrived: The Indigo Girls took the stage! From the crowd’s reaction, I could tell that I wasn’t alone. The Indigo Girls sang “Shame On You” and “Shed Your Skin” from their new album, “Shaming the Sun.” And, just as I had hoped, they entertained us with classics like “Galileo,” “Chickenman” and the Van Morrison classic “Brown-Eyed Girl.” Even so, nothing was as unforgettable as when the entire Lilith Fair clan came on stage to sing “Closer To Fine.” In my mind there wasn’t anything closer to it.Headliner Sarah McLachlan’s performance was truly the grand finale. From her newest album, McLachlan sang “Building a Mystery.” She also sang “Hold On,” and the audience joined in for “Ice Cream,” both from her album “Fumbling Toward Ecstasy.” McLachlan’s songs and their messages of introspection and determination were truly amazing. To top it off, once again the entire gang came together to sing Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi.” Yes, the concert was entertaining, there were some great deals on toe rings and t-shirts, but there is a deeper message behind this gathering called the Lilith Fair, which celebrates women in music.