9am - After a much-needed coffee run, we drive out to the venue at UBC, our car jam-packed with all our gear and luggage. Once at the venue, we find our bus -- number 12 -- and we get on to check it out and claim our bunks. You have to make sure you get one you're happy with as it's going to be home for the next 2 months. Jen and I both choose middle bunks (there are 12 to a bus) and are happy to get what we wanted. One of our busmates, Al Robb (tour photographer) is already here, but the rest of them, being the documentary film crew, haven't arrived yet, and we're not entirely sure how all of our video, film and photography gear is going to fit on the bus and in the bays. Not to mention our personal stuff and luggage too.

11 am - After settling in, and getting our bus keys, we find out where all the important things are - production trailers, the 3 stage set ups, and most importantly, catering. There are many familiar faces amoungst the crew from the last two Lilith tours, and many new people as well, whose names we'll learn as we go along.

Noon - Jennifer takes the rental car back downtown while I head for lunch. Today, it's a lilith tour lunch mainstay - bean burritos. Not bad really, they hit the spot. The catering tent is buzzing with the crew, artists, Nettwerk staff and friends and family in attendance.

1:45pm The press conference - The press tent is absolutely packed, and so it feels like we've been packed into a sauna. When there are this many press people, photographers and camera operators, space is tight, and everyone's trying to find the best vantage point possible without stepping on anyone's toes. Most of the artists on today's line-up are on the panel: Maren Ord, Coco Love Alcorn, Mya, Kate and Jill from Luscious Jackson, Sarah, Sheryl, Beth Orton, Adrienne Pierce, and Bif Naked. There are many questions for Sarah in regards to this being the last year for Lilith and whether perhaps another female artist may take over the Lilith reigns next year. I'm sure she'll be having to answer that same inquiry just about every day this tour.

2:30 pm - The day's performances start with Adrienne Pierce. Can't imagine what it must be like for her to be the very first artist performing at this year's Lilith. There's a small crowd gathered at the Village stage (it's early, and a workday), but they're showing lots of enthusiasm for Adrienne. Adrienne only found out she was playing this show two days ago, so I'm sure this must be a big day for her.

4:00 pm - Just caught Beth Orton who sounds great and looks even better in a red cowboy hat and matching shirt. Lots and lots of people are watching and enjoying the beautiful Vancouver day. It's sort of weird to start the tour in Vancouver as in the past, we've always ended here so the associations are somewhat confusing.

7:00 pm - Our day is going fairly smoothly - for the first day. Everybody keeps asking each other "how's your day going?" because we're all in the same boat in terms of getting used to the pace and what we need to do. Since today's show is at home, there are lots of friends and family milling about too, providing everyone with sufficient distraction from the stress of the day.

9:30pm - The crowd has been amazing all day, but it's especially heartwarming to see them react to Sarah, especiallly here in Vancouver. There are no reserved seats at today's show, so throngs of people are pressed up against the main stage barracades. Although the crowd vibe is nowhere near as frantic or pushy as at most festival shows, the first aid crew are seen rushing in with a stretcher a couple of times to pull individuals out from the mass. Security are also kept quite busy helping mostly young girls out of the crowd who need to escape the crush.

10:00pm - As per the Lilith tradition, there is a sing along for a finale at the end of Sarah's set, all of the day's artists come onstage for a singalong.. The first year, Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi was sung for the big finale, last year's was Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, and this year it's...(drumroll please) Al Green's "Put A Little Love in Your Heart". It sounds great and works wonderfully, with artists taking the mic to sing verses and then all coming in for the chorus. Towards the end of the song, Sarah prompts the crowd to help out and they oblige her willingfully.

Midnight - Everyone's back on the bus and we're all very tired but happy that today's over and went relatively smoothly for all of us. We cross the border into Washington tonight -- we have to be prepared to get up in a few hours if need be, but most of us hit the sack so that we're bright eyed and bushy tailed for tomorrow's first day at the Gorge.