Organizers of the 2010 Lilith Fair [ tickets ] have teamed with OurStage.com to launch the "Lilith Local Talent Search," a contest to find emerging female musicians to appear on the tour's Village Stage, according to a press release.

One artist will be chosen for each North American tour stop to perform a set of her music on the Lilith Village Stage, which in previous years has featured artists like Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado, and Tegan and Sara.

So far, tour organizers confirmed 17 cities, with more dates to be announced soon.

Interested artists who live in or near one of the cities on the Lilith tour can find details about the talent search at the OurStage website.

The Lilith Fair tour was created in part by Sarah McLachlan as a vehicle for female solo acts and female-led bands. During the tour's three-year run, 1997-1999, the festival featured Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Lauren Hill, Dixie Chicks, The Pretenders, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall, Erykah Badu, Emmylou Harris, Indigo Girls, Liz Phair and Lisa Loeb among its main-stage acts.

The second stage welcomed a number of up-and-coming acts of the time, including Susan Tedeschi, Cassandra Wilson, Tara MacLean, Martina McBride, Victoria Williams, Kacy Crowley, Juliana Hatfield, Sixpence None the Richer, Patty Griffin and Holly Cole.

Artists who have performed on the Village Stage--many winning the slots in local talent searches--have included Garrison Starr, Jill Sobule, Alana Davis, Alisha's Attic, Kinne Starr, Melissa Ferrick and Beth Orton.

The main-stage lineup for the return of Lilith Fair hasn't been announced, but eventually will be revealed at the touring festival's website.