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DEL MAR, Calif. — As thousands of Christian music fans prepare to descend on the Del Mar Fairgrounds for the May 23 to 25 Spirit West Coast festival, it’s easy to write the event off as just another glorified Woodstock.
That would be a mistake.
This lineup contains the names of some major clout in Christian circles—men and women who are doing Kingdom work on and off the stage. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the bands are just plain good.
It’s just not a summer festival without the wildly popular Newsboys, and they kick off the festivities Friday night on the Air 1 Grandstand Stage. Further solidifying the group’s worldwide appeal, Australia's national Christian music charts, The Rock Across Australia, recently named the band its 2007 Artist of the Year. The band, in partnership with Global Tribe, has been working—literally using their hands and sweat—with California-based Baja Christian Ministries since 2004 to build homes and minister to the lost in Baja Mexico. They have also hosted numerous fundraising banquets.
One of Christian rock’s hottest acts, Skillet, just keeps getting hotter. With fans in both the Christian and mainstream communities, the band is fresh off their headlining “Comatose” tour and enjoying a 2008 Dove nomination for Artist of the Year.
The Dove Awards winners were not announced before press time.
Dove nominee for Male Vocalist of the Year tobyMac hits the stage on Saturday night. In April, he performed at a youth rally at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y., which was presided over by Pope Benedict XVI, the third time the artist has performed for a pontiff. TobyMac recently completed his “Boomin’ Beyond Measure Tour” with Jeremy Camp and is preparing for the release of his live CD and DVD, “Alive and Transported,” which hits the streets this month.
The members of powerhouse Third Day spent time this January in the Middle East, performing for and with the troops at bases in Kuwait and Iraq. The band is working on a new album, due out this summer. They close out the festival Sunday night.
In addition to hot headliners, the festival schedule is jam-packed with well-known artists like Jars of Clay, Todd Agnew, Phil Joel, Big Daddy Weave, Kutless, Seventh Day Slumber, Stellar Kart and BarlowGirl.
New talent showcased
And while the big names get the big billing on the big festival program, Spirit West Coast also spotlights newer artists making a splash on the music scene. In fact, four of this year’s seven 2008 Dove nominees for New Artist of the Year—Brandon Heath, 33 Miles, Group 1 Crew, and Rush of Fools —are scheduled to perform.
Future of Forestry, whose album “Twilight” was nominated for a 2008 Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year, is slated for Saturday afternoon.
Rock worship artists Leeland, who perform on Friday, exploded onto the music scene two years ago with their debut album, “Sounds of Melodies.” Their latest project, “Opposite Way,” debuted in March at No. 72 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart.
Tween pop sensation pureNRG ended 2007 as CBA’s top-selling new act in Christian music and are keeping up the momentum with their sophomore project, “Here We Go Again.” The band is making the festival rounds this summer and performing at some events for Radio Disney. Their squeaky-clean, high-octane energy will get the audience on its feet Saturday morning.
The Myriad, winners of the 2007 MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout competition, hit the stage Saturday night.
Showcasing the hottest local independent artists, the Spirit West Coast Talent Search & Showcase will hold the contest semifinals during the festival as 15 unsigned bands vie for the chance to compete in the national finals and win a shot at a development deal with Essential Records.
Inspiration and comedy
In addition to hot Christian music, festivalgoers can hear speakers like Shawn Mitchell, David Nasser, Brad Duncan, Dr. Jim Garlow, Alex and Brett Harris, Aurelio Barreto, and Matt Pitt and artists Phil Joel, Todd Agnew and Joseph Rojas.
The festival’s laughs come courtesy of comedians Bob Smiley, Taylor Mason, Ron McGehee, Rich Praytor, Bone Hampton and Cleto Rodriguez, who keep the fun rolling on the nightly late night stage.
The VeggieLand kids’ tent serves up pint-sized entertainment with train rides, a petting zoo, clowns, a bounce house, puppet shows and face painting along with appearances by the VeggieTales characters, strongman Jon Pritikin, Phil Joel and more.
New for this year’s festival is Club Spirit, a night club setting with a DJ; the Digital Praise Teen Lounge, featuring safe video games and the Digital Praise dance competition; the Sports Center, with indoor batting cages, volleyball and other sports activities; and a free Wi-Fi hot spot so festivalgoers can stay connected.
And to get people more involved in the fun, Spirit West Coast has a call out to amateur filmmakers to submit short, homemade videos that can be shown on the JumboTron during the festival. Videos will be judged not on slick production, but on creativity and style. Check out the festival Web site for complete entry rules and information.
Event tickets are $115 if purchased in advance and $125 at the gate. Junior tickets for attendees 6 to 12 years old are $57 in advance and $70 at the gate, and children 5 and under are free. One-day passes are also available. Group and military discounts are available. For more information, visit www.spiritwestcoast.org/delmar or call (831) 443-5399. Tent and trailer camping packages are also available.
If you can’t make the Del Mar festival, try Monterey
The Spirit West Coast Festival in Monterey, July 31-Aug. 2, at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area is now its 12th year. SWC-Monterey is the second of the two festivals put on by Jon Robberson and last year drew crowds of 25,000 music fans.
This year's lineup features headliners Newsboys, Third Day and tobyMac, and dozens more, including '90s crossover sensation Jars of Clay.
The costs for SWC Monterey are single wristbands for teens and adults are $52 for one day and $103 for the full event. For more information call (831) 443-5399 or visit www.spirtwestcoast.org.
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