LifeLight Festival is an annual free outdoor
Christian music festival
A Christian music festival (also known as a Jesus music festival or simply a Jesus festival) is a music festival held by the Christians, Christian community, in support of performers of Contemporary Christian music, Christian music. The festivals ...
held over
Labor Day
Labor Day is a Federal holidays in the United States, federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the Labor history of the United States, American labor movement and the works and con ...
weekend in
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls ( ) is the List of cities in South Dakota, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Dakota and the List of United States cities by population, 117th-most populous city in the United States. It is the county seat of Minnehaha Coun ...
.
History
LifeLight Festival
was started by Alan and Vicki Greene in 1998 as an afternoon concert at Good News Reformed Church on Valley View Rd, drawing about 2,000 people. By 2001, the festival was moved to the W.H. Lyons Fairgrounds in Sioux Falls to accommodate the growing crowds. In 2002, attendance tripled from the year before, growing to 32,000 attendees over a 3-day weekend. LifeLight has since grown to over 320,000 attendees over a 3-day weekend, expanding to six stages, with a budget of nearly $700,000 each year. After outgrowing previous locations, the LifeLight festival found a new permanent home for the Festival on a family farm near
Worthing, South Dakota
Worthing is a city in Lincoln County, South Dakota, United States and is located south of Sioux Falls. The population was 927 at the 2020 census.
History
Worthing was laid out in 1879, and named after a railroad employee.
Geography
According ...
. The 2010 Festival was the first at the new location.
It is a free concert but provides a great economic boost to Sioux Falls.
Festivals like this one said to bring up to $10 million.
Since 2005, LifeLight has also sponsored spring and fall tours featuring LifeLight artists. They started as local tours with primarily local artists but over the years, LifeLight Tours has partnered with several national and regional bands/speakers and now travel well beyond the Midwest for tour dates. Past tours have featured artists
John Reuben
John Reuben (born John Reuben Zappin; January 14, 1979) is an American Christian hip hop artist signed to Gotee Records until late 2010. Reuben has sold over 200,000 copies of his first four albums.Breimeier, Russ (May 2002)"John Reuben - ''Hinds ...
,
Brian Welch
Brian Philip Welch (born June 19, 1970), also known by his stage name Head, is an American musician. He is a guitarist and founding member of the nu metal band Korn and his solo project Love and Death, where he also provides vocals. Along wit ...
,
Sanctus Real
Sanctus Real is an American Christian rock band formed in Toledo, Ohio, in 1996. The group is composed of Chris Rohman (lead guitar), Mark Graalman (drummer, drums), and Dustin Lolli (lead vocals). The band is best known for their number one sin ...
,
Phil Joel
Philip Joel Urry (born 5 January 1973) is a New Zealand musician known as the former bassist and vocalist for the Christian rock group Newsboys.
Background
Philip Joel Urry was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He was lead singer and guitarist f ...
,
Disciple
A disciple is a follower and student of a mentor, teacher, or other figure. It can refer to:
Religion
* Disciple (Christianity), a student of Jesus Christ
* Twelve Apostles of Jesus, sometimes called the Twelve Disciples
* Seventy disciples in t ...
,
Project 86
Project 86 is an American rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1996. The band has released twelve albums, which have collectively sold nearly 500,000 units worldwide, two EPs, two DVDs, and one live album.
In 1998, BEC Recordings ...
,
Children 18:3 and many more and traveled to cities in Texas, Illinois, Nebraska, Colorado, Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota as well as other states. The 2013 festival in South Dakota hosted main showings of Plumb, Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, and Skillet.
No festival was held in 2020-2022 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic
In 2023, the festival was held at the 8th & railroad district parking lot in downtown Sioux Falls. Despite temperatures of over 100 degrees, 30,000 people attended. In 2024 the festival is to be held at Nelson Park in eastern Sioux Falls to increase capacity.
Attendance
*1998: 1,500
*1999: 4,000
*2000: 6,500
*2001: 10,000
*2002: 32,000
*2003: 110,000
*2004: 240,000
*2005: 275,000
*2006: 263,000
*2007: 320,000
*2008: 320,000
*2009: 270,000
*2010: 320,000
Artists
2013 Festival
*
For Today
For Today were an American Christian metalcore band from Sioux City, Iowa, formed in 2005. They released two EPs, ''Your Moment, Your Life, Your Time'' and ''Prevailer'', and six full-length albums: '' Ekklesia'' in, 2008, ''Portraits'' in 2009 ...
*
Plumb
*
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Middleburg, Florida, in 2003. The band's current members include Ronnie Winter (lead vocals), Joey Westwood (bass), Josh Burke (lead guitar), Randy Winter (rhythm guitar), ...
*
Levi the Poet
Levi Morgan MacAllister (born July 26, 1989), who goes by the stage name Levi the Poet, is an American spoken word artist. His first release, ''Werewolves'', was released independently in 2009. The subsequent release, an extended play, ''Monologu ...
*
Flyleaf
*
Building 429
Building 429 is an American Christian rock band from Fayetteville, North Carolina. The band's name refers to Ephesians 4:29, a Biblical passage that (in the New International Version of the Bible) reads: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come ou ...
*
Newsboys
Newsboys (sometimes stylised as newsboys) are a Christian rock band that has existed in various permutations since its founding in 1985 in Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia, by Peter Furler and George Perdikis. Now based in Nashville, Tenness ...
*
Rhett Walker Band
Rhett Walker Band is a Southern rock and Christian rock band from Nashville. The band released their debut studio album under the Essential Records label on July 10, 2012 called '' Come to the River.'' The band's debut single, " When Mercy Found ...
*
Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline was an American Christian rock band that formed in 1986 at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. The band gained recognition during the 1990s and received two Grammy Awards and multiple Dove Awards. Audio A ...
*
Fireflight
Fireflight is an American Christian rock band formed in Eustis, Florida, in 1999. The band was signed by Flicker Records.
The band currently consists of vocalist Dawn Michele, Glenn and Wendy Drennen, guitarist and bassist respectively, and gu ...
*
We Are Leo
*
Phinehas
According to the Hebrew Bible, Phinehas (also spelled Phineas, ; , ''Phinees'', ) was a priest during the Exodus. The grandson of Aaron and son of Eleazar, the High Priests (), he distinguished himself as a youth at Shittim with his zeal again ...
* Unarmed For Victory
* At The Wayside
*
Aaron Gillespie
Aaron Roderick Gillespie (born July 18, 1983) is an American musician, best known for being the drummer and clean vocalist for the Rock music, rock band Underoath, of which he is the only original member. He is also the lead singer and rhythm ...
*
Children 18:3
*
The City Harmonic
* One Accord
*
Sean Michel
Sean Michel (born August 21,1979) is a musician from Bryant, Arkansas. He gained recognition with his participation in American Idol Season 6 after spending several years touring with his band.
Early life
Michel was born in 1979 in New Orl ...
* Ravenhill
*
Spencer Kane
* From The Eyes of Servants
* Love Out Loud
* John Reuben
* Je'kob
*
Shuree
*
Disciple
A disciple is a follower and student of a mentor, teacher, or other figure. It can refer to:
Religion
* Disciple (Christianity), a student of Jesus Christ
* Twelve Apostles of Jesus, sometimes called the Twelve Disciples
* Seventy disciples in t ...
* Lybecker
* Tru Serva
* Double Vision
* Grant Lockner
* Rapture Ruckus
2012 Festival
*
Tenth Avenue North
Tenth Avenue North is an American contemporary Christian music band from West Palm Beach, Florida. The band released a total of fifteen original music projects, including eight full-length studio albums (six of which reached the Billboard 200, i ...
*
Skillet
A frying pan, frypan, or skillet is a flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods. It typically ranges from in diameter with relatively low sides that flare outwards, a long handle, and no lid. Larger pans may have a small ...
*
Peter Furler
Peter Andrew Furler (born 8 September 1966) is an Australian musician, songwriter, producer and record executive, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of the Christian rock band Newsboys from 1986 to 2009.
Biography
Furler was born ...
*
Five Iron Frenzy
Five Iron Frenzy is an American band which formed in Denver, Colorado, in 1995. Best known for playing ska punk music characterized by an offbeat sense of humor and prominent Christian themes, Five Iron Frenzy was one of the pioneering figure ...
*
House of Heroes
House of Heroes is an American alternative rock band from Columbus, Ohio. They have released six albums: ''What You Want Is Now'' (2003), ''House of Heroes'' (2005), ''The End Is Not the End'' (2008), ''Suburba'' (2010), ''Cold Hard Want'' (20 ...
*
Sanctus Real
Sanctus Real is an American Christian rock band formed in Toledo, Ohio, in 1996. The group is composed of Chris Rohman (lead guitar), Mark Graalman (drummer, drums), and Dustin Lolli (lead vocals). The band is best known for their number one sin ...
*
Leeland
*
Mandisa
Mandisa Lynn Hundley () (October 2, 1976 – April 18, 2024), known mononymously as Mandisa, was an American gospel and contemporary Christian recording artist. She began her solo career as a contestant in the fifth season of ''American Ido ...
*
Christy Nockels
Christy Lynette Nockels (née Hill, born November 17, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. She was also one of the lead members of the band Watermark, along with her husband, Nathan Nockels.
Biography and caree ...
*
Downhere
Downhere (stylized as downhere) was a Christian rock band from Canada. They have released six studio albums to date: ''Downhere (2001 album), Downhere'' (2001), ''So Much for Substitutes'' (2003), ''Wide-Eyed and Mystified'' (2006), ''Ending I ...
*
Run Kid Run
Run Kid Run is a Christian pop/rock band from Carmi, Illinois and Morganfield, Kentucky, formed in 2006. Their debut album '' This Is Who We Are'', was released on May 18, 2006 through Tooth & Nail Records. All of the members, except Paul Stewa ...
*
The City Harmonic
*
Remedy Drive
Remedy Drive is an American alternative rock band founded in 1998 in Lincoln, Nebraska. They are now based in Nashville. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist David Zach, alternating bassists Philip Zach and Dave Mohr, and alternatin ...
*
Becoming the Archetype
Becoming the Archetype is an American extreme metal band formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1999. They have released six albums on Solid State Records. ''Dichotomy'', which was released in November 2008, sold around 2,300 copies in the United State ...
*
Andy Mineo
Andrew Aaron Mineo (born April 17, 1988), is an American Christian hip hop artist, producer, music executive, and video director based in New York City. He was signed to Reach Records until leaving in September 2024 to pursue his creative ...
*
Aaron Gillespie
Aaron Roderick Gillespie (born July 18, 1983) is an American musician, best known for being the drummer and clean vocalist for the Rock music, rock band Underoath, of which he is the only original member. He is also the lead singer and rhythm ...
*
Everyday Sunday
Everyday Sunday was an American Christian rock band from Columbus, Ohio with the founding member Trey Pearson as lead singer. The band released two albums on Flicker Records including '' Stand Up'' and '' Anthems for the Imperfect''. '' Wake Up ...
*
Abandon Kansas
Abandon Kansas is an American alternative rock band originating from Wichita, Kansas that formed in 2005 and went on indefinite hiatus in 2015. The band has rebranded to Glass Age in 2019 and is making new music.
History
Abandon Kansas form ...
*
Sleeping Giant
*
KB
*
John Rueben
*
The Wedding
*
Wolves at the Gate
*
Children 18:3
*
Jenny & Tyler
*
Write This Down
*
Love & Death
*
One Sonic Society
One Sonic Society was a contemporary worship music collective from around the globe. The collective was composed of songwriter Jason Ingram on vocals, guitar and piano, Delirious? lead guitarist Stuart Garrard on guitar and vocals, Hillsong UNI ...
*These Hearts
*
Matt Hammitt
Matt Hammitt (born October 19, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter, speaker and author. He was the lead singer for Sanctus Real, which has released seven studio albums with Sparrow Records, toured internationally and released 14 top five ...
*GoFish
*
Silverline
Silverline was an American contemporary Christian music band from Brainerd, Minnesota. They were on the Dream Records label and broke up in 2015.
Background
Silverline is from Brainerd, Minnesota, and formed in 2006.
Music
EPs
The ba ...
*
Stephanie Smith
Stephanie Smith is an American contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter. She is signed to Gotee Records. Her first studio album, ''Not Afraid'', was released on May 27, 2008, digitally and in stores on December 23, 2008. She received natio ...
*
Kiros
*
Everfound
*
Fades Away
*We Are Leo
*
Ilia
*
Willet
The willet (''Tringa semipalmata'') is a large shorebird in the family Scolopacidae. It is a relatively large and robust sandpiper and is the largest of the species called "shanks" in the genus ''Tringa''. Its closest relative is the lesser yell ...
*
An Epic No Less
*
George Moss
*The Skies Revolt
*
Loftland
*
Classic Petra
*Broken Walls
*Marah in the Mainsail
*Triple Stitch
*Brandon Reid
*Alan Greene
*Rachelle Hope
*
Brian Sumner
Brian Sumner is a British skateboarder, Christian pastor and a travelling evangelist, originally from Liverpool, England. He came to the United States at the age of 15 to pursue a career as a professional skateboarder. He resides in Huntingto ...
*
Tom Henderson
*Josh Brewer
2011 Festival
Main Stage:
*Relient K
*Tenth Avenue North
*Jeremy Camp
*Sidewalk Prophets
*Britt Nicole
*Manafest
*Hawk Nelson
*Fireflight
*Manic Drive
-Souled Out Stage:
*Disciple
*Blindside
*Write This Down
*Children 18:3
*The Wedding
2010 Festival
*
Abandon
*
BarlowGirl
BarlowGirl was an American Christian rock and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) all-female band from Elgin, Illinois. The band was composed of sisters Alyssa (lead vocals, bass guitar, keyboards), Lauren (co-lead vocals, drums) and Rebecca ...
*
Brian "Head" Welch
Brian Philip Welch (born June 19, 1970), also known by his stage name Head, is an American musician. He is a guitarist and founding member of the nu metal band Korn and his solo project Love and Death (band), Love and Death, where he also pro ...
*
Children 18:3
*Colossus
*
David Crowder Band
David Crowder Band (stylized as David Crowder*Band and The David Crowder*Band) was a six-piece Christian rock and modern worship band from Waco, Texas. Their final album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian and No. 2 on the B ...
*
Day of Fire
Day of Fire is an American Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The band announced an indefinite hiatus in June 2010, leaving open the possibility for a return to the music scene. They were first signed to Essential Records, and late ...
*Disciple
*Eric Timm
*
Everyday Sunday
Everyday Sunday was an American Christian rock band from Columbus, Ohio with the founding member Trey Pearson as lead singer. The band released two albums on Flicker Records including '' Stand Up'' and '' Anthems for the Imperfect''. '' Wake Up ...
*
Family Force 5
FF5 (formerly known as Family Force 5, The Phamily, Ground Noise and The Brothers) is an American Christian rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. The band was formed in 2004 by brothers Solomon "Soul Glow Activatur" Olds, Joshua "Fatty" Olds, and Jac ...
*From The Eyes Of Servants
*
House of Heroes
House of Heroes is an American alternative rock band from Columbus, Ohio. They have released six albums: ''What You Want Is Now'' (2003), ''House of Heroes'' (2005), ''The End Is Not the End'' (2008), ''Suburba'' (2010), ''Cold Hard Want'' (20 ...
*
John Mark McMillan
John Mark McMillan (born November 27, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter and musician.
Career
In 2002, McMillan released his debut album ''Hope Anthology, Volume 1''. This independent album was followed by ''The Song Inside: The Sounds of Br ...
*
John Reuben
John Reuben (born John Reuben Zappin; January 14, 1979) is an American Christian hip hop artist signed to Gotee Records until late 2010. Reuben has sold over 200,000 copies of his first four albums.Breimeier, Russ (May 2002)"John Reuben - ''Hinds ...
*
Kari Jobe
Kari Brooke Jobe (born April 6, 1981) is an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter. Since her first album in 2009, she has received two Grammy Award nominations and ten Dove Award nominations, six of which she won.
Early li ...
*
MercyMe
MercyMe is an American contemporary Christian music band founded in Edmond, Oklahoma. The band consists of lead vocalist Bart Millard, percussionist Robby Shaffer, bassist Nathan Cochran, and guitarists Michael Scheuchzer and Barry Graul.
The b ...
*
Mikeschair
Mikeschair (stylized as MIKESCHAIR) was an American contemporary Christian music band signed to Curb Records. The group has charted on the American contemporary Christian music charts with the song "Can't Take Away", which was the seventh most ...
*
Parachute Band
Parachute Band was a Christian worship band from Auckland, New Zealand, formed out of the New Zealand–based organisation Parachute Music.
The band made pop/rock music and spanned over two generations of musicians.
1995–2006
The first Par ...
*Reilly
*
Seabird
Seabirds (also known as marine birds) are birds that are adaptation, adapted to life within the marine ecosystem, marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent ...
*
Showbread
Showbread (), in the King James Version shewbread, in a Biblical or Jewish context, refers to the cakes or loaves of bread which were always present, on a specially-dedicated table, in the Temple in Jerusalem as an offering to God. An alternativ ...
*
Silverline
Silverline was an American contemporary Christian music band from Brainerd, Minnesota. They were on the Dream Records label and broke up in 2015.
Background
Silverline is from Brainerd, Minnesota, and formed in 2006.
Music
EPs
The ba ...
*
Spoken
*These Hearts
*
The Overseer
The Overseer is a Christian metal band from Bentonville, Arkansas started in 2007. They released an independent EP in 2010 entitled ''The Overseer'', and two successive studio albums with their label Solid State Records entitled '' We Search, We ...
*Triple Stitch and More
*White Collar Sideshow
*Willet
*
Write This Down
2009 Festival
A Life Echoed
Children 18:3
David Lunsford
DecembeRadio
DecembeRadio was an American Christian rock band formed in 2003 and composed of bassist and lead vocalist Josh Reedy, lead guitarist Brian Bunn, rhythm guitarist Eric Miker and drummer Boone Daughdrill.
Reedy, Bunn and Miker first ventured out o ...
Disciple
A disciple is a follower and student of a mentor, teacher, or other figure. It can refer to:
Religion
* Disciple (Christianity), a student of Jesus Christ
* Twelve Apostles of Jesus, sometimes called the Twelve Disciples
* Seventy disciples in t ...
Downhere
Downhere (stylized as downhere) was a Christian rock band from Canada. They have released six studio albums to date: ''Downhere (2001 album), Downhere'' (2001), ''So Much for Substitutes'' (2003), ''Wide-Eyed and Mystified'' (2006), ''Ending I ...
Esterlyn (band)
Esterlyn is a Christian worship band from Boise, Idaho performing throughout the United States as well as globally. Esterlyn released their debut national album in 2010 through VSR/EMI before selling over 25,000 units independently. In 2011, the s ...
Everyday Sunday
Everyday Sunday was an American Christian rock band from Columbus, Ohio with the founding member Trey Pearson as lead singer. The band released two albums on Flicker Records including '' Stand Up'' and '' Anthems for the Imperfect''. '' Wake Up ...
Everfound
Family Force 5
FF5 (formerly known as Family Force 5, The Phamily, Ground Noise and The Brothers) is an American Christian rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. The band was formed in 2004 by brothers Solomon "Soul Glow Activatur" Olds, Joshua "Fatty" Olds, and Jac ...
FM Static
FM Static was a Canadian Christian rock duo based in Toronto, Ontario. The band was formed in 2003 as a side project for Thousand Foot Krutch. The band consisted of Trevor McNevan and Steve Augustine. The original lineup included John Bunner o ...
House of Heroes
House of Heroes is an American alternative rock band from Columbus, Ohio. They have released six albums: ''What You Want Is Now'' (2003), ''House of Heroes'' (2005), ''The End Is Not the End'' (2008), ''Suburba'' (2010), ''Cold Hard Want'' (20 ...
John Reuben
John Reuben (born John Reuben Zappin; January 14, 1979) is an American Christian hip hop artist signed to Gotee Records until late 2010. Reuben has sold over 200,000 copies of his first four albums.Breimeier, Russ (May 2002)"John Reuben - ''Hinds ...
Krystal Meyers
Krystal Nicole Meyers is an American Christian rock and contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and musician. She released three albums under Essential Records: '' Krystal Meyers'', '' Dying for a Heart'', and '' Make Some Noise'' and is kn ...
Kutless
Kutless is an American Christian rock band from Portland, Oregon, formed in 1999. Since their formation, they have released multiple studio albums and one live album, '' Live from Portland''. They have sold over 3 million records worldwide.
...
Life's Breath
Lincoln Brewster
Lincoln Brewster (born July 30, 1971) is an American contemporary Christian musician and worship pastor. As a guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Brewster became a sought-after session guitarist in the early 1990s. He is the former senior worship ...
Manic Drive
Michael Gungor Band
Nevertheless
Newsboys
Newsboys (sometimes stylised as newsboys) are a Christian rock band that has existed in various permutations since its founding in 1985 in Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia, by Peter Furler and George Perdikis. Now based in Nashville, Tenness ...
Remedy Drive
Remedy Drive is an American alternative rock band founded in 1998 in Lincoln, Nebraska. They are now based in Nashville. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist David Zach, alternating bassists Philip Zach and Dave Mohr, and alternatin ...
Run Kid Run
Run Kid Run is a Christian pop/rock band from Carmi, Illinois and Morganfield, Kentucky, formed in 2006. Their debut album '' This Is Who We Are'', was released on May 18, 2006 through Tooth & Nail Records. All of the members, except Paul Stewa ...
Rush of Fools
Rush of Fools is an American Christian rock/contemporary Christian music band from Birmingham, Alabama. They are known for their 2007 hit single "Undo", co-written with producer Scott Davis, which was the most played song of 2007 on Adult Cont ...
Sanctus Real
Sanctus Real is an American Christian rock band formed in Toledo, Ohio, in 1996. The group is composed of Chris Rohman (lead guitar), Mark Graalman (drummer, drums), and Dustin Lolli (lead vocals). The band is best known for their number one sin ...
Sarah Reeves
Sarah Elizabeth Reeves (born April 29, 1989) is an American musician and singer who primarily plays a Christian pop and worship style of music. She has released five extended plays and three studio albums (two of which are independently release ...
Seventh Day Slumber
Seventh Day Slumber is an American Christian rock band from Dallas, Texas, formed in 1996, consisting of vocalist Joseph Rojas, his son Blaise on drums, and guitarist Ken Reed. They were an independent band for five years until they signed wit ...
Showbread
Showbread (), in the King James Version shewbread, in a Biblical or Jewish context, refers to the cakes or loaves of bread which were always present, on a specially-dedicated table, in the Temple in Jerusalem as an offering to God. An alternativ ...
Silverline
Silverline was an American contemporary Christian music band from Brainerd, Minnesota. They were on the Dream Records label and broke up in 2015.
Background
Silverline is from Brainerd, Minnesota, and formed in 2006.
Music
EPs
The ba ...
Spoken
Stellar Kart
Stellar Kart was an American Christian pop punk band from Phoenix, Arizona, signed to Inpop Records and Capitol Records. The band released their first album, '' All Gas. No Brake'', in February 2005. Most of their singles have been accepted exc ...
Superchick
Superchick, originally known as Superchic was an American Christian rock/Alternative rock#Alternative pop, alternative pop band that debuted in 1999 and disbanded in 2013. Their music incorporated various styles such as Pop music, pop, Punk ...
Thousand Foot Krutch
Thousand Foot Krutch (often abbreviated TFK) is a Canadian Christian Rock music, rock band formed in Peterborough, Ontario, in 1995. The band has released ten studio albums, two live albums, and three remix albums. The core members consist of ...
Tenth Avenue North
Tenth Avenue North is an American contemporary Christian music band from West Palm Beach, Florida. The band released a total of fifteen original music projects, including eight full-length studio albums (six of which reached the Billboard 200, i ...
The Switch Kids
The Wedding
TruEmotion
On2 Technologies, formerly known as The Duck Corporation, was a small publicly traded company (on the American Stock Exchange), founded in New York City in 1992 and headquartered in Clifton Park, New York, that designed video codec technology. I ...
VOTA
VOTA (formerly known as Casting Pearls) is a Christian rock band from Lincoln, Nebraska, featuring Bryan Olesen, a former guitarist with Christian rock band Newsboys. Several of the band's songs have been featured on rotation with national radi ...
WILLET
2008 Festival
Headliners of the 2008 festival, as announced on
Life 96.5, were
Switchfoot
Switchfoot is an American rock music, rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman (lead vocals, guitar), Tim Foreman (bass guitar, backing vocals), Chad Butler (drum kit, drums, percussion), and Jerome Fontamillas (g ...
,
Michael W. Smith
Michael Whitaker Smith (born October 7, 1957) is an American musician who has charted in both contemporary Christian music, contemporary Christian and mainstream charts. His biggest success in mainstream music was in 1991 when "Place in This Worl ...
and
Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns is a contemporary Christian and Christian rock band which began in Daytona Beach, Florida. The band was formed in 1999 by lead vocalist Mark Hall. They moved to Stockbridge, Georgia, and more members joined. Some members of the ...
. Other 2008 participating bands included:
33Miles
33Miles is a contemporary Christian band with country music influences from Franklin, Tennessee.
Background
The band began playing in Nashville and signed to INO Records, who released the band's debut album, '' 33Miles'', in 2007. The album ...
Ayiesha Woods
Ayiesha Woods (born July 2, 1979) is a contemporary Christian musician signed to Gotee Records. She has released two studio albums on Gotee: ''Introducing Ayiesha Woods'' (2006) and ''Love Like This (Ayiesha Woods album), Love Like This'' (2008). ...
As I Lay Dying
''As I Lay Dying'' is a 1930 Southern Gothic novel by American author William Faulkner. Faulkner's fifth novel, it is consistently ranked among the best novels of the 20th century.The New Lifetime Reading Plan: The Classical Guide to World Lit ...
Building 429
Building 429 is an American Christian rock band from Fayetteville, North Carolina. The band's name refers to Ephesians 4:29, a Biblical passage that (in the New International Version of the Bible) reads: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come ou ...
Day of Fire
Day of Fire is an American Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The band announced an indefinite hiatus in June 2010, leaving open the possibility for a return to the music scene. They were first signed to Essential Records, and late ...
Everyday Sunday
Everyday Sunday was an American Christian rock band from Columbus, Ohio with the founding member Trey Pearson as lead singer. The band released two albums on Flicker Records including '' Stand Up'' and '' Anthems for the Imperfect''. '' Wake Up ...
Family Force 5
FF5 (formerly known as Family Force 5, The Phamily, Ground Noise and The Brothers) is an American Christian rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. The band was formed in 2004 by brothers Solomon "Soul Glow Activatur" Olds, Joshua "Fatty" Olds, and Jac ...
Grits
Grits (stylized as GRITS) is an American Christian hip hop group from Nashville, Tennessee. Their name is an acronym, which stands for "Grammatical Revolution In the Spirit". GRITS is made up of Stacey "Coffee" Jones and Teron "Bonafide" Carter ...
John Reuben
John Reuben (born John Reuben Zappin; January 14, 1979) is an American Christian hip hop artist signed to Gotee Records until late 2010. Reuben has sold over 200,000 copies of his first four albums.Breimeier, Russ (May 2002)"John Reuben - ''Hinds ...
Leeland
Lincoln Brewster
Lincoln Brewster (born July 30, 1971) is an American contemporary Christian musician and worship pastor. As a guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Brewster became a sought-after session guitarist in the early 1990s. He is the former senior worship ...
Matthew West
Matthew Joseph West (born April 25, 1977) is an American contemporary Christian musician and singer-songwriter. He has released five studio albums and is known for his songs "More (Matthew West song), More", "You Are Everything (Matthew West so ...
MxPx
MxPx () is an American punk rock band from Bremerton, Washington, formed in 1992 as Magnified Plaid. As of 2016, current members include Mike Herrera (bass guitar, lead vocals), Yuri Ruley (drums, percussion), Tom Wisniewski (lead guitar, backi ...
Natalie Grant
Natalie Diane Grant (born December 21, 1971) is an American singer and songwriter of contemporary Christian music. She received the Gospel Music Association's Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year four consecutive years, 2006–2009, and ...
Phil Joel
Philip Joel Urry (born 5 January 1973) is a New Zealand musician known as the former bassist and vocalist for the Christian rock group Newsboys.
Background
Philip Joel Urry was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He was lead singer and guitarist f ...
Remedy Drive
Remedy Drive is an American alternative rock band founded in 1998 in Lincoln, Nebraska. They are now based in Nashville. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist David Zach, alternating bassists Philip Zach and Dave Mohr, and alternatin ...
Sanctus Real
Sanctus Real is an American Christian rock band formed in Toledo, Ohio, in 1996. The group is composed of Chris Rohman (lead guitar), Mark Graalman (drummer, drums), and Dustin Lolli (lead vocals). The band is best known for their number one sin ...
Seventh Day Slumber
Seventh Day Slumber is an American Christian rock band from Dallas, Texas, formed in 1996, consisting of vocalist Joseph Rojas, his son Blaise on drums, and guitarist Ken Reed. They were an independent band for five years until they signed wit ...
Showbread
Showbread (), in the King James Version shewbread, in a Biblical or Jewish context, refers to the cakes or loaves of bread which were always present, on a specially-dedicated table, in the Temple in Jerusalem as an offering to God. An alternativ ...
The Afters
The Afters is an American Christian rock band founded by Josh Havens and Matt Fuqua. Havens and Fuqua first worked together in a Starbucks coffee shop in Mesquite, Texas, where they performed songs for customers before deciding to form a band. ...
This Beautiful Republic
This Beautiful Republic was an American Christian rock band signed to ForeFront Records in November 2006. The band is best known for its song "Right Now". The group appeared on the Christian television show '' The Logan Show'' on December 9, 2006 ...
VOTA
VOTA (formerly known as Casting Pearls) is a Christian rock band from Lincoln, Nebraska, featuring Bryan Olesen, a former guitarist with Christian rock band Newsboys. Several of the band's songs have been featured on rotation with national radi ...
2007 Festival
Jars of Clay
Jars of Clay is a Christian alternative rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The members met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.Jars of Clay. (2005). Making the GradeiTunes Originals - Jars of Clay. AC Audio Essential Records. The ...
,
TobyMac
Kevin Michael McKeehan (born October 22, 1964), better known by his stage name TobyMac (styled tobyMac), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. His road band is known as Diverse City. Widely regarded as one of the most ...
and
Chris Tomlin
Christopher Dwayne Tomlin (born May 4, 1972) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, and worship leader from Grand Saline, Texas. He is signed to Universal Music Group, Universal's Capitol Christian Music Group. Some of h ...
were announced as the headliners of the 2007 festival.
Other major bands and artists for 2007 included:
Anberlin
Anberlin is an American alternative rock band formed in Winter Haven, Florida, in 2002. Since the beginning of 2007, the band consists of lead vocalist Stephen Christian, guitarists Joseph Milligan and Christian McAlhaney, bassist Deon Rexroat, ...
BarlowGirl
BarlowGirl was an American Christian rock and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) all-female band from Elgin, Illinois. The band was composed of sisters Alyssa (lead vocals, bass guitar, keyboards), Lauren (co-lead vocals, drums) and Rebecca ...
Big Daddy Weave
Big Daddy Weave is an American contemporary Christian band from Mobile, Alabama. Formed in 1998, the band is composed of Mike Weaver, Joe Shirk, Jeremy Redmon, Brian Beihl, and Raul Alfonso. Since 2021, they have been signed to Curb Records.
...
Casting Pearls
Family Force 5
FF5 (formerly known as Family Force 5, The Phamily, Ground Noise and The Brothers) is an American Christian rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. The band was formed in 2004 by brothers Solomon "Soul Glow Activatur" Olds, Joshua "Fatty" Olds, and Jac ...
Leeland
Tait
Phil Joel
Philip Joel Urry (born 5 January 1973) is a New Zealand musician known as the former bassist and vocalist for the Christian rock group Newsboys.
Background
Philip Joel Urry was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He was lead singer and guitarist f ...
Project 86
Project 86 is an American rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1996. The band has released twelve albums, which have collectively sold nearly 500,000 units worldwide, two EPs, two DVDs, and one live album.
In 1998, BEC Recordings ...
Stellar Kart
Stellar Kart was an American Christian pop punk band from Phoenix, Arizona, signed to Inpop Records and Capitol Records. The band released their first album, '' All Gas. No Brake'', in February 2005. Most of their singles have been accepted exc ...
Previous Bands/Speakers
Source:
Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline was an American Christian rock band that formed in 1986 at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. The band gained recognition during the 1990s and received two Grammy Awards and multiple Dove Awards. Audio A ...
Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns is a contemporary Christian and Christian rock band which began in Daytona Beach, Florida. The band was formed in 1999 by lead vocalist Mark Hall. They moved to Stockbridge, Georgia, and more members joined. Some members of the ...
Day of Fire
Day of Fire is an American Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The band announced an indefinite hiatus in June 2010, leaving open the possibility for a return to the music scene. They were first signed to Essential Records, and late ...
Dr. James Dobson
James Clayton Dobson Jr.
(born April 21, 1936) is an American evangelical Christian author, psychologist, and founder of Focus on the Family (FotF), which he led from 1977 until 2010. In the 1980s, he was ranked as one of the most influential ...
FFH
GoFish
GoFish was a San Francisco-based online video sharing website founded in 2003 by Michael Downing. It was founded as a search engine for digital music, audio books, ringtones and other media online, and operated as GoFish until 2009 then the serv ...
Jeremy Camp
Jeremy Thomas Camp (born January 12, 1978) is an American Contemporary Christian music, contemporary Christian singer and songwriter from Lafayette, Indiana. He has released eleven albums, four of them RIAA certification, RIAA-certified as Music ...
Mark Schultz
Newsboys
Newsboys (sometimes stylised as newsboys) are a Christian rock band that has existed in various permutations since its founding in 1985 in Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia, by Peter Furler and George Perdikis. Now based in Nashville, Tenness ...
Pillar
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...
Point of Grace
Point of Grace is an all-female contemporary Christian music vocal group. The current trio consists of Shelley Breen, Denise Jones, and Leigh Cappillino. The group started out as a quartet in 1991, with original members Breen and Jones, as wel ...
Rebecca St. James
Rebecca Jean Fink (; born July 26, 1977), known professionally as Rebecca Jean or Rebecca St. James, is an Australian Americans, Australian American Contemporary Christian music, contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and actress. She began p ...
Relient K
Relient K () is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Matt Hoopes, and Brian Pittman during their third year in high school and time at Malone University in Canton. The band is named after guitarist ...
Rick Warren
Richard Duane Warren (born January 28, 1954) is an American evangelical Christian pastor and author. He is the founder of Saddleback Church, an evangelical Baptists, Baptist megachurch in Lake Forest, California. Since 2022, he serves as execut ...
Salvador
Salvador, meaning "salvation" (or "saviour") in Catalan, Spanish, and Portuguese may refer to:
* Salvador (name)
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
*Salvador (band), a Christian band that plays both English and Spanish music
** ''Salvador'' ( ...
Sanctus Real
Sanctus Real is an American Christian rock band formed in Toledo, Ohio, in 1996. The group is composed of Chris Rohman (lead guitar), Mark Graalman (drummer, drums), and Dustin Lolli (lead vocals). The band is best known for their number one sin ...
Skillet
A frying pan, frypan, or skillet is a flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods. It typically ranges from in diameter with relatively low sides that flare outwards, a long handle, and no lid. Larger pans may have a small ...
Steven Curtis Chapman
Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist.
Chapman began his career in the late 1980s as a songwriter and performer of cont ...
Superchick
Superchick, originally known as Superchic was an American Christian rock/Alternative rock#Alternative pop, alternative pop band that debuted in 1999 and disbanded in 2013. Their music incorporated various styles such as Pop music, pop, Punk ...
Switchfoot
Switchfoot is an American rock music, rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman (lead vocals, guitar), Tim Foreman (bass guitar, backing vocals), Chad Butler (drum kit, drums, percussion), and Jerome Fontamillas (g ...
Third Day
Third Day was a Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia in 1991. The band was founded by lead singer Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee (both of whom were the only constant members) and Billy Wilkins. The band's name is a reference to the ...
Thousand Foot Krutch
Thousand Foot Krutch (often abbreviated TFK) is a Canadian Christian Rock music, rock band formed in Peterborough, Ontario, in 1995. The band has released ten studio albums, two live albums, and three remix albums. The core members consist of ...
Three Cord Wonder
Tree63
Tree63 is a South African three-piece rock band from Durban, South Africa.
History 1996 - 2000: Formation and initial years
The band was formed in 1996 and originally, it was unnamed. In 1997, the band had to come up with a name before perfo ...
References
{{reflist
Christian music festivals
Companies based in South Dakota
Music festivals in South Dakota
Tourist attractions in Minnehaha County, South Dakota