- Sonshine Festival
Sonshine Festival is a
Christian music festival held inWillmar, Minnesota every year, usually the 2nd weekend in July. It was held the 3rd weekend of July in 2008 due to another event at the civic center the 2nd weekend. Sonshine Festival 2008 is scheduled for July 17-19. Sonshine Festival features some of the most popularChristian musical artists in theUnited States . The festival is a member of theChristian Festival Association .Sonshine Festival has been growing rapidly over the years. Director Bob Poe estimated around 20,000 people would be attending the festival in 2006. He estimated the same number again in 2007. An estimate from 15 years ago is 10,000 people, 2 stages, and 25 artists. In 2007, Sonshine Festival had 6 stages and 150 artists.
2007 Stages consisted of the main stage, the HM Stage (sponsored by
HM Magazine ), two "showmobiles," (one serving as the "debut stage"), and a stage called "Hip hop in the Big Top." Sonshine Festival also featured a number of kids' activities in the craft tent and the performance tent.R.O.C.K. Ministries led the activities in the performance tent, which featured music, mime, juggling, balloon sculpting, games, clowns, illusions, and stories. They also taught the kids the basics of juggling and how to shape balloons. Talking about the performance tent, Bob Poe commented, "The place was packed every time, and I think we did about four or five kids’ shows a day. We’ve been doing this long enough that people are coming back with their children. So it has developed into a family event."Other activities available at Sonshine Festival are a kids' inflatable park, a pancake breakfast, ministry booths, merchandise sales from artists, concession stands and a skateboard park. The skateboard park is free to use. It is set up between the main stage and the high school. Free camping is available at "tent city" for all attendees. Generally more than half of the attendees camp here. Water is provided at no additional cost and there are locations to acquire it all throughout the camping area.
People are encouraged to get involved at Sonshine Festival. Praise and worship is a big part of the festivities. Songs like "Awesome God", "Amazing Grace", "Lord I Lift Your Name On High", and "Shout to the Lord" are often sung by the crowds. Another way people get involved is through
Compassion International . Each year people sign up to sponsor kids in poor countries by giving money to provide food, clothes, and education for them.onshine Fest 2008
Some of the bands featured for the 2008 festival included:
*
MASI
*Jars Of Clay
*Stellar Kart
*Superchick
*Jeremy Camp
*Third Day
*As I Lay Dying
*War of Ages
*Haste The Day
*Dizmas
*The Wedding
*Pillar
*Hawk Nelson
*Barlowgirl
*David Crowder Band
*TobyMac
*Children 18:3
*Run Kid Run
*Spoken
*Thousand Foot Krutch
*Sara Renner
*Krystal Meyers
*Red
*Kutless
*Skillet
*Flyleaf
*Newsboys
*Nevertheless
*John Reuben
*KJ52
*For Today
*A Plea For Purging
*Once Nothing
*Gwen Stacy
*Send Out Scuds The speakers were:
*Jeremy Kingsley
*as well as emceePeder Eide News and Notes:Sonshine Festival 2008 saw the addition of a free Wednesday show on the Main Stage.
Masi andJars of Clay played a free concert that all were welcome to attend. Wristbands, as usual, were a necessity for Thursday through Saturday. ArtistSara Renner won theClub 3 Degrees yearly tournament, earning her a slot on the Main Stage at Sonshine 2008.Children 18:3 , now signed toTooth and Nail Records got their start this wa as well.onshine Fest 2007
Bands featured for the 2007 festival included:
*Newsboys
*tobyMac
*Skillet
*Jeremy Camp
*Casting Crowns
*Relient K
*Switchfoot
*Sanctus Real
*John Reuben
*Hawk Nelson
*David Crowder Band
*Falling Up
*KJ-52
*Red
*Day of Fire
*The Wedding
*Disciple
*The Send
*Run Kid Run
*House of Heroes
*Kutless
*Thousand Foot Krutch
*Breathe Deep
*Spoken
*Everyday Sunday
*Seventh Day Slumber
*Pigeon John
*Needtobreathe
*Dizmas
*Silverline
*Decyfer Down
*I, Sleepwalker
*Write This Down
*Crime Rate In Iowa
*For Today
*Kingston Falls
*Jade Redemption
*and many more...The speakers were:
*Josh Finklea
*Jeremy Kingsley
*as well as emceePeder Eide News and notes:
Casting Crowns was forced to stop their show early on account of severe weather warnings. A brief thunderstorm moved through but the hard rain the and winds only lasted for 10 minutes. During the concert Casting Crowns played many of their popular songs including "Lifesong", "Praise You In This Storm", "Who Am I", "Voice of Truth", "American Dream" "If We Are The Body" and more. Mark Hall (lead singer) also took time to talk about some of the songs and the affect they have had on people. He also talked about being a youth pastor and writing songs that praised God. Casting Crowns also included videos that went with the music to some of their songs.
The Newsboys began with an explosion of confetti and the hit song "Shine". In the middle of the concert Peter Furler (lead singer) and Duncan Phillips (drummer) had a drumming duel. It featured the main drums on a rotating platform that tilted downward 90 degrees. A second set of drums appeared out in the crowd and rose high into the air as Furler played. Some of the other songs The Newsboys played were "Breakfast", "Wherever We Go", "I Am Free", "Something Beautiful", "GO", "Devotion", and "It Is You".
Skillet played a number of songs off the new "Comatose" album, including "Rebirthing," "Whispers In The Dark", "The Older I Get", "Comatose", and "The Last Night". Other songs they performed were "Savior", "Alien Youth", and "My Obsession". John Cooper (lead singer) bragged about one of the women in the band being the best in the world. Korey Cooper (keyboards, guitar, vocals) is his wife. At the end of the concert a man and woman came on stage. The man got down, presented a ring, and asked his finance to marry him.
onshine Fest 2006
Bands featured for the 2006 festival included:
*Stryper
*Newsboys
*Audio Adrenaline
*tobyMac
*Skillet
*Jeremy Camp
*Third Day
*Fresh Mann
*Apologetix
*Relient K
*Building 429
*Chris Tomlin
*BarlowGirl
*David Crowder Band
*Thousand Foot Krutch
*Sanctus Real
*Hawk Nelson
*Kutless
*Stellar Kart
*John Reuben
*Pillar
*Happy Little Day
*Mainstay
*Spoken
*Holy Soldier
*The Afters
*Gretchen
*Dizmas
*Silverline
*Decyfer Down
*and many more...The speakers were:
*Bob Stromberg
*Jeremy Kingsley
*as well as emceePeder Eide News and Notes:
The year 2006 was the 25th anniversary of Sonshine Festival.
During the 2006 festival, a thunderstorm threatened to shut down the first night of the festival. The main stage suffered moderate damage in heavy rains, resulting in Kutless, Newsboys, and Jeremy Camp deciding not to play. This is the first show that the Newboys have missed, ever. Many people tried to leave, creating conditions where many cars got stuck in mud. The following two days were a success, the main stage being repaired and bands playing.
onshine Fest 2005
Bands featured for the 2005 festival included:
*Newsboys
*tobyMac
*Skillet
*Audio Adrenaline
*Casting Crowns
*MercyMe
*Fresh Mann
*Apologetix
*Switchfoot
*Relient K
*Pillar
*KJ-52
*John Reuben
*Thousand Foot Krutch
*Project 86
*Building 429
*BarlowGirl
*One Bad Pig (20th Anniversary)
*Stellar Kart
*Flyleaf
*Hawk Nelson
*Disciple
*Day Of Fire
*Sarah Kelly
*Subseven
*Mute Math
*Roper
*Falling Up
*Further Seems Forever
*Pax 217
*Happy Little Day
*Crimson Thorn
*Haste The Day
*Mainstay
*Spoken
*Gretchen
*Dizmas
*and many more...The speakers were:
*Ben Glenn
*Mark Matlock
*as well as emceeDanny Oertil News and Notes:
Mercy Me was the final performance of Sonshine Festival 2005. They played their most popular song (#1 hit) "I Can Only Imagine".
One Bad Pig pulled out all the surprises in a very entertaining show, including carrying Carey "Kosher" Womack (lead singer) out on a gurney, covered up, to start the concert. Right as his singing part was about to begin he jumped up and started singing. They did other concert antics and used props during the show. It was not on the main stage, but it looked like they did not care.
onshine Fest 2004
Bands featured for the 2004 festival included:
*Petra
*Newsboys
*Supertones
*Audio Adrenaline
*Skillet
*Jeremy Camp
*Third Day
*Jars Of Clay
*Apologetix
*Relient K
*The Insyderz
*Sanctus Real
*Kutless
*Superchick
*John Reuben
*Thousand Foot Krutch
*Violet Burning
*BarlowGirl
*and many more...The speakers were:
*????
*as well as emceePeder Eide News and Notes: 2004 had a solid lineup, coming in 2nd place overall. Included were 8 of the top 10 bands. Unfortunately 2004 was missing the top 2 since Stryper and DC Talk had pretty much stopped performing together as bands. Its very unlikely there will ever be 8 of the top bands at a festival again now that DC Talk, Petra, The Supertones, & Audio Adrenaline are gone. Although it is possible with many more good years that Relient K and Kutless will knock Jars Of Clay and Apologetix out of the top 10. 2004 also featured Jeremy Camp but did not have a top 5 female vocalist.
onshine Fest 2003
Bands featured for the 2003 festival included:
*Newsboys
*Toby Mac
*Michael W. Smith
*Skillet
*MercyMe
*Third Day
*Apologetix
*Relient K
*Pillar
*Go Fish
*Rebecca St. James
*Sanctus Real
*John Reuben
*Zoegirl
*Everyday Sunday
*Thousand Foot Krutch
*Bleach
*Worship Circus
*Philmore
*L.A. Symphony
*Crimson Thorn
*As I Lay Dying
*Paul Colman Trio
*and many more...The speakers were:
*????
*as well as emceePeder Eide News and Notes:
Friday evenings shows on the main stage were performed by artists who call Australia their home. That included the Paul Colman Trio, Rebecca St. James, and The Newsboys. They led the crowd in their popular songs along with many favorite praise songs. The Newsboys finished with He Reigns which is about how people of every nation praise God.
Micheal W. Smith who finished out the festival also had an amazing praise set. Thousands of us worshipped God song after song as we looked up at the amazing stars above thinking about God's power and glory.
onshine Fest 2002
Bands featured for the 2002 festival included:
*Newsboys
*Toby Mac
*Audio Adrenaline
*Steven Curtis Chapman
*Skillet
*Apologetix
*Delirious?
*Relient K
*Pillar
*Switchfoot
*Five Iron Frenzy
*Burlap To Cashmere
*Superchick
*Earthsuit
*Go Fish
*Salvador
*John Reuben
*Jeff Deyo
*Bleach
*Joy Williams
*Tait
*Gritz
*Pax 217
*The Benjamin Gate
*Paul Colman Trio
*Slick Shoes
*The Elms
*Bebo Norman
*Pegtop
*By The Tree
*7th Day Slumber
*KJ-52
*Thousand Foot Krutch The speakers were:
*Reggie Dabbs
*as well as emceePeder Eide onshine Fest 2001
Bands featured for the 2001 festival included:
*DC Talk
*Petra
*Newsboys
*Supertones
*Michael W Smith
*Skillet
*Rebecca St. James
*Apologetix
*Relient K
*Pillar
*Switchfoot
*Tree63
*Zoegirl
*Raze
*KJ-52
*Stacie Orrico
*John Reuben
*Rachael Lampa
*Larue
*Echoing Green
*Phil Joel
*Grits
*Salvador
*V*Enna
*Living Sacrifice
*Plankeye
*Bleach News and Notes:
2001 was the best lineup Sonshine Festival has had thus far and will probably be the best ever now that so many of the top bands have hung up the guitar strings. It included 4 of the top 5 bands only missing Stryper, who was just starting to come back together at the time. With Skillet and Apologetix 2001 had 7 of the all-time top 10 bands. In addition, 2001 featured a top male & female vocalist in Michael W. Smith and Rebecca St. James.
onshine Fest 2000
Bands featured for the 2000 festival included:
*Supertones
*Audio Adrenaline
*Steven Curtis Chapman
*Jars Of Clay
*Third Day
*Geoff Moore
*Crystal Lewis
*Switchfoot
*Five Iron Frenzy
*Caedmon's Call
*All Together Separate
*Jennifer Knapp
*Buck
*Insyderz
*Smalltown Poets
*Ghoti Hook
*Plumb
*Temple Yard
*Plankeye
*Satellite Soul
*Salvador
*All Star United
*Jason & The G Men
*Waterdeeponshine Fest 1999
Bands featured for the 1999 festival included:
*DC Talk
*Supertones
*Michael W Smith
*Skillet
*Third Day
*Jars Of Clay
*Switchfoot
*Hokus Pick
*Buck
*Code Of Ethics
*Smalltown Poets
*Bleach
*Clear
*Eli
*Considering Lily
*Raze
*Rebecca St. James
*Jennifer Knapp
*Caedmon's Call
*Plumb
*Pegtop
*Echoing Green
*Project 86
*Miss Angie
*Insyderz
*Pete Stewart
*Fold Zandura
*Ghoti Hook
*Plankeye
*Channel Surfers
*Jason & The G-Men
*Pepsquad
*The Dingees The speakers were:
*Bart Campolo
*as well as emceeTom Tufts, Jr. onshine Fest 1998
Bands featured for the 1998 festival included:
*DC Talk
*Supertones
*Audio Adrenaline
*Steven Curtis Chapman
*Skillet
*Rebecca St. James
*Geoff Moore & The Distance
*Insyderz
*Big Tent Revival
*God's Property
*Out Of Eden
*Three Crosses
*Bride
*The Katinas
*Eli
*Considering Lily
*Raze
*Grammatrain
*Greg Long
*Bleach
*Echoing Green
*Miss Angie
*Reality Check
*Ghoti Hook
*Plankeye
*Eric Champion
*All Star United
*7 Day Jesus
*Spoken
*Fold Zandura
*The Dingees The speakers were:
*Duffy Robins
*as well as emceeLost & Found onshine Fest 1997
Bands featured for the 1997 festival included:
*4 Him onshine Fest 1996
Bands featured for the 1996 festival included:
*Petra
*Michael Sweet
*Michael W. Smith
*World Wide Message Tribe
*White Heart
*Rebecca St. James
*Kathy Troccoli
*4 Him
*MxPx
*Grits
*Out Of Eden
*Christifari
*Clay Crosse
*Ashley Cleveland
*Wes King
*Church of Rhythm
*Gary Chapman
*Michael O'Brien
*Joanna Carlon
*Three Crosses
*East To West
*Al Denson
*Carolyn Arends
*Johnny Q Public
*Gover Levy
*Nouveaux
*The Choir
*Sozo
*The Waiting
*Imagine This
*and many more...The speakers were:
*Jerry Cantalupo
*Dave Roever
*as well as emceeTom Tufts onshine Fest 1995
Bands featured for the 1995 festival included:
*DC Talk
*Newsboys
*Steven Curtis Chapman
*Audio Adrenaline
*Steve Taylor
*Rebecca St. James
*White Heart
*Guardian
*Cheri Keaggy
*Causin Efekt
*D.O.C.
*Nouveaux
*Sierra
*Hoi Polloi
*Pam Thum
*The Crossing
*East To West
*Three Crosses
*Michael O'Brien
*Crash Dog
*Wilcox & Pardoe
*Glenn Kaiser
*Tuesday's Child
*The Brothers
*as well as emceeTom Tufts onshine Fest 1994
Bands featured for the 1994 festival included:
*DC Talk
*Petra
*Newsboys
*Audio Adrenaline
*Geoff Moore & The Distance
*Rich Mullins
*Al Denson
*White Heart
*Nouveaux
*Steve Taylor
*4 Him
*Hoi Polloi
*Susan Ashton
*Margaret Becker
*Causin Efekt
*Bryan Duncan
*D.O.C.
*Dakota Motor Company
*Prayer Chain
*Lost Dogs
*Undercover
*Chuckie Perez
*Billy Sprague
*Crash Dog
*Adam Again
*Ultimatumonshine Fest 1993
Bands featured for the 1993 festival included:
*77's
*Daniel Amos
*Lost Dogs
*Adam Again External links
* [http://www.sonshinefestival.com Sonshine Festival Website]
* [http://myspace.com/sonshinefestival Sonshine Festival Myspace]Sponsors of Sonshine Festival Include:
* [http://www.compassion.com Compassion International]
* [http://www.ktis.fm KTIS Radio]
* [http://www.club3degrees.com Club 3 Degrees]
* [http://www.libertyu.com Liberty University]
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