Christian Music Festival To Debut Hard Rock Stage

July 28, 2005

The Mercury News is reporting that Spirit West Coast, one of the largest Christian music festivals, will, for the first time in its nine-year history, debut a stage for hard rock as a part of its lineup of 50 artists over three days.

"That's the new rave'' in Christian music right now, says lead singer Jason Dunn of the Canadian punk rock group HAWK NELSON. "Bands are just starting to generate a harder sound. . . . It's starting to get to a point where Christians and non-Christians alike will be able to listen to it."

Christian rock has grown immensely, according to the Gospel Music Association. The genre, along with other youth-driven music, such as hip-hop, dominated the gospel music charts in 2004.

Los Angeles heavy-metal band DIZMAS hopes that this growing audience could provide more opportunities for ministry. The band's moniker refers to the name of the thief who converted to Christianity on the cross next to Jesus.

The larger audiences give bands "an opening, an area of possibility," says DIZMAS lead singer Zach Zegan, 21. Rock 'n' roll "forever has been associated with sex and drugs," he says. So it is the ideal genre for Christians to present a contrasting positive message in.

Read more at MercuryNews.com (free registration required).

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