Festival season in full swing for Australian Christian music

This year’s music festival season is in full swing – and it’s far from over.

Last weekend, one of the smaller events – Forest Edge – played to its largest crowd for several years in Melbourne’s East.

Martin Fawkes, an organiser of the festival when it was run by the Australian Christian Artists Network in the early 2000s, reflects on where the festival is at now, since CYC Ministries restarted it three years ago, and the importance of festivals like Forest Edge.

New Empire performing at Forest Edge last weekend

“In this third year in they really seem to be hitting their stride,” Fawkes says. “The organisers have put together a stellar line up. It gives us great hope for years ahead. Because we need festivals for the culture building and the community and the opportunity for bands to perform and the opportunity for kids to get out and see the best talent Australia and New Zealand has to offer.”

Easterfest, taking place in Toowoomba over the Easter long weekend, will give those who enjoy larger festivals, with monster multi-stages, the opportunity to see some of the biggest Christian acts touring this year all in one place.

Easterfest Director Dave Schenk says, “We have been able to secure some of the most requested artists – either across the board or in their genre – from the last four or five years.”

Friday night main stage is being headlined by Relient K, who have never quite made it to the festival before.

Artists will perform in popular genres such as hip hop – with Lecrae performing and sharing his story – and heavy metal. “It’s a pretty exciting looking line-up,” concludes Schenk.

Some of the Aussie acts performing at this year’s Easterfest include Compliments Of Gus (who’ll release their latest album The Black And The White Of It), Daylight Hours, Silver Cities and Jade Diary.

Click here to listen to more details with Cam Want on TRAA NEWS.

 Image: Forest Edge Music Festival_Facebook page