The annual Spirit West Coast festival (July 24-26) has announced the talent lineup for the 2003 event - it includes THIRD DAY, NEWSBOYS, SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER, and Christian music’s most popular male artist ever, MICHAEL W. SMITH. Also booked for the summer mega-musicfest is Toby Mac, Rebecca St. James, and song-of-the-year, radio-hit makers MercyMe (I Can Only Imagine, Spoken For).
Alternative rock bands that have been confirmed for the July 24-26 event include Relient K, PAX 217, The Benjamin Gate, Kutless, and a farewell appearance by Five Iron Frenzy. Also appearing will be 4 Him, Rachael Lampa, and legendary band PETRA, who will be appearing with founding guitarist/songwriter Bob Hartman. An additional 20-25 music artists will appear at the three-day event, plus several top speakers and teachers. It is the combination of music and ministry that has made the Spirit West Coast festival an annual “must do” getaway vacation event for thousands of Christian music fans from all parts of California and the West.
The 2003 Spirit West Coast festival will once again be staged at the spacious Laguna Seca Recreation Area - several hundred acres of county park property located just 6 miles from the world famous tourist destination of Monterey, California. For three days and four nights each summer, the Spirit West Coast festival transforms the property into a small town and performance complex. Spirit West Coast has seven stages ? three inside large tents, two outdoor stages, and a couple at Camp Zaccheaus. In addition to the stages, the festival activity area consists of prayer tents, a general store, a huge exhibit tent, sports and recreation areas, a children’s activity area, vendor row with food to feed thousands, and acres and acres of camping. Over 10,000 people either RV or tent camp at Spirit West Coast, setting up over 2,000 individual or group campsites. Although the number of campers participating is truly astounding, thousands of others occupy hundreds of hotel rooms in the nearby cities of Monterey and Salinas.
Again in 2003, the festival will place a strong musical emphasis on worship. Praise and worship has always been an important aspect of Spirit West Coast, and as the Christian music worship movement has grown, the festival’s worship focus has also increased. Top worship artists participating this year include MercyMe, David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin, and Andy Allen with the Spirit West Coast Praise Band. All three headliners, Michael W. Smith, Newsboys, and Third Day are known for their worship songs which will no-doubt be featured in their performances.
Spirit West Coast 2003 will continue a commitment to ministering to elementary and pre-school children at the popular children’s activity area, Camp Zaccheaus. This “mini-festival” within the festival bustles with children’s concerts, crafts, and activities including a petting zoo, face painting, bounce-houses, and more. Dedicated children’s ministers, including Mr. Bill, ventriloquist Tony Borders and others, will present purpose-driven shows for children.
In recent years the event’s late night comedy shows have been extremely popular, so much so that this year six Christian comedians are booked. Returning for a fourth year is Bob Smiley, whose concerts seem to always pack out. The other professional Christian comedians are Paul Aldrich, Taylor Mason, Daren Streblow, Bean & Bailey, and Isaac Air Freight.
Other general features of Spirit West Coast include sports and recreation activities (basketball, paint-ball, and inflatable games), a skateboard park, youth leader forums, and ministry for all ages and phases of life - youth, singles, children and couples.
The teachers and speakers for 2003 include several communicators who are experienced “SWC veterans”; David Edwards (returning emcee), Dan Owens, Steve Wilburn, Al Menconi, and Lori Salierno. Newcomers to the festival ministry team are author/speaker Ray Comfort, and Promise Keeper’s regular speaker, Reggie Dabbs. Event Director Jon Robberson explains that, “the speaking at Spirit West Coast is not about having famous speakers, although we have some very well-known speakers. The festival’s purpose is to effectively communicate the positive and life changing message of the Christian faith.”
The 2003 theme is “faith-freedom-forever”. Director Robberson noted, “we felt these three words are so loaded with meaning that they capture much of the essence of Spirit West Coast. The festival primarily sees these words from a spiritual perspective, but we also think they are three words with a critical national and cultural significance.”
Tickets and camping are on sale now by calling 831.443.5399 or through the festival’s Web site at www.spiritwestcoast.org. A free 12-page event newspaper is available by calling 831.443.5399 anytime and requesting a single copy or bulk supply. Ticket prices increase slightly as the months go by, an obvious incentive to encourage an early purchase. Half-price children and group leader tickets do not increase, except at the gate. The administration office phone number is 408.377.9232. Spirit West Coast is a non-profit organization administered by Christian Music Today! and produced by Celebration Concerts of San Jose, California. (www.celebrationconcerts.com)
Returning sponsors for 2003 include ministry partner Compassion International, the Christian Times, Carl’s Jr., Coke, Fresh Express, and Berean Christian Stores. New sponsors for 2003 include Liberty University and local daily newspaper The Californian. Stage sponsors include; KLOVE Radio Network, Main Stage - Air 1 Radio Network - Alternative/Hip-hop stage. KLIFE Radio (Central Coast and Ventura County)—Campmeeting Stage, and KDUV radio (Visalia-Fresno-Bakersfield) - the Spirit Stage. Regional stations supporting the event include: Y-105 (Chico), The Bridge (North Bay Area), and KFAX (Bay Area). The Camp Zaccheaus children’s area is sponsored by “God Rocks”, an innovative video and music series from Standard Publishing.
