NCMF – the inaugural event a success!
The inaugural Nebraska Christian Music Festival, an opportunity for local and area amateur Christian performers to share their talent with larger audiences, was successful by every measure, particularly upon review of the positive comments of those in attendance.
An all-day event held at Brickyard Park in Hastings, NE, the festivities began about an hour late (due to an early morning rainshower!) with an ecumenical prayer service at about 11:00 am. The first band took the stage about 45 minutes later to the modest crowd who ignored the morning clouds and ventured to the park. Attendees were not disappointed, and the day promised more great music in the park.
The Nebraska Christian Music Festival engaged a variety of Christian music artists who not only entertained, but provided spiritual enrichment unmatched in similar venues.
Because the planners didn’t think about photography, no photos are available prior to the arrival of Tex and Mary in the early afternoon. Our apologies to earlier performers, Social Contradiction, of Omaha, and Dallas and Tanya Low. By the same token, if you’re reading this and have pics of the early portions of the festival, send ‘em to us! We’ll post ‘em promtply! The morning ecumenical prayer service was a great spiritual beginning to the day!
This photo is of Mary Shutz and her string bass. Tex and Mary’s unique acoustic sound and the blend of harmonies they produced lifted hearts and spirits on a cloudy day!
2nd Mile celebrates with a full sound and terrific original melodies.
Carmen Sullivan, of the local church group, The Cecilians, and three of her daughters share the stage in a “fill in” moment. The worship song, “Breathe” is a group favorite!
Cor Sanctum, with a rich repetoire of original music, blessed the crowd in the early afternoon of the day. All the groups were engaging, full of energy, and completely flexible in a day marked by threatening inclement weather (that never happened until after the festival concluded!) and last minute schedule adjustments!
Hanbury Tree combines bluegrass with their Christian repetoire. The array of acoustic stringed instruments provided a great sound for festival goers.
Local talent, Along for the Ride, featured father/daughter duo, Craig and Taylor Hubbard. The group offered a unique blend of songs in their repetoire and delivered a message for all in their music!
El Coro de la Santa Cruz, another local group of talented musicians brought a Hispanic flare to the festival. Their Spanish rhythms and balance vocals wowed the crowd. ¡Viva el coro de la Santa Cruz!
Ellen Soukup’s lush vocals filled the park with her early evening presentation. With weather matters looming on the radar, she radiated the peace of God in the face of a pending storm. What a blessing to all!
Steve Angrisano and Ellen shared the stage for a couple songs before Steve gave what was planned as the final concert of the day. Their ’spur of the moment’ blending of talent was a unique part of our festival day!
Steve Angrisano took the stage in the early evening, a bit ahead of schedule, due to the persistent threat of rain – a threat that had not to this point in the day, affected the enthusiasm of festival goers and performers. Steve’s highly engaging style, his personal connection with his audience, and his profoundly spiritual delivery graced those in attendance with an unforgettable moment.
Truly, we learned about God’s planning as the festival drew to a close. Having scheduled the Salem Baptist Choir during the afternoon, the hour of their scheduled performance came and went and the group had not arrived. Having no way to contact them (we’ll change this next year!) and not aware of a manner that they could contact us, we moved forward, disappointed but not disheartened. As Steve Angrisano took the stage for what we thought would be the final concert of the day, a tour bus pulled up and out of the bus appeared members of the Salem Baptist Choir! Having arrived late due to bus trouble, and with the ever-present severe weather matters looking more like reality, the dilemma was to have them come to the stage, or deny their appearance.
Fearless organizer, Bob Sullivan, begged our trusty sound man, Lamont Foster, of Wembley Audio Systems, Inc., (who, by the way, completed a yoeman’s task in a dance with the weather and a first-time effort with NCMF!) to give the group an opportunity to sing. Lamont bent (actually – took a huge risk with his equipment – thanks, Lamont!), and . . . Wow! God held the rain in the clouds, and the Salem Baptist Choir gave us two wonderfully soul-filled spiritual numbers (the second of which was a medley of five (count ‘em – FIVE!) songs and the crowd, which had moved from back to front, was sent out of the park with a bolt of lightening and the spiritual energy necessary to carry each into the week ahead! It was God’s perfect ending to a great inaugural Nebraska Christian Music Festival day!
For more pictures and stories, click on “Schedule” above!