Spirit West Coast adds ’indy’ showcase, marriage conference to its program

DEL MAR, Calif. — As Spirit West Coast enters its third year in Del Mar, organizers are not waiting for anything to get stale. This year the three-day festival, slated for May 26 to 28, will feature a few firsts: an opening night banquet, an independent music showcase and a mini-marriage conference.

The program additions will supplement a remarkable musical lineup that includes Newsboys, Mercyme, Jeremy Camp, Todd Agnew, Audio Adrenaline, BarlowGirl, Kutless and Seventh-day Slumber.

Although three headliners appear on the Air 1 Grandstand Stage each evening, it’s only one of eight venues that will feature music and speakers.

Jon Robberson, founder and producer of Celebration Concerts, the event’s promoter, said the opening night banquet, open to just 250 people, is designed to give concertgoers an intimate setting at the concert at an affordable price. The catered event carries a $50 admission fee.

“It includes a ticket, a nice meal, meeting the artists and being treated special,” he said.

Hosted by Robberson, the 4 p.m. banquet is scheduled to feature Matthew West, Vicki Beeching, David Crowder, Thousand Foot Krutch, Hawk Nelson and Camp.

Robberson said the opening banquet is a nice option for people who can’t afford the festival’s VIP Terrace Club, where single-seat membership is $230.

“This is a different level of being treated special,” Robberson said. “Really any one can do it if they can’t afford the Terrace Club approach.

Robberson said he’s especially excited about America’s Christian Music Showcase, which is bringing its regional indy competition to festival. Record labels, managers and booking agents will be at the event looking for new talent. Participants, anticipated at 100, will perform live and get critical feedback, similar to TV’s popular American Idol.

The band and vocal winners of the Gospel Music Association -affiliated showcase will be featured this summer at Estes Park’s “Seminar in the Rockies,” Robberson said.

“It’s a pretty high level competition,” the director said. “If you are not any good you get kicked out pretty quickly.”

Besides GMA, the event is also sponsored by World Vision, and True Outreach Inc. For more information on the showcase, log on to acmsonline.com.

In an effort to help married adults, the festival will host its first ever marriage conference, featuring Jay and Laura Laffoon, of “Celebrate Your Marriage.” Robberson said the couple, who speaks on marriage issues across the country, will provide three or four upbeat and fun seminars to help couples strengthen their marriages. Although the Monterey festival has hosted talks on the subject, the formal mini-conference is a first for both SWC festivals.

“There may come a time when we do a men’s thing or a woman’s thing,” he said.

Also new for the festival will be an ’80s rock revival show, boasting 441 and the Altar Boys. That show is planned for Saturday afternoon.

Returning this year will be the worship seminars, children events, sports-related activities and vendors.
The speaker’s list includes Brennan Manning, the author of two dynamic, life-changing Christian books, “Abba Father” and “The Ragamuffin Gospel;” Erwin McManus, pastor of Mosaic in Los Angeles, and one of the top cutting-edge "generation next" churches in America; Francis Chan, pastor of Cornerstone Church and the president of Eternity Bible College in Simi Valley. In addition to being a pastor, Chan hosts the radio program “Truth Be Known” and comedian Kerri Pomarolli, a noted singles speaker. Kerri's comments and view on being a Christian single are encouraging, informative—amusing.

Others on the speakers list include Brad Duncan, KJ-52, Bob Reehm, Andrew Schwab, Project 86 and audio evangelist Brooks Gibbs.

Tickets to the opening night banquet are only available through the SWC admin office at (408) 377-9232. Pricing for the festival tickets increases as the event approaches. The next major discount deadline is March 31. For more information, log on to spiritwestcoast.com or call the box office at (831) 443-5399.

Published, March 2006

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