4/19/2008

By GARY DEMUTH

Salina Journal

BELLEVILLE -- Up to a dozen bands and solo musicians will perform during an all-day music festival from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday at the Belleville City Park bandshell.

And it's all free of charge.

About $10,000 was raised from local and area businesses to sponsor the event, which was the brainchild of Rick Voelker, youth/young adult pastor at Belleville Wesleyan Church.

"I'm amazed at how Belleville and surrounding communities have pulled together to make this possible," Voelker said. "It's their present to the community."

Headlining the festival will be Decyfer Down, a contemporary Christian rock band from North Carolina. They will take the stage at 9 p.m.

Although several bands showcased at the festival play Christian rock, Voelker said, he strived to book a diverse line-up that includes heavy metal, acoustic folk and hip-hop.

"I wanted to open this up to various types of music to relate to various types of people," he said.

Other bands that will be featured during the festival are: Staynlis, a McPherson-based Christian rock group; hip-hop performer Cash Hollister; Imminent Domain, a rock band from the Brookville-Salina area; Doug Pierce, adult contemporary with an emphasis on acoustic music; Yesterday's Memories, heavy metal; and contemporary Christian bands Ninth Hour, Tomorrow's Today and Repentance.

There also will be performances by three church worship bands: PFJ, Revelation 716 and Voelker's choir from Belleville Wesleyan Church.

Voelker, who used to work in the concert promotion business, said he felt this festival was something God had called him to do.

"It's a perfect way to draw people into Belleville to see what the city has to offer," he said. "There's not a whole lot of other events available in this area."

For more information, call (785) 527-5509 or (785) 527-1349.

nReporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by e-mail at gdemuth@salina.com.

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