There are no denominations at Jfest. The walls are down. To me, that's what heaven is going to be like.
If you go
› What: Jfest Christian music festival.› When: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, May 21.› Where: Camp Jordan, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge.› Admission: $15 in advance, $20 at the gate; free for children 10 and younger. Wristbands to Kidsworld (ages 10 and younger) are $5 and provide unlimited, all-day entertainment.› Website: www.jfest.com.
Schedule
11 a.m. MendingwallNoon. Zealand Worship1:15 p.m. Hollyn2:30 p.m. Jason Gray3:45 p.m. 7th Time Down5 p.m. Chris August6:15 p.m. Jamie Grace7:45 p.m. Crowder9:15 p.m. FireworksPost-fireworks. Tedashii
What business do banjo rolls and breakdowns have being within a ZIP code of a rapper in full-bore vocal flow?
Most people would say "next to none," but when the Jfest Christian music festival returns to Camp Jordan this weekend, organizer Ted Gocke says he's got his fingers crossed that the event's headliners, "folktronic" artist Crowder and Christian hip-hop star Tedashii, join forces at least once.
After all, he says, it's happened once before.
"The No. 1 song that Crowder has out right now is 'Lift Your Head Weary Sinner,' and during the Winter Jam tour, Tedashii came out during that song and has written a rap that fits seamlessly in there," says Gocke, who is also an on-air personality for J-103 FM, which presents the festival each year.
"I heard about it before I saw it, and I wondered, 'Now, how in the world is that going to work?' But sure enough, it was just seamless," he adds. "I sent letters to both management companies requesting that they do that again. We're hoping that Tedashii will come out a little bit early and do that special song."
In recent years, Jfest has been scheduled for late June, after the Riverbend music festival. This year, however, the all-day Christian music event was moved up to avoid conflicting with more than a dozen other events vying to book the same artists for events scheduled at the same time.
"You're trying to fish out of a smaller pond now, and all the fish are gone," Gocke laughs. "We hope, by moving it to [Saturday] May 21, we can use it as a school's out celebration, people can use it to kick off the summer. If it makes people think it's cooler [than it would be at the usual time], then that's fantastic."
This year's Jfest is expected to draw between 8,000 and 10,000 spectators. In addition to Crowder and Tedashii - who will headline an after-party taking place after the traditional fireworks finale - Jfest will feature a mix of new and returning artists, including Jamie Grace, Chris August, 7th Time Down, Jason Gray, Hollyn and Zealand Worship.
As usual, these bookings are a compromise between representing the artists who are charting and securing airplay on Christian stations like J-103 as well as catering to Christian rock and hip-hop fans who stream from the station's online alter egos, jRadio and jRadio Hits. Last year's festival was the first to offer the post-fireworks party, and its late-night headliner, electronic dance music/hip-hop duo Capital Kings, was well-received, Gocke says.
"People stuck around after the fireworks, and it became a big Christian dance party - or if you're a Baptist like I am, 'a foot fellowship,'" he says. "It was just a great time. I can't wait to see what Tedashii brings to it this year."
But Jfest is about more than just enjoyable music. The process of organizing the event starts two weeks after the last note is played at the previous year's festival, and Gocke says the payoff for all that effort is seeing Christians of all stripes intermingling and celebrating their faith together.
"There are no denominations at Jfest; the walls are down," he says. "To me, that's what heaven is going to be like. It's a glimpse at what worshiping in heaven will be like."
Contact Casey Phillips at cphillips@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6205. Follow him on Twitter at @PhillipsCTFP.