Amplify Fest

Twenty thousand people, 11 artists, two nights, worshiping one.  Amplify Fest is gearing up for their third annual event with over 10 of today’s top Christian artists set to perform at this year’s free, two day festival.  There will be multiple apparel and food vendors, kids’ activities, bounce houses, and a fireworks show as well.  The festival will be held on the 20 acres behind Holland Chapel Baptist Church in Benton, AR on August 29th and 30th.  The gates open at 3 PM on August 29th with Big Daddy Weave, Rhett Walker Band, Jason Gray, MIKESCHAIR, Spencer Lloyd, and Becca Bradley all performing.  On Saturday, August 30th, Jeremy Camp, Sanctus Real, Citizen Way, Drew Cline, The Museum, Spencer Lloyd and Becca Bradley will be completing the lineup and wrapping up the event.  This free festival is not put on by just one church in the Saline County area, but rather a group of people, sponsors, and churches that work together to spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Amplify Fest is about breaking down the barriers with church buildings and showing God’s mercy, grace and love through this community event,” Matt Brumley, one of the Amplify event coordinators said.

In 2011, an event was held on the grounds of Holland Chapel Baptist church called Saline Summer Days that premiered Kris Allen, the Conway, AR worship leader that won American Idol Season 8.  This opened the doors for something bigger to begin in Saline County.  Amplify Fest then began in 2012 over July 4th weekend and attracted approximately 5,000 people.  Since then, it has grown to over 20,000 people.  Due to the hot weather, the event was moved from July 4th weekend to the end of August with hopes of cooler temperatures.  Now in its’ third year, over 30,000 people are expected in attendance.

Jeremy Camp will be headlining the festival on Saturday.  Camp debuted his first album in 2002 and has had 25 No. 1 radio singles since then.  Camp most recently received his 25th No. 1 single with “Overcome” from his album We Cry Out: The Worship Project. This single has spent five weeks at the top on the Inspo chart and continues to climb on AC and CHR formats.

Big Daddy Weave is another popular name in the Christian music genre.  Their musical journey began with a Dove Awards nomination as New Artist of the Year in 2002 and includes a 2010 Dove Award for the album Christ Has Come. The group has had more than a decade of hits such as “In Christ,” “Audience of One,” “You’re Worthy Of My Praise,” “Every Time I Breathe,” What Life Would Be Like,” and “You Found Me.” Today, they are one of the ten most played artists on Christian Radio.

Sanctus Real has been together as a band for over 16 years.  Beginning in the basement of the guitarist, Chris Rohman, their purpose has never changed even as musical trends have evolved.  The band has recently released their newest album Run.  It is one of six albums that the band has released since they have been collaborating together.  “Building upon their Grammy-nominated 2010 album Pieces Of A Real Heart that featured the breakout track “Lead Me,” the band continues to devote itself to writing songs they pray will matter,” according to their website, sanctusreal.com.

The other artists Jason Gray, Rhett Walker Band, The Museum, MIKESCHAIR, Citizen Way, Drew Cline, Spencer Lloyd, and Becca Bradley all have been influential in reaching the ears of the lost and saved alike with their music.  Spencer Lloyd and Becca Bradley are relatively new artists with Lloyd recently being a participant on Season 13 of American Idol and Bradley being a recent college graduate at 23 years old living in Nashville, TN and working as a back-up singer for Francesca Battistelli.

“The music on the stage is just a by-product of Amplify.  It’s about the relationships that are made and the families that are mended.  That is what this festival is all about,” Josh Turner, one of the Amplify event coordinators said.

The festival is made possible by the multiple sponsors from Saline County such as Everett Buick GMC, BR McGinty, Ferguson’s Furniture and many more.  The sponsors, individual donations, and local churches allow the event to be free to the community.  If you would like to make a donation to the event, you can mail your donation to Amplify Fest 15523 I-30 Benton, AR 72015.

“Amplify is not about a church…it’s about THE Church,” Brumley concluded.