Aussie festivals indicate a resurgence of interest in Christian music

Christian music is continuing to make its presence felt at the top of the US mainstream charts, and according to two of this country’s leading Christian music festivals, there’s a resurgence of interest in Christian crossover here in Australia.

Contemporary Christian music in the US has been experiencing a revival with strong sales, record-breaking tours, and new success in the mainstream charts.

  • This month RED’s fourth album Release The Panic debuted at #7.
  • In January, Chris Tomlin’s Burning Lights opened at #1,
  • Last year, tobyMac’s Eye On It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming the first Christian album since 1997 to enter at number one.
  • Lecrae’s Gravity appeared at #3.

A similar thing is happening here with the release of each Hillsong Live and Hillsong UNITED album. They regularly debut in the Top 5.

But is there something else beginning to emerge?

Easterfest Director Dave Schenk says the Australian Christian music scene – which the festival strongly supports – is beginning to change shape with a resurgence of what he calls “crossover”.

Luke Martin from the Forest Edge Music Festival agrees. He says the wonderful thing about Christian music is that Aussie musicians interpret the timeless message in a way that’s relevant to a broad range of people.

Forest Edge Music Festival will be held March 8-10 in Neerim East (in Melbourne’s east) while Easterfest will be held in Toowoomba, March 29-31. Aussie headliners performing at both events include Compliments Of Gus, Jake Nauta, Silver Cities, Selahphonic, and Daylight Hours.

Click here to listen to more details with MJ (filling in for Cam) on TRAA NEWS.