Kingdom Come Festival invades the Vet

Final day of Christian hard rock showcase starts at 10 a.m. June 15

This article is brought to you by A Mighty Noise Revival and Musical Showcase. A Mighty Noise takes place Aug. 2-4 at the Howard County 4H Fairgrounds. Don’t miss a chance to worship together while listening to local and regional praise and worship teams, choirs, soloists, and bands. And make sure to be there on Sat., Aug. 3, to hear up and coming Christian recording artist Billy Ballenger.

A Mighty Noise is a free event, and it will feature vendors booths and nonprofit resources, a kids area presented by Josiah White’s, and equine assisted learning demonstrations from Narrow Gate Horse Ranch.

Visit the A Mighty Noise Facebook page for additional information.

The Kingdom Come Festival, a three-day showcase filled with the top bands in Christian hard rock, punk, and heavy metal music, will open for its final day at 10 a.m. on Sat., June 15. Enthusiasts from across the nation migrate to the Howard County Vietnam Veterans Healing Fields on State Road 26 annually for the event, which boasts more than 1,500 attendees each day.

Those who attended on June 14 were treated to concerts by two of the biggest bands currently in circulation. Horror punk band Grave Robber headlined the festival’s (Sub)Culture Stage while two-time Dove Award winning hard rock band Disciple headlined the Main Stage.

The Saturday line-up promises to draw crowds all day long. Theoterran will headline the (Sub)Culture Stage while Ashes Remain caps the event on the main stage tonight at 10 p.m.

Colin Cruz, founder of The Blast.FM said he couldn't miss Kingdom Come, as it represents one of the largest gatherings of Christian rock bands in the nation. He traveled from South Dakota to attend the festival.

"It's not just the largest free festival. I think it's the largest Christian rock festival in the country," said Cruz, who features many of the artists performing at Kingdom Come on his stations. "I might be wrong, but I have found not too many Christian rock festivals anymore.

"You might find contemporary hip-hop, and they'll have a little rock, but here is your rock. It is very important that we have a venue for non-traditional Christian music genres.

"Look at the crowd here. You've got a lot of people on the fringe. You've got edge kids who grew up in broken homes. You've got kids who were into drugs. You've got adults who were probably into drugs and alcoholism and who knows what other number of vices that the devil uses to keep us from the Lord. They need this."

Cruz operates four online radio stations through The Blast Ministries, each with a different musical format. In addition to The Blast.FM, there is The Blast Blender, The Implosion, and The Blastozoic Era. All can be found online or through any of several mobile apps. Cruz does it all to attract Christian music lovers who want something different than contemporary pop.

"For me, I will be a rocker to my grave and beyond," said Cruz. "I have all the respect in the world for adult contemporary Christian music, but it will never do anything for me personally. It just doesn't hit my heart. We need this for the people who don't like your standard typical Christian music fare."

Following are the line-ups for Kingdom Come’s two stages on Sat., June 15:

The Main Stage

10 a.m. - True Revival

10:45 a.m. - Kay Kinard

11:30 a.m. - Divine Martyr

12:15 p.m. - Tricord

1 p.m. - Undefeated

1:45 p.m. - Damac

2:30 p.m. - This Surrender

3:15 p.m. - Nate Parrish

4 p.m. - American Arson

4:45 p.m. - Matt Moore

5:30 p.m. - Behold the Beloved

6:15 p.m. - Convictions

7 p.m. - Zahna

8 p.m. - The Protest

10 p.m. - Ashes Remain

The (Sub)Culture Stage

10:35 a.m. - Brvve

11:20 a.m. - I am the Pendragon

12:05 p.m. - These Beautiful Ruins

12:50 p.m. - The Jericho Harlot

1:35 p.m. - Adamic

2:20 p.m. - Brandon Michael

3:05 p.m. - As We Are

3:50 p.m. - I Against No One

4:35 p.m. - Fyrebrand

5:20 p.m. - Relesser/Autumn's Descent

9 p.m. - Theoterran

See additional photos from the Kingdom Come Festival at www.kokomolantern.com or on the Lantern’s Facebook page or group.