Shoutfest '08 Readies Three Regional Festivals

SHOUTFEST, Christian music’s most ambitious annual youth ministry driven one-day rock concert event, will have the strongest lineup in its six year tour history, with performances by such headlining artists as Third Day, Reliant K, Newsboys, Thousand Foot Krutch, Family Force 5, Sixpence None the Richer, Starfield and Trin-i-tee 5:7. More than 25 bands and solo artists will perform at one or more of the festival events unfolding on two live stages in three U.S. cities.

Other artists set to perform at one or more of the events are Grits, DecembeRadio, This Beautiful Republic, After Edmund, Jason Morant, Mission Six, Between the Trees, Nevertheless, I Am Terrified, Revive, Magellan from Club DreamLab, One Minute Halo, Say You Will, Manic Drive, British band The Steels, Gabriela Hindy, One Friday, JJ Weeks, comedian Bob Smiley, The Biggest Loser's Dan Evans and Compassion International speaker Brad Duncan.

“SHOUTFEST is more than another Christian event or rock concert — we consider it to be a real ministry opportunity for the local church,” notes producer Van Hohe. “Our overall goal is to lose the title 'tour' and transform this into a tool that local churches and youth leaders can use to raise awareness and impact lives for Christ, ultimately leaving each market with a lot of young lives closer to God’s Kingdom and in a relationship with local ministries who will be there in the days and weeks following when those kids start to encounter real issues. This puts the focus where it should be — on the local church.”

SHOUTFEST has partnered with ministry sponsor Book of Hope USA who is providing concert goers a free book and online tools that give insight into overcoming the growing struggles of today's youth. Hohe says, "Our deep relationship with Book of Hope USA and others continues to build on the concept of making this thing a tool of the local church. How many young people are literally dying inside all the while thinking that no one in their day-to-day lives could ever truly understand what they are going through? This is why I do what I do. We are here to equip the local church with relevant information and resources as well as providing a killer rock show."

In addition to Book of Hope USA, author Renee Yohe will be at SHOUTFEST New Orleans to share her journey out of depression which has become an online sensation with the "To Write Love On Her Arms" website. Other ministry sponsors this year include global poverty relief organization Compassion International, The Conquerers and the all-new Oral Roberts University.

SHOUTFEST ’08 SCHEDULE:

8/30
SHOUTFEST South
At Wild Adventures
Valdosta, GA
* Featuring Third Day, Starfield, Grits, Jason Morant, Revive, I Am Terrified, Mission Six, Magellan from Club DreamLab, One Minute Halo, JJ Weeks, Say You Will, Gabriela Hindy, One Friday and Compassion International Speaker Brad Duncan

9/13
SHOUTFEST North
At Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon, OH
*Featuring Reliant K, Thousand Foot Krutch, Family Force 5, Sixpence None the Richer, After Edmund, Jason Morant, Mission Six, Magellan from Club DreamLab, Manic Drive, The Steels, I Am Terrified, Say You Will, Gabriela Hindy, One Friday and Compassion International Speaker Brad Duncan

10/18
SHOUTFEST New Orleans
At Zephyr Stadium
Metarie, LA
*Featuring Newsboys, Sixpence None the Richer, Trin-i-tee 5:7, DecembeRadio, This Beautiful Republic, Renee Yohe & "To Write Love on Her Arms," Between the Trees, Nevertheless, The Biggest Loser's Dan Evans, Jason Morant, Magellan from Club DreamLab, Manic Drive, Mission Six, I Am Terrified, One Minute Halo, Gabriela Hindy, Say You Will, One Friday and comedian Bob Smiley

For more information on SHOUTFEST ’08: www.shoutfest.com