It was my sixth time attending the nation’s largest Christian music festival--Creation Northeast--and it was another jam-packed event held at Agape Farm in Pennsylvania. 

 

Lead Photographer David Holzemer and I proudly represented NewReleaseTuesday as we bounced all over the festival grounds. I conducted 10 artist interviews over two days--which you’ll see in upcoming Behind the Song Devotionals. 

 

I was thrilled to arrive for the opening night's set as Rapture Ruckus, Kutless and David Crowder took the stage with their high-energy songs. Over the course of the three days, I saw several incredible sets, and for this article, I'm highlighting artists who appeared on the main stage, worship stage, and fringe stage that represent the diversity that span the 60 artists who took the stage. More than 80,000 people attended each of the evening main stage sessions.

 

Just like that, Kutless has transformed from that new rock band from Oregon, to the one new bands look up to, to the band whose music is all over the radio, and now to the band that's sold millions of records. 

 

Ten years after their debut self-titled album, Kutless is returning with their newest album, Believer. I remember the first time I heard their debut hit single "Run" in 2002. I was a new believer, and the band won me over with the emotional and powerful lyrics from God's perspective—"Why do you run, why do you hide, oh don't you know I just, just want to be with you. Why do you run, why do you hide, oh don't you know I just, just want to be with you. Be with you." 

 

I can't listen to the last stanza without getting emotional: "Find a place of solitude, and I'll speak to you, As you pray to Me, Don't you know I'm waiting here, waiting for you to read and hear My Words, I'm waiting here missing the time the times we shared, well, please come to Me."

 

Since then, I've been a major fan of the band. According to lead singer Jon Micah Sumrall, "We wanted our name to represent the impact of what Christ did for us on the Cross. Christ took our beating and paid the wages of our sin (Romans 6:23). He took our cuts for us, leaving us ‘Kutless.'" Amen. That sentiment has been displayed in each of the band's solid albums. 

 

Believer is their follow-up album to their worship release It Is Well, which featured the hit songs "What Faith Can Do", "Amazed", "Everything I Need", "Hungry", "Give Us Clean Hands" and "God of Wonders." The heart of worship is something the band as a whole is very in tune with and they love bringing that to the forefront, sharing and coming together as one to give glory to God. 

 

Wednesday's main stage was fantastic, and a great blend of their musical styles over the years. Their set started with "Gravity," "Strong Tower," "The Feeling," and "Your Touch." Jon Micah asked the crowd, "How many of you have our first album from 2002?" I was thrilled to hear a rock song from their early grunge-style days. "Shut Me Out" was next, and that really got the crowd jumping up and down in unison. That song from Hearts of the Innocent (2006) was a great reminder of when I first saw Kutless at a rock show in 2005. They were with Dizmas, Stellar Kart and Disciple, and they had just released Strong Tower. I remember at that concert when Kutless performed "Better Is One Day," "Strong Tower," "Run," and "Sea of Faces" the night transformed from a great rock show to a great worship experience, and I sensed that this amazing band had an incredible opportunity for the Kingdom.

There aren't many rock bands that are also writing original worship songs, and these guys are the best in the business. Next, Sumrall called out, "How many believers are here tonight?" and they launched into "Need," which is off the current album. That led into a moment to introduce their current single, "Even If." Jon Micah said, "If you believe and trust in God, the Bible tells us no matter what we are going through, the end will be beautiful." "Even If" has Biblical lyrics proclaiming truth from Isaiah 55: "Lord we know Your ways are not our ways, So we set our faith in who You are." And also lyrics from Romans 8: "We trust You always, You're working all things for our good, We'll sing Your praise, Even if the healing doesn't come." Amen.

That led perfectly into their hit song, "What Faith Can Do." Kutless ended that set with title track "Believer" which was co-written by lead singer Sumrall and is a bold statement of faith: "There's not a greater love that you'll find in this life, I'm a believer in Christ." They finished their performance with three worship songs, "Give Us Clean Hands," "Mighty To Save" and "Word Of God Speak."

 

Believer is the band's crowning achievement in my opinion, featuring thirteen excellent rock worship songs. The album has a perfectly balanced mix of rockers and ballads, and Jon Micah's vocals have never sounded better. This is their most complete overall album loaded with quality songs that all draw me closer to Christ. If you're looking for the best of Kutless, this is their top album, surpassing all of their previous excellent work. Without a doubt, Believer is among the top albums of the year.

 

David Crowder opened with the great Matt Redman song "Undignified." This set the tone for the enthusiastic and worshipful style of the evening, which included 11 incredible songs over 50 minutes. In the next song "No One Like You," he asked the audience to sing back in unison in response to him, and made us sing again when he reminded us that he wanted loud, not pretty singing. Next he performed "O Praise Him (All This For A King)," "Come Thou Fount," "Amazing Grace," and "Open Skies." This was not a typical raucous Crowder set.

 

The next set of songs was my favorite part of the evening. The lead single from Give Us Rest was next, and we were treated to a bluegrass version of "Let Me Feel You Shine." The slower tempo performance was actually a highlight, as was David's worshipful leading of "How He Loves" from Church Music. The song was sung with an acoustic bluegrass style and was very moving. It has a beautiful chorus and my all-time favorite bridge as we all prayed along. "We are His portion and He is our prize, Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes, If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking." This led into the current single "After All (Holy)." The fun continued with Crowder's reminder that he and the band are from Texas, and prepared us for the hoedown to the banjo-led "I Saw The Light" remake of the Hank Williams song sung as a medley with the hymn "I'll Fly Away." Crowder and the band closed with "Because He Lives." It was very moving to hear the crowd worshipping at the top of their lungs with such profound lyrics.

 

 

 

Siblings David, Lee Marie and Seth Hostetter treated the fringe stage crowd to a rocking set of six songs, "All In Your Head," "Cover Your Eyes," "Moment To Moment," "Mock The Music," "Drifter" and "Oh Bravo." From the opening notes and punk rock tempo of the first track and lead single of new album On The Run, "Moment to Moment," I knew I was in for a treat. The mix of tempos is pure perfection and the drum, guitar, and bass syncopation is a thing of beauty. The best aspect of this album is the blend of David's and Lee Marie's harmonies layered over one catchy song after another.

There are several songs that I can't stop playing from this album. I love the pre-chorus: "every choice before you was a challenge to succeed" from "Moment to Moment," which challenges me to think about the daily choices I make, such as in Proverbs 12:9: "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment." Many people rationalize sinful behavior by thinking little white lies don't matter, but biblically and in the song, I think about how God is with His children all the time.

I also interviewed Lee Marie at the festival for an upcoming "behind the song" devotional about "Moment to Moment." On The Run by Children 18:3 is without a doubt the top punk rock album of the year. I can't get enough of this album, which is one of the catchiest and most hope-filled emotional rock albums I've ever heard. If you haven't jumped on Children's bandwagon, don't wait any longer. This album will stay in heavy rotation for me all year. Similar to House of Heroes, this album is loaded with incredibly tight guitar riffs and amazing harmonies. This album is by far the catchiest, most energetic and emotionally engaging alternative rock album I've heard this year.
 

 

In addition to Children 18:3, I interviewed these artists for upcoming "behind the song" devotionals: for KING & COUNTRY ("The Proof Of Your Love"), Evelia ("Too Much"), The City Harmonic ("Mountaintop"), Rend Collective Experiment ("Praise Like Fireworks"), MIKESCHAIR ("All For You"), Chris August ("Center Of It"), All Sons & Daughters ("Wake Up"), The Letter Black ("Collapse") and Group 1 Crew ("Beautiful").

 

Friday's worship stage featured one of my favorite worship artists, All Sons & Daughters. The story of All Sons & Daughters begins with artist David Leonard wanting to spend less time traveling and more time in a real relationship with his local church. After experiencing the music business rush as front man in the acclaimed band Jackson Waters and then as touring keyboard player with NEEDTOBREATHE, David felt called to write songs for the spiritual community he and his wife belonged to in Franklin, Tennessee. At the same time, Leslie Jordan was part of the creative staff at Journey Church where they worshipped. Her passion for singing and writing was likewise rooted in being there to live out the story of faith with her husband and a close group of believers. Neither was expecting to find a path that would spread these efforts both near and far, but God is so good at making things beautiful.

 

David and Leslie opened with Brokenness Aside's title track, which was born of this broken world and a time when Leslie was reminded we are never really whole until Heaven. A sweeping selection that begins as a whisper, transitions into an anthem, and includes a beautiful classical coda. It captures every unique charm All Sons & Daughters has to offer. Then they led us in worship with "Nothing But The Blood" and Hillsong's "Forever Reign." That led into an ethereal new song "Reason To Sing" that Leslie said was inspired by studying Psalm 13:5: "But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation."

 

Another ethereal tune, the meditative "Your Glory," also came out of the Psalms study. The minute they started "Wake Up" I couldn't help but stand up in the worship tent and raise my hands in surrender to God. The powerful chorus is the cry of my heart: "Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up all you sleepers, Stand up, stand up, Stand up all you dreamers, Hands up, hands up, Hands up all believers, Take up your cross, carry it on." Amen! "Oh Our Lord" is a celebration of the God of Creation penned with Dove Award-winning writer Paul Baloche. Leslie found inspiration for "All the Poor and Powerless"—a simple yet epic composition whose delicate individual parts later become a magnificent whole—in a series their church did on the Psalms that helped provide an especially clear image of Heaven. By sharing the song through social media websites, other churches are already singing this stirring piece around the country. The incredibly worshipful set was my absolute favorite time of the entire festival as I sat and worshipped along with these talented worship leaders at the feet of Jesus, and offered Him all of my praise and surrender to His majesty. Don't miss out on All Sons & Daughters.

 

 

Our prayer for Creation Northeast 2012 was that people would be changed, restored, and encouraged to serve the Lord and to make a difference in this world. God blessed us with sunny weather each of the days we were there, and we somehow managed to leave before thunderstorms. More than 1,000 children were sponsored through World Vision, and over 1,000 people made a commitment to Christ along with over 300 people getting baptized. The festival was everything we hoped and prayed for, and the purpose of Creation was completely served, which is to present the Gospel through music, teaching, and any other creative means so that those attending will be drawn to salvation and discipleship in Christ. We came together by the thousands to "Give Tribute to Our Creator" and to allow His Spirit to birth many as "new Creations" in Jesus Christ who will love and serve Him (Colossians 1:15-18).