Your Music
RevGen 2009
“Revelation” is defined as “a disclosure of truth.” As I looked around at the passionate crowd surrounding the stage at Revelation Generation 2009, it was obvious that these people were here for more than a concert. Yes, the definition fits. We are a generation of truth-seekers, never satisfied with the status-quo, unwilling to be spoon-fed our parents’ religion. We are a Revelation Generation, and this is our music.
Revelation Generation is an annual Christian music festival held at Revelation Farms in Frenchtown, NJ. In its fifth year, the festival continues to pick up steam as it hosted an estimated 30,000 fans over two days. RevGen, as the multi-day music festival has come to be known, featured over 30 bands showcased on five stages over Labor Day weekend.
RevGen had an opening night, but certainly no opening acts. Friday’s lineup included well-known headliners such as MercyMe, Jars of Clay, Delirious?, and Matthew West as well as renown speaker and pastor, Rob Cruver. Friday festival-goers were treated to an intimate worship experience. Powerful crowd favorites led audiences in praise and worship, offering words of encouragement and even personal stories of faith between sets. Matthew West shared with the crowd, “I had surgery on my vocal chords a couple of years ago. I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to sing again. I’ve learned that sometimes the worst things that happen to us in this life are sometimes the best things when we allow God to speak to us through them.”
Friday night’s lively worship lineup had those in attendance standing, dancing, praising, and singing along. Nathan Cochran, bass player for MercyMe, commented, “It is always a privilege to be with such large groups of people and all have the chance to worship together. Hearing that many people sing is always awesome.”
All five stages were in full swing on Saturday. The New York Stage featured an eclectic mix of pop and rock including Switchfoot, Relient K, BarlowGirl, NeedToBreathe, The Fold, and Seabird. The Philadelphia Stage was home to the alternative, metal, and underground bands with a sharp edge such as Underoath, Flyleaf, and The Devil Wears Prada. Festival-goers found some of the finest acoustic artists on the Nashville stage including Paul Colman, Jon Foreman, Bethany Dillon, and Derek Webb. Up and coming bands such as I Am Alpha And Omega and The Ember Days could be found at the Come and Live Stage. And, the Urban Stage showcased top talent from the hip-hop, R&B, and rap worlds including Lecrae, Group 1 Crew, and RUNAWAY.
No matter the style of artistic expression, the same truth was proclaimed in the lyrics, celebrated in crowd, and praised with outstretched hands by fans from all over the country. The Gospel message of Jesus Christ was unabashedly at the center of all the lights, music, exhibits, and speakers.
Festival-goer, Di Di Proper of Bloomsburg, PA, resonated that message. Echoing the sentiments of many in attendance, she said, “Christian musicians have made a huge impact on my life. I grew up with music in my home constantly. My father who was a musician passed away when I was only 16. His last wish for me was not to get caught up in the secular music world. I’ve realized that Christian music doesn’t have to be just hymns and real mellow stuff. You can actually rock for Jesus.”
Many of the bands who played the Philadelphia stage took “rocking for Jesus” to levels that shattered the typical Christian music stereotype. Isaiah Diaz of Waterbury, CT is just one of the many fans of this Christian metalcore genre. He explains, “The music provides me an outlet to get away from my stressful lifestyle and still keep a focus on God. When you get to the subject matter of the music, you can really feel the Spirit of God on it. It actually brings you into the presence of the Lord. It sounds crazy, but that’s what it does for me.”
Bringing audiences into the presence of the Lord as well as the company of their favorite Christian recording artists was the goal of RevGen’s “Tent 7.” Returning for its second year, Tent 7 offered a venue for a limited number of fans to sit in on intimate interviews with their favorite performers. Artists stopped by the tent throughout the festival to share their stories and their faith. The interviews concluded with a presentation of the Gospel message, and an invitation for fans to respond to that message.
One of the artists who graced Tent 7 with her presence was singer/song writer, Bethany Dillon. Bethany fielded a wide range of questions about her personal life from how she got her start in the Christian music industry at the young age of 13 to how she met her husband, Shane Bernard, of Shane and Shane.
She also reflected upon the story behind the song, “Beggar’s Heart,” off her album Waking Up. “Beggar’s Heart” was written on a train ride during a trip to India with members of her church. She reflected, “It’s pretty humbling to look at [the poverty in India] and think, ‘This is what’s supposed to be in my heart. My heart is supposed to be that poor towards Him, to be emptied in order to be filled up.’ He draws near to the lowly, and we saw that over and over again during that trip.”
From Bethany Dillon’s acoustic worship to the screaming vocals of metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, Revelation Generation 2009 showcased artists spanning a vast spectrum of musical genres. RevGen 2009 satisfied the need in all of us who have a song to sing to the Lord. Some of us offer it in quiet reflection and some sing it out loud, very loud. RevGen 2009 invited us to praise Him as the Spirit leads until we meet up again at RevGen 2010. 