For King & Country’s impressive headlining set Thursday at Muskegon’s Heritage Landing came on the second day of the Unity Christian Music Festival. The recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Crowd-Inspiring Set: For King & Country on stage Thursday at Unity Christian Music Festival. (Photo/Jamie Geysbeek)
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Talk about spectacle.
It was the Christian pop-rock group For King & Country performing their song, “Burn the Ships,” at Thursday’s Unity Music Festival in Muskegon.
During mid-song, singer Joel Smallbone climbed half-way up the towering scaffolding supporting the massive speaker system at the front edge of the stage. With the crowd completely silent and eyeing the precariously perched artist high above, Smallbone paused and sang some unaccompanied lyrics that emphasized leaving a troubled past behind. And then he led a prayer for listeners “to step into that bright and bold future of yours.”
I’ve never heard a concert audience so engrossed. And so hushed at an unexpectedly dramatic moment.
Of course, the Grammy Award-winning group does everything with high energy and pizazz. There’s constant light and movement, primarily by the Smallbone brothers Joel and Luke. From the start of their 80-minute set, uptempo tunes such as “World On Fire,” “Fix My Eyes” and “Fight On, Fighter” were packaged with violin, cello, trombone and flugelhorn.
Lighting Up the Night: Thursday’s headlining set. (Photo/Jamie Geysbeek)
Later there was a xylophone providing a Latin feel on “Joy.” And then there’s the ever-present percussion: Luke loves to strap on his portable snare drum and bang away.
An “unplugged” segment had all the players out on the stage ramp which jutted into the crowd for more serene ballads such as their hit “Priceless.”
For an encore, the band chose “Little Drummer Boy,” a standard of theirs with extra percussion, including a huge bass drum on wheels. A version of the song will be used in a feature film (“Drummer Boy”) in theaters this fall.
Spectacular at times, entertaining as all get out, For King & Country satisfied.
Earlier, Michel Cochren and his band staged a mix of soul, pop and blues. He offered a ballad co-written with Crowder, “Somebody Prayed.” His latest album is “Runs in the Blood,” and Cochren offered several of the new songs, including the title track.
Newcomer Rachel Purcell performed for the first time ever in Michigan. The Alabama native moved through her set with original songs such as “Keep Going” and “Have Church.” Also performing were Thunderstorm Artis and the band Hopeful.
Festival director Matt Newton noted that Unity’s opening day on Wednesday managed to avoid the rain showers that scattered over the area, with an estimated attendance of around 14,000.
Thursday’s line-up with the always popular For King & Country topped that mark. “We’re having a good year,” he said.
The festival continues Friday and Saturday, featuring headliners Crowder and We Are Messengers. Get tickets online here. Also, Matthew West was announced as one of the artists performing at next year’s festival.
PHOTO GALLERY: Unity Christian Music Festival (Day 2) at Heritage Landing
For King & Country, Cochren & Co., Rachel Purcell, Hopeful, Thunderstorm Artis
Photos by Jamie Geysbeek
