To hell with the devil: Alive Music Festival kicks off with Stryper and for KING + COUNTRY

MINERAL CITY − Emily Hallaman and Maci Crihfield oozed energy during a hip-hop concert on Thursday at the Alive Music Festival.

Hallaman, 16, and Crihfield, 15, both of Plain Township, cheered and danced and grinned brightly as Caleb Gordon threw down rhymes to an enthusiastic audience on the festival's opening day at Atwood Lake Park.

"It's my first time," Hallaman said of the Alive Festival, a faith-based event featuring a mix of contemporary Christian musical artists, including hip-hop, country, heavy metal and pop. "My relationship with God has really grown over the last year, and getting to be here and enjoy the performance with my friends is really a blessing."

Crihfield also was at her first Alive Festival. She was too young to join her mom and sister when they attended about 10 years ago.

"I've been to many country concerts," she said. "But this outgrows that (in size), and it's God-based, too. I know as a teenager, I connect with music ... and I've grown in my faith with (the music of rapper) Caleb Gordon. This was so fun. I'm so blessed and glad that I came."

Faith in music: Alive Fest features KING + COUNTRY and Stryper: 'We'll just see what happens'

Several thousand people attended the festival Thursday, including from Virginia, New York and West Virginia. Many of them were camping at the park for all three days.

The festival continues with headliners Jeremy Camp on Friday and Skillet on Saturday. Several other musical artists will perform each day, both on the main stage as well as on the smaller Woods Stage.

For a full schedule, go to https://www.alive.org/schedule/.

Gordon got the festival off to a rousing start, even stepping off stage to walk through the crowd and greet fans.

Next came Stryper, a heavy metal band originating in the '80s. With high-pitched vocals, rich harmonies and guitar wizardry, the trio rocked with gusto and force, pleasing old school fans who sported Stryper T-shirts. Younger fans also pumped their fists and bobbed their heads.

The crowd grew larger as day turned to night, with Christian country music artist Anne Wilson dazzling spectators with a mix of hard-driving, guitar-charged tunes and slower songs that showcased her versatile and soulful vocals.

for KING + COUNTRY dazzle at Alive Music Festival

Capping off the night was headliner for KING + COUNTRY, a Grammy-winning pop duo featuring the brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone. Their family's story is told in a new movie, "Unsung Hero," chronicling their journey from Australia to the United States, where they pursued musical careers.

Like other artists, the brothers spoke of God and Jesus and the importance of faith in the world.

The crowd swelled, both on the grass and hillside, as well as on the reserved ForeverLawn turf closest to the stage. Elbow to elbow, adults, teens and young children were treated to a stage spectacle, featuring lights, video screens, multiple percussionists, a violinist, keyboard player and guitarist.

Dancing and twirling and sprinting across the stage, the Smallbone brothers proved why they are beloved in the Christian music genre. During the show, one of the siblings said the group has performed at Alive more than any other festival.

Passionate fans sang along with emotion, and each time for KING + COUNTRY finished a song, the crowd responded with a roar of applause and squeals of delight that were ear-piercing at times.

'Friendships and fellowship'

But the festival is about more than music for many fans.

Among them was 31-year-old William Payne of Ravenswood, West Virginia. Walking from the campground to the main stage, he wore a shirt emblazoned with: "Let Me Tell You 'Bout Jesus."

Payne was attending the event alone, but making friends with fellow Christians won't be a problem, he said.

"The faith aspect is more important to me (than the music)," he said of the festival. "Because I'm with all these like-minded people who are here to worship God. It's helping me get back in touch with friendships and fellowship, and it strengthens my life."

God's love helped pull him through the difficulty of a divorce a year ago. Payne is a minister who also works in a factory that makes spark plugs and sensors for cars.

"This is kind of a fresh start for me," he said. "Just hitting the reset button so to speak."

Tom Cunningham, 62, of New Philadelphia also said spirituality is what distinguishes Alive from other concerts.

A pastor at Revive Church in New Philadelphia, he was attending his fourth Alive Festival. Joining him were family members, incuding his daughter Ayron Daugherty.

"It's a great time of worship," Cunningham said of the music festival. "I think there's nothing better. It ministers to a number of areas, and you don't have to worry about whether you're dressed well or not ... and you can just let go and lift up your hands and praise the Lord."

'To Hell with the Devil'

Many attendees had a favorite band or artist in this weekend's lineup.

For Chris Stump, 57, of Lake Township, it was Stryper. Wearing a band T-shirt, he enjoyed the group's most popular songs, including "To Hell with the Devil," "Calling On You" and "Honestly."

"I actually took a drum set and took black-and-yellow electric tape (the band's colors) and (wrapped it around the drumsticks)," he recalled with a smile. "This was way back in the '80s."

This was his second Stryper concert, and they didn't disappoint.

"Knowing you grew up with them and they're still rocking is impressive," said Stump, who was at the festival with his wife, Laura Stump.

And "what's important is they're singing the message (of God)."

That goes for the entire event, Chris Stump said. "Whether you're a believer or non-believer, the message brings hope to people."

Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com.

On X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_balint

If you go

What: Contemporary Christian music festival that continues on Friday and Saturday.

Where: Atwood Lake Park, 9500 Lakeview Road in the Mineral City area; the park is both in Tuscarawas and Carroll counties.

Music: Headliners are Jeremy Camp on Friday and Skillet on Saturday. Other artists Friday include Andy Mineo, Riley Clemmons and David Leonard. Supporting acts on Saturday include Pillar, Hulvey, Josiah Queen and Cain.

Tickets: One-day tickets cost $66. One-day junior tickets cost $25 (children age 5 to 10). To purchase tickets and for more information, go to https://www.alive.org/tickets/.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Alive Music Fest in Ohio features Jeremy Camp, Skillet, Andy Mineo