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Bigger, better and free.
Those three words are how Pro-Life Music Fest event organizer Martt Clupper described the fourth annual event set for July 6 at the City-County Athletic Complex, Warsaw.
Featuring 11 Christian bands from across the country and beyond, the music festival begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 10 p.m. with Christian rockers Skillet as headlining act. Skillet, a nationally well-known band, headlined the event last year, too.
"By far (it's) the biggest and it's going to run the longest," said Clupper.
This is also the first year the event has been held at the CCAC, 3215 Old Road 30W. In case of poor weather, the event will be held in the Career Center Gym, Warsaw Community High School.
Last year, approximately 2,000 people attended the Pro-Life Music Fest. "This year, in theory, it could double," said Clupper.
Reason 1: It's free. Reason 2: There are 11 bands instead of just 3. Reason 3: It's 13 hours long.
"We're hoping to see 3,000 to 4,000 people but it may be higher," Clupper said.
On the event's official Web site, www.plmf.org, Clupper said every day they get 30 to 40 people visiting the site.
Along with Skillet, other Christian acts slated to perform include The Benjamin Gate, GS Megaphone, Luna Halo, CR 33, 24 Idaho, Last Tuesday, 6 Days From Sunday, Emissary, Gone Hazel and GodSound.
Styles of the Christian bands include everything from straight-up rock to pop/punk to even a little rap/hip-hop sound.
Skillet's performance last year, Clupper said, "was fantastic. Things went extremely well."
The Benjamin Gate, a band all the way from South Africa, features a female lead singer. "She's got an incredible voice," Clupper said.
GS Megaphone, a relatively new band, Clupper said, is getting a lot of comparisons to Creed.
GodSound, the rap/hip-hop band, is formed by three Grace College students. The other bands come from all across the country. For example, Gone Hazel is an Orange County, Calif., Christian band.
"It's a tremendous mix that way," Clupper said.
Clupper said the bands will be around during the festival to meet and greet the fans.
Music won't be the only item on the festival's itinerary. Between 9 and 10 a.m., CDs will be given away and, for $2 per raffle ticket, a person can buy a chance to win a mountain bike from Trail House, Winona Lake. After 10 a.m., the raffle tickets are $5 apiece. All the money from the raffle will go to Heartline Pregnancy Center.
Concessions will be provided by the CCAC and each band will sell their own wares. Other activities will include a climbing wall and a hydraulic boom lift.
During the festival, there will also be guest speakers.
The event is being supported by local businesses, churches and individuals.
For more information, call 574-551-9692 or visit online at www.plmf.org
