GC Alums Rock the AgapeFest Stage
Published: April 13, 2021
AgapeFest is back with a vengeance, and Greenville College is proud to play host to a multitude of some of the biggest talent in the Contemporary Christian music industry. GC is equally proud of the names that, in some way, found their start on our campus. AgapeFest 2010 boasts eight acts with a connection to Greenville College; both alumni and current students alike. This group of talent will be featured on both the Main and Second Stage, at the late-night Coffeehouse, and during the Battle of the Bands.
First up on Main Stage , responsible for kicking off AgapeFest 2010, GC is proud to present the runner-up in last year's Battle of the Bands competition , Mark David and Surface Deep . The band, based out of Alton, IL, works to bridge the gap between the traditions of soulful gospel and Contemporary Christian Music. GC alum Mark David Goins (2007), lead vocalist for the band, will also be featured as Friday night's speaker.
Also taking a turn on the Main Stage is GC alum Stephanie Smith (2006), who first appeared at AgapeFest 2003 as a freshman. During her time at Greenville, the Contemporary Christian Music program provided her with many opportunities for collaboration, instruction, recording and performance. Her "compelling redemption story drives the hope-drenched lyrics and gutsy honesty of Not Afraid, her debut album overflowing with solid pop rock anthems, all written or co-written by Stephanie." Outside of her music, Stephanie ministers regularly with Soles4Soles , a Nashville-based non-profit that facilitates the donation of shoes to the hurting worldwide, as well as Pure Freedom founders .
The final alumni act to grace our Main Stage this year is the increasingly popular, yet remarkably unconventional Paper Route . Though currently based out of Nashville, Tennessee, the three principal members of the band met as students at Greenville College. Vocalist and keyboardist Justin Thomas Daly, bassist and programmer Chad Howat and vocalist and guitarist Andy Smith founded the band in 2004. With a style characterized as electronic, pop and ambient, Paper Route instils each of their songs with a beating heart and an intimacy drawn from the members' church upbringings and their own personal take on faith.
Rocking out on Second Stage this year is Greenville College student band Eagle Scout , a group founded by four seniors and one junior. The group, which has already released both an EP and a full length album, received rave reviews from AbsolutePunk, PastePunk, Exclaim! and several others. Ben Helmen, Brandon Hunter, Kyle Collman, Jeremiah Clark and Robert Varner make up the quintet of indie, post-punk performers. Eagle Scout is currently set to strut, or strum, sing and shout, their stuff on Saturday.
The final two alumni acts this year will be featured at the late night Coffeehouse. GC alum Will Johnston will open for Brian Lee & His Orchestra , our final alumni act, on Friday night. Brian Lee & His Orchestra, led by Hillsboro, IL native and Greenville College alum Brian Lee, has been receiving a lot of attention of late, with their latest album, Let Yourself Be Happy (Vol. II), being featured on Relevant Magazine's website. With members Jordan Wankel and Ryan Young, Lee's band falls within an indie rock, doo wop, and gospel based genre of music. With this combination of styles, they're sure not to disappoint.
Come to AgapeFest 2010 and rock out with GC as we celebrate the success of our current and former students. As if that weren't enough, the line-up of acts on both Main and Second Stage this year promise to deliver one of the greatest AgapeFest experiences yet!
