Will Play For Food Moves to Mini-Festival Format

If music tours were ranked like albums, the Will Play for Food Tour has been a multiplatinum success. Christian artists downhere, Fusebox, Ever Stays Red, Pivitplex, Grand Prize, Jonah33 and Charmaine not only performed many amazing concerts across the country, they impacted thousands of lives through their music and their message. The tour encouraged fans to reject apathy, cynicism and materialism, and to help people who suffer from hunger, poverty and disease.

The Will Play For Food tour is moving to a mini-festival format, the Will Play For Food Weekend. The two-day format will feature Christian artists, speakers and an emphasis on service.

The Will Play For Food tour inspired more than 600 people to sponsor children through international organizations and encouraged thousands of others to participate in World Week, join a short-term missions team or serve the poor close to home.

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Putting faith into action is the driving idea behind the Will Play for Food Weekend. Participating artists inspire concertgoers to get involved in the world around them and sacrifice some luxuries as an expression of their concern for the poor. Leading by example, the bands, each known for thought-provoking, challenging lyrics, stay with host families instead of hotels and restaurants.

"We're encouraging people to battle apathy and complacency," says downhere’s Marc Martel. The band, recognized for the introspection that defines its artistry and spirituality, won a Dove Award for Modern Rock Recorded Song of the Year for “Breaking Me Down” from the album So Much for Substitutes. The album has also received a Juno Award nomination for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year from the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

With her fresh approach to worship and unwavering commitment to ministry, Charmaine is a good fit for the Will Play for Food Weekend. She makes this focus abundantly clear with the title of her debut album, "All About Jesus," for which she co-wrote over half of the songs. She brings both youthful energy and vertical lyrics to her contemporary, upbeat style.

"Basically since the day I was born I've been traveling around the world with my parents," says Charmaine. "Singing and ministry are two things that have been a part of me and who I am, throughout my life. My desire and my prayer is that whatever may happen in the future, whatever I say and whatever I do, that it will please Him and give glory to God." Charmaine has toured an opening artist and background vocalist with Rebecca St. James and now opens Rebecca's concerts with a performance of her own.

A Will Play For Food Weekend typically will start with a Friday evening rally that features a citywide worship team with guest Christian artists like Charmaine, downhere and others.  (A Will Play For Food worship leader will help you organize the citywide worship team). The rally includes an inspiring message by Children In Need president Christopher Redner on how you can transform your community by demonstrating Christ's love in practical ways.

Saturday morning features ministry workshops designed to motivate and equip local Christians to serve.  We'll help you organize and publicize a hands-on activity for like a Water Walk or serving at a soup kitchen.

Participants in the take a four-mile trek through downtown streets, carrying buckets of water. They learn how hard women work in developing countries just to gather water.

"I felt the agony that women in the Third World countries feel," said Bridget, a middle school student, of her experience in the Water Walk . "I can't believe how much they have to do to get water for their families."

Developing Christian artists from your area perform at a Saturday afternoon mini-festival where they will be evaluated by the audience and by a panel of Christian music executives, members of downhere and other national Christian artists. Finalists are invited to perform with Charmaine, downhere or other Will Play For Food artists in the closing concert Saturday evening. Charmaine, downhere and the finalists will talk about specific ministry opportunities during the concert.

Artists who want to participate in a Will Play For Food Weekend should call 253.874.8400 or 615.790.7820.

To bring Will Play For Food to your church or city, please call us at 253.874.8400 or fill out our concert form.

Denver Sells Out - More Than 1,500 People Attend Concert!

Check out photos from the tour!