Gospel Life

Organisers of the second JoL5000 Gospel Music Festival have announced a scintillating programme for this year’s event. The three-day open air Christian music festival, will among other exciting things feature a host of vibrant Christian bands such as The Exploits, Liezel Marshall, The Freeway Bible Church band, Cjay, Rhema South’s YMC band, Bride of War. A.D, Broken People and Metanoya.

The festival will run from the 1st to the 3rd of October at Plot 104 on the R513 in De Wildt just outside Brits, near Hartebeespoort dam. Gospel Life caught up with founder of the festival, Adrian Styer.

GL: What motivated you to launch this festival?
AS: JoL5ooo was born out of a need for a Gauteng based Christian music festival. Also out of the need for a wholesome event where Christians can get together in a non-threatening environment. A place where we can express our faith in Jesus without the threat of drugs and alcohol being in our midst. It’s festival where Christians can come together and celebrate life.

GL: Why did you name it JoL5000?
AS: The name JoL5ooo came from the term that everyone is using nowadays, LoL, meaning to “laugh out loud”. But what it stands for in this case is “Jesus Out Loud!”. As Christians, we want to have a JoL – a huge fun party. The “5000″ relates to the Bible when Jesus fed 5000 people.

GL: Sounds cool! Tell us more about what you intend doing with the proceeds of the event.
AS: The proceeds will help us establish a Life Skills centre. This is a facility where we’ll train people who have completed a re-habilitation programme and who have no prospects for their future. The centre will teach people more about life and industrial skills, as well as coping mechanisms to help the guys get on their feet once they leave the centre.

GL: Where are you planning to establish the centre?
AS: In De Wildt, at the same place where the festival will be held this year.

GL: What are some of the exciting things that fans can expect at the event?
AS: Great music, exciting prizes, and most importantly, it will be a time for Christians to connect and celebrate their common denominator, Jesus Christ. Jesus will be at the festival. We also have a number of South Africa’s greatest Christian motivational and inspirational speakers attending. They will be delivering short, powerful messages throughout the weekend.

GL: Can up-and-coming bands be part of this event as well?
AS: Yes.Our focus is also to give attention to the unsigned bands in South Africa. We’re not aiming to promote mainstream successful signed musicians, but to create a forum where the unsigned artists can showcase their talents. Bands wanting to perform can contact me at adi@polka.co.za.

GL: Where can people buy tickets?
AS: Tickets are available at our website: www.jol5000.co.za