KINGDOM COME FESTIVAL 26 REPORT, PART 1 (FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2026)

 

What was my dream? Seeing The Daniel Band at KCF What was the dream of Concert Foto's photographer Chad Fenner (red hair, lower center)? Photographing The Daniel Band at KCF. 

Last weekend (June 19-20, '26) was my fourth consecutive Kingdom Come Festival (referred to subsequently as KCF, not to be confused with KFC, though both include drumsticks). In '23, Becky suggested I go on Saturday but not use time off. The following three years, she said, "Go to both days. Enjoy yourself." (Note - technically, it gets started on Thursday, but I don't like driving at night, so I only go during the day on Friday and Saturday.

If you've been reading this blog awhile, you'll notice I usually have a follow-up where I cover both days. This year, I'm going to have a separate blog for each days. Several reasons. 

1. It makes each blog shorter for the readers.
2. The more I go, the fuller the days are, so I have more to include.
3. Both days this year have a special activity, and as a result both days and thus I'm separating them.

I started off Friday volunteering at the welcome booth from opening at 10:00am to 2:30. There's an internal conflict - at 10am, there's a prayer and worship time, allotted two hours, While I want to do both, on Fridays I hear a couple of the worship songs led by the , share any requests with The Subculture Pastor Dale Vaughn, and run off to the welcome booth. During that time, I snuck into the Subculture Stage to hear a little of Brightstar, then grabbed lunch from the concession stand, which I ate while listening to rapper B-Wayde, and manage to get back to my post early (that shocked me!),

A year old picture from last year of me at the Welcome station. 

Jay, worship leader of The Subculture in Illinois.

Rapper B Wayde on the main stage.

Brightstar on the Subculture Stage at Kingdom Come Festival with photographer Chad Fenner

When I finished my shift, I did something not typical. From 2:30 to 4:00 I bounced back and forth between the main stage to The Subculture Stage to the Acoustic Stage and Coffee House (also sponsored by The Subculture), catching one song at one, two at the other, and having a visit or two to the Merch tent. It wasn't as frantic for the following couple of hours. During that time, I found a couple of new favorite band (Oak & Linden, and Jason Wayne from Drown The Planet). Of course, there were other already favorite bands I heard such as Reclaim the Day, Becca Sugg (singer of Reclaim the Day, who also did an acoustic set), I Am The Pendragon, and Chris Bousum. 

Oh, I'm talking about the music. But is the Gospel preached? Yes. Trevor Heyd of xstaytruex Ministries had a set where he shared the gospel. Others did so as well. I mentied Dale Vaughn above? He's pastor of The Subculture in Illinois, which has several ministries in the area as well as church. He brought along a group that he hear called the Castros, and asked them to share. In the above photo, you'll notice photographer (Flash Mob) has red hair. There's a reason, ministry related, which I'll share in Part 2.

Dale Vaughn, of the band As We Are and pastor of The Subculture, at The Subculture Stage at KCF 

Reclaim The Day on the Main Stage.

Me with Jason Wayne from Drown The Planet, in the Merchandise Tent. 
 

Oak & Linden at the Subculture Coffee House & Acoustic Stage

Trevor Heyd of xstaytruex Ministries. He did an excellent job sharing the Gospel (as did other artists).

The Castros at the Subculture Stage.

  

 

Me with Matt Moore. Besides being a great artist, Moore is the emcee for the Main Stage every year.

Becca Sugg, lead singer of Reclaim The Day (l) and her sister Miranda Brown at  the Acoustic Stage.

Kevin (Moose) Bush (white hat, pink jacket) and Jerrod Cunningham (mask) of
I Am The Pendragon on the Subculture Stage at Kingdom Come Festival..

Chris Bousum at the Coffee House and Acoustic Stage.

And then came the highlight of the day.

On the top of my bucket list was to hear The Daniel Band in person. I discovered them when they were in concert twice at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in the early '80's, but never had a chance to see catch a concert. That bucket list item was fulfilled Friday at 6pm, when Daniel Band took the main stage. It was the blessing I expected it to be. That set had several favorites such as "He's The Creator," "Run From The Darkness," "I'm Sorry," "Never Again," "Two Roads," and "Somebody Loves You." I had the honor of hearing the riffs and solos and melodies and the lyrics I've heard on pre-recorded material for over four decades.

The highlight: I was able to take a few seconds to thank Bassist/Vocalist Dan McCabe for blessing me for years with the songs "Spiritual Game" and "Here I Am." 

Tony Rossi of The Daniel Band, on the Main Stage.

There was a voice in my head talking about feeling entitled. But another voice told me that the real reason I'm a Daniel Band fan is not because of Tony Rossi's great guitar (though it is great) or Dan McCabe's vocals (though they also were great), but because the band had a heart for evangelism and also edified fellow believers as well.

Daniel McCabe of the Daniel Band.

INTERVIEW WITH MUSICIAN EDDIE KROSS

Eddie Kross (left) at Kingdom Come Festival 2024 with Cole Plumley (drums) and Shawn Short (bass) 

It's a pleasure to interview Eddie Kross. He's part of the prayer group where we pray for Christian artists (musicians and novelists and the like). He has a concert in Lansing, MI coming up - I've got a poster for it at the bottom of this blog.  

JR: Welcome to the blog! I’ll start by asking how you came to Christ.

EK: I came from an abusive home and was in foster homes, juvy and other behavioral "placements" as a young teen... eventually ending up on the streets.  

One day when I was looking for a certain someone at their brother's house, I was met by three ladies having a prayer meeting.  God introduced himself to me at that meeting... and I ended up on my face before a Holy God that knew everything I had ever been through, and knew me by name.  Through His spiritual gifts at work through those Christian ladies, God said to me that He saw the times I had wept on my bed, crying stains on my pillow... that He knew what each tear stain had been and said that He had stationed an angel by my bedside to bring my every petition to Him.  

He went on to tell me: "This will be the covenant between you and Me: I will be your God, and you will be my son.  Over the next three seasons and I will make your ways My ways.  And I will make your music, My music.  And you will play My music to the masses." After that I immediately got off the streets and began to devour the Bible, finding myself in every verse.  I learned to work hard and went forward and upward with God, in life.  In 1994 I Got married and started a family.

JR: When did you start getting interested in music, and what led you to get into Christian music?

EK: I loved the sound of overdriven guitars from the time I first heard them (That, and synthesizers!)  Laying on my bed listening to the heavy metal greats of the 80's on my Walkman while looking at the artwork and reading the lyrics on the backs of the album covers was a humongous part of my growing up.

At some point I realized I wanted to be playing music like that.  So I saved money from a summer job and bought myself a nice Yamaha electric guitar and an amp (Peavey Envoy, I think?)  I was about 15 years old.

Fast forward to the time when God caught ahold of me at 19 and I started to seek "His music."  I had long since lost my Peavey and stuff.  Someone had given me an acoustic guitar, though.  

As I began writing lyrics and chord progressions while praying and worshiping God, I really felt like He was giving me the words.  And I was reading verses in the Bible like where Jesus is telling His disciples: "Don't worry before hand what you will say when you are brought before nations, The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say."  Plus, the words of the songs I was writing were riddled with stories and verses from the Bible... so in a way they were literally His Words.  I really believed he was giving me His music.

As I would go on to play these songs as a guest at churches, at backyard BBQs and really everywhere I could get the chance, I began to see God move on people's hearts.  Things would happen.  One time while playing a song called "Broken Hearts" the entire congregation began spontaneously weeping and people just began huddling together and praying together... It was amazing to see God move!

Eventually I would be in some Christian bands and over the years I have played everything from blues, jazz, alternative, country rock, reggae, metal...

JR: I enjoyed listening to your music, especially “Me Again.” Would you like to tell us about that song and also your most recent project?

EK: After I came back from fighting in Iraq with the US Army in 2005 I spent about a decade running away from God... in the bottle... smokin' dope and other sins I'm ashamed of. In 2014 I returned to God and He delivered me from all those addictions cold turkey (March 3rd, 2014!).

Shortly after that I developed some pretty serious medical problems and I didn't think I would ever be able to sing again.  I stopped playing music altogether for a while. Then I thought, well maybe I can record an instrumental album.  I worked on that for a while but then I cried out to God: "Please God, I don't want to be in exile any longer... Please Lord, let me sing Your praises once again!"  I vowed that if He would let me sing again I would sing every single note for Him! Wouldn't you know it, he gave me back my voice and I began writing Christian hard rock/metal songs.

Sometimes Satan works pretty hard at reminding me of my wayward choices during that falling away period I went through and also the brokenness I experienced as a child. And I think a lot of times people get these labels attached to ourselves... It's like we hear voices from the past saying: 

   "You're not good enough."

    "You're a failure."

    "You never had any friends."

    "You're a drunk."

    "You ARE the sins you've committed!"

"ME AGAIN" is sung from the perspective of someone questioning those (demonic) voices and reflecting on choices that they've made.  And ultimately longing for peace in their life... and to be set free from the past and hoping for a bright future.

Upcoming projects? Well, right now I'm busting my keister getting ready for this show we are putting on September 21st in Lansing, MI! We're actually throwing the concert so I have been programming lights and doing a lot of promo, organizing volunteers, etc, etc.

JR: If I remember correctly, you were at the Kingdom Come Festival this year. What was that like? I was there, but I was helping at the welcome station when you were on.

EK: It was awesome.  Man, Chris Bousum and the folks that put on that show really know how to take care of the artists and bands!  That was our 2nd stop on our little REBORN tour and believe me, it was the highlight of the summer.  I think because we're new on the scene this year we were a surprise to folks at the show, too.  We played a great set and the response afterward was overwhelming (All Glory To God).  Plus, it was awesome to get to see and meet other great Christian metal bands that were there.

JR: For years, I’ve had the impression that Christian rock is on the front lines of spiritual warfare, with attacks coming from satan, from the world, and from the church. Would you agree? If so, what does this look like, and how has Christ and other brothers and sisters come and helped fight with you?

EK: Let me tell ya, it has been one constant setback after another ever since we put our hands to the plow. Cancelled flights, sickness, drummer got bit by a deadly spider, people you're counting on just drop off at the last second, misunderstandings and conflict, people being quick to get offended and worrying over penny-anny stuff.... I'll tell ya.  Don't get into Christian metal, if your "metal" hasn't been tested.  Because it's not for the weak.

There are some really great servants of the Lord who are out there though... people who are specifically praying for and supporting Christian rock and metal bands in any way they can.  Thank God for you guys!

JR: Thank you for your time. Do you have any web-pages to keep up with what you’re doing? Anything interesting coming up? And anything else you’d like to share?

EK: Hey, thanks Jeffrey!  It's been fun.

Here are some links, including one for our upcoming show! We are really asking people to listen EDDIE KROSS REBORN on Spotify and to please add those three songs to their playlists.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0jOU3OuKuf9JRAk8kT6wRT

Webpage: https://eddiekross.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EddieKrossOfficial

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@eddiekross2130

Underground Christian Rock Show! (Facebook event) https://www.facebook.com/share/J7zkKqfC1G5WxR5q/

After this last show of the tour season we're gonna focus on releasing all the video footage we've accumulated from the shows this summer.  Including our first official Music video. And focus on increasing our social media, Spotify viewership, etc. 
...and we have some new music to release this fall and winter!

2023 KINGDOM COME FESTIVAL - A VERY BLESSED DAY!!!

Welcome to Kingdom Come Festival.

 

Note: I will identify the below photos at the bottom of this blog, all of which were either taken by or include yours truly (I have yet to master the selfie yet). 

You may remember my interviews with Always One Ministries co-founder Angie Leyda in '21 and photographer Jeanette Yoder last year dealing with Kingdom Come Festival (and if you don't I'm sure you noticed their names in blue, indicating a link to said interviews). Those were among my favorite interviews, but still those two years had me desiring to attend but not making the trip.

Well, I finally made it!

For those unaware, the past couple of years the festival was at Howard County Vietnam Veteran's Healing Fields in Greentown, IN (a little east of Kokomo, an hour's drive from Indianapolis). It starts on one stage on Thursday night, and continues on two stages both Friday and Saturday. 

Maybe when I retire, I might buy or borrow a camper and spend the whole weekend there. But since I am not yet retired and not committed enough to take more than one two-hour round trips per festival, I only went on Saturday this year. Praise the Lord, I was interested in hearing 9 of 10 groups scheduled to perform at the Redemption Stage. (Before I attended, I didn't know what to expect, and wondered if I had a half mile walk between the two stages. I know better now.) 

Allow me to give some observations about the day (July 17th, 2023). 

1. One thing I hoped for was to get to meet or get to re-meet several of my favorite musicians. Big check mark there. I had the honor of meeting Always One Ministries co-founders Chris Bousum and Angie Leyda (had a nice conversation with Chris), and photographer Jeanette Yoder (I spent the day in Redemption Stage with Concert Foto's Chad Fenner, and didn't have the manners to introduce myself! 😭)
   
   I wanted to meet Undefeated for over a year, and missed hearing them perform (they took the stage Friday while I worked), but got to meet them in the Merchandise. I had the honor of meeting Jerrod Cunningham (I Am The Pendragon), Nicolle Drennan (BRVVE), Sarah Shue (Eye's AFlame), Kamber Kigin (Raviner), Russ T. Shipp (Rusty Shipp), and an Upstanding Gent. I also got reacquainted with Scott Shireman (Hush Harbor), Miranda Brown, and 3/4 of Divine Martyr and 3/4 of Reclaim The Day (I don't believe I had the honor of meeting either DM vocalist Olivia Guetle or RTD bassist Logan Morehouse yet). 
   
2. One singer I wanted to hear was Zahna. She had an acoustic set on Friday evening (I was working) and a midnight set Saturday night (past my bedtime), plus an appearance with Reclaim The Day on Friday (again, was working). But Saturday morning started with her singing the National Anthem. Still want to hear her live. By the way, I didn't stay to hear Samuel Day or TheoTerran, though I wanted to hear both -
   
   I happened to be both teaching Sunday School and working in the video booth the next morning). I did get to hear a couple of songs by Jesus Music legend Nancy Honeytree, which I didn't expect to, since she was scheduled the same time as Divine Martyr, but the singer before her didn't come, so she performed when I took a lunch break.
   
   
   
3. I was thankful I still have my hearing. The Redemption Stage was a metal barn. The first act, BRVVE, wasn't a problem, but they consisted of two ladies taking turns playing an acoustic guitar and a conga player. The rest of the bands: I couldn't understand any female vocalists and struggled with the male singers.
   
   
   
4. Did the above mean I didn't enjoy it? NO WAY! I got to hear many of the songs that have become recent favorites: "Truth" and "Fear" by Divine Martyr; "Heartbreak Embrace," "Fight," and "Not The End" by Eye's Aflame; "Your Love" by BRVVE; "Boots On The Ground," "Copper Miner's Son," and "World Gone Mad"
   
   by Upstanding Gents, "What's Kraken?" by Rusty Shipp, and "Drown" by Raviner.  I also got introduced to a song that will rapidly become a favorite: "Atonement" by I Am The Pendragon.

Of course, there are things I didn't get to hear. I missed hearing Hush Harbor, Undefeated, Zahna, and Reclaim The Day, because of my work schecule. Other favorite artists - Jodi Essex,

Worhol, and True Revival - weren't there (though, after Honeytree, I might get to hear older groups I haven't heard in concert after decades, such as Steve Camp, Malcolm Wild [with either Alwyn or the Mirrors], Daniel Band, Idle Cure, and Selah). But the day was a big blessing.

Photos (from top): 

• Me and Jerrod Cunningham of I Am The Pendragon
• Me and Always One Co-founder Chris Bousum
• Me with Undefeated
• Zahna singing national anthem
• Concert Fotos' Chad Fenner photographing Jammin Shue of Eye's Aflame
• Me with Samuel Day
• BRVVE
• I Am The Pendragon
• Me with Rusty Shipp
• Upstanding Gents
• Divine Martyr
  
• Me with Tristan Harris and Marcus Sugg of Reclaim The Day
• Eye's Aflame
• Raviner
• Me with part of TheoTerran (don't know his name. 😢)