MOUNT VERNON — The large crowd gathered to enjoy some great Christian music in the Grove of Mount Vernon Nazarene University on Saturday at Sonfest 2009 was not disappointed. This year’s festival drew some well-followed groups such as Switchfoot and Big Daddy Weave, as well as some newer and lesser known groups who could soon top the charts themselves.

The crowd of 5,000 included many young people from church groups all over the state and beyond, as well as families and music fans who come to the festival every year.

Debbie and David Caddell of Mount Vernon both work at MVNU, and attend the festival with their daughters. Their daughter Karis, 13, a Mount Vernon Middle School student, invited a friend to come to the festival with her family.

While Mom and Dad said they enjoyed the performances of artists like Grits and Plumb, Karis said Group One Crew is one of her favorites, and their performance did not disappoint. She was thrilled to get to meet group members after their performance. “We all got glasses signed by them,” Karis said.

Getting to meet some of the band members was a favorite part of the festival for many of the fans who attended. The face-to-face contact between artists and fans is also enjoyed by the musicians who perform.

The three members of Manic Drive patiently signed autographs for their fans, while enjoying the performances of the bands who followed their set.

“We get the opportunity to kind of encourage them and lift them up,” said guitarist Michael Cavallo.

“Festivals like this are great,” Cavallo said. “I just love the whole idea of a group of artists and a lot of bands to check out. It’s a good atmosphere and we get to talk to the kids.”

Taking a quick detour from their current tour with Stryper, Manic Drive accepted the invitation to perform at Sonfest because they enjoy the experience.

While many of the fans, and some of the artists, make Sonfest an annual event, many in the crowd were enjoying the festival for the first time.

Twelve-year-old A.J. Tignor of Charleston, W.Va., was enjoying his first Sonfest with a group from Elk River Nazarene Church. Sitting with his drumsticks, aspiring musician Tignor said he enjoyed the message of the music he was hearing. “It says God’s always going to be there,” he said as After Edmund performed on the stage.

Kelly McMin, a parent who chaperoned the Elk River group of 16 said she has been to Sonfest before, and believes the long drive is worthwhile because of the music the kids are exposed to.

“It lets them know there are other kinds of music than the kinds they are exposed to every day,” she explained. “It’s music with a message.”

The message the bands strive to deliver is based on their faith, and often comes from years of figuring out their own life journeys.

After Edmund guitarist Ben Hosey said the opportunity to share his faith with an audience is what motivates him to make his mark in Christian music instead of mainstream popular music.

“We get to talk with a lot of kids and a lot of adults — parents who thank us for writing the songs which promote good things,” said Hosey.

He explained the life he has chosen as a Christian artist is not lucrative, and often keeps him away from his family. “It takes a toll,” he explained.

“But we do all that because the life that Jesus lived redeemed us and so changed all of humanity. It presents us with a one-on-one opportunity to have a relationship with him,” Hosey said.