MOUNT VERNON — The Christian rock band Kayfas will be playing at the Ohio State Fair on Sunday. Vocalist Travis Hess is originally from Mount Vernon.
Lead guitarist Scott McWhinney formed the band three years ago. In addition to Hess and McWhinney, the band also includes Damon Ward on bass, Bill Hayes on acoustic guitar, Jeff Turner on drums. A recent addition to the group is Zach French, guitarist.
The band members all live in the London, Ohio, area.
Hess said the name Kayfas is Greek for Peter, noting that Jesus put him at the head of the church and said, “You are the rock.” And God is the reason, Hess said, that the band is playing at the fair.
“It was a God thing. It all of a sudden happened,” Hess said. “A guy just called and said he was with a recording company in Columbus and wondered if we wanted to play at the fair.”
The band has performed at the Mustard Seed Café in West Jefferson and a few other times at small events. They also performed last year at the Battle of the Bands in Cincinnati. Playing at the fair will be a significant opportunity.
Hess, who is currently a diesel mechanic and hopes to get accepted to train as a Columbus city police officer, said he sang in the high school choir.