Audrey Assad
Aristotle once said, “Change in all things is sweet”, and the folks behind this year’s One Rock Christian Youth Music Festival seem to agree. Big changes are afoot behind the scenes, and special musical guest Audrey Assad is happy to be along for the ride. Her own story is an ongoing tale of change and growth.
One Rock was born in 2009 as the brainchild of Fr. Krystian Golisz, SDS, a priest in the Catholic Diocese of Calgary. When he was transferred to the small community of Rockyford, 80 km east of Calgary, Fr. Krystian was so taken by the beauty of the landscape that he envisioned young people gathering there every summer to enjoy good music and receive a message of hope.
For three years the festival was successfully staged in Rockyford, attracting almost 1500 happy festival-goers each year. But after talking to many participants, it was decided to move the 2013 festival closer to Calgary – namely, the grounds of the Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre near Cochrane, a short fifteen-minute drive west of the city.
One Rock’s Project Manager, Joel Looyis, has trouble containing his excitement.
“This One Rock feels entirely new,” says Joel. “It’s a big change in size and scope. We’re anticipating double the numbers of people, up to 3000 each day, though we could handle even more than that. It’s a gorgeous location and the Franciscan community here at the Retreat Centre has been so amazing and accommodating. They’re as excited as we are.”
The date for this year’s One Rock, July 26 to 28, was chosen to coincide with World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, when Christian youth from around the world will meet in the name of faith, hope and unity. Enthusiasm has been growing since Pope Francis I confirmed that he will be leading the celebrations in Rio.
The 2013 One Rock Music Festival is being dubbed “World Youth Day at Home”, since both recorded and live feeds from World Youth Day in Rio will be broadcast on giant screens.
“I think people are excited to see our new Pope and hear what he has to say,” says Joel. “And if you aren’t able to go to Rio, what could be better than sitting with friends and family and watching World Youth Day together at One Rock.”
One Rock Christian Youth Music Festival
Other highlights of this year’s One Rock Festival include a pilgrimage walk, break-out sessions with speakers on issues of faith and modern life, a drum circle, a variety of musical guests, an Adoration Vigil, Stations of the Cross, two Masses with six Bishops from across the province – not to mention a much-anticipated soccer game between the Roman Collar United team, made up of priests, against a team stacked with top players from Catholic High Schools across southern Alberta. Services such as free babysitting and frequent shuttle buses to the festival site from the Crowfoot LRT Station will be offered. As well, exhibition booths to browse and a sample of Calgary’s popular Food Trucks will be on hand. Camping out at the festival site for the weekend is especially encouraged.
Excitement is also growing about popular singer/musician/songwriter Audrey Assad from Nashville, who will be headlining Saturday evening’s time of praise and worship. The evening will also feature Dan DeMatte, inspirational speaker and author of Holiness Revolution.
In a recent interview, Audrey spoke about her early musical influences growing up in New Jersey – artists like Paul Simon and James Taylor due to her mom’s love of pop tunes, and Middle Eastern music thanks to her father’s Syrian heritage. A big life change came when she and her family moved to Florida when Audrey was 18. It was there that she started composing songs, performing in coffee shops and leading worship concerts in churches. In 2007 Audrey joined the Catholic Church, and soon after moved to Nashville to focus on her musical career.
“I love Nashville,” says Audrey. “It’s s great city for music. I moved away once but had to move back – I can’t seem to stay away.”
Things started popping for Audrey in Nashville. She recorded a five-song EP called Fireflies that drew the attention of record producers, and also began working with other musicians such as Matt Maher. In 2009 Audrey signed with Sparrow Records, and released her critically acclaimed 2010 album The House You’re Building. The album became Amazon.com’s “Best Album of 2010” in the Christian Music category and Christian Breakthrough Album of the Year on iTunes. Her second full-length album, Heart, was released in early 2012. It beautifully showcases Audrey’s pure-toned voice and profound, poetic lyrics as she accompanies herself on keyboard.
Audrey Assad
She is now getting ready to record an independent album of worship songs for the Church that she hopes will also be a helpful accompaniment during times of personal devotion. Her goal is to create music in a contemporary fashion that exemplifies the reverence and orthodoxy of the Church – music she likes to describe as “gently passionate”.
For Audrey, it’s all about sharing her faith by crafting works of beauty, a responsibility that she doesn’t take lightly.
“The world has a fascination with beauty, even though people tend to get all warped about what they idolize,” says Audrey. “But true beauty, one of the three great transcendental qualities of God, can convert people who idolize a lesser beauty. Music and art done well can be amazing vehicles for truth and goodness. For where true beauty goes, she carries truth and goodness within her. And I think that can change the world.”
Joel Looyis agrees.
“In the end, One Rock is all about celebrating and building our faith,” says Joel. “We want to reach out especially to anyone feeling disconnected, and invite them to come and experience Christ in a beautiful and meaningful way. We want people to know they are not alone.”
For more information about tickets, or how you can support or get involved with One Rock, visit www.onerock.ca or call 403-218-5516.
For more about Audrey Assad:
http://audreyassad.com
Twitter: @audreyassad
http://www.facebook.com/audreyassadmusic
