On any given weekend the sound of racing cars or motorcycles can be heard echoing throughout the green hills between Salinas, California and the Pacific coast at Monterey. The racetrack at Laguna Seca is well known for its weekend racing events. But on the last weekend of July the sounds of motors are replaced by the sounds of music as Laguna Seca plays host to California's only large Christian music festival, Spirit West Coast. This year the event was held from July 28th to August 1st. Now in its third year, the festival drew upwards of 19,000 music fans for 4 days of music, inspirational speakers and fun in the sun.

Put on by Celebration Concerts, the festival boasts two large outdoor stage venues and four smaller teaching tents plus a children's area. With so much going on, there seemed to be something for everyone.

The main stage played host to some of the most popular bands in Christian music today. Beginning with the Wednesday night Supertones concert and ending with an energetic performance by The Newsboys on Saturday night, crowds were treated to the likes of Michael W. Smith, Delirious?, DC Talk, and Rebecca St. James. Morning and afternoon concerts included Smalltown Poets, Burlap To Cashmere, The W's, and Avalon. Clearly aimed at the more mainstream, conservative concertgoer, the crowds enjoyed some great music interspersed with inspirational talks by Tony Campolo, Joshua Harris, and Miles McPherson.

Most of the energy of the weekend was expended at the other end of the raceway at the Air 1 Alternative Stage. No seating here as most of the audience was up skanking and moshing to the music as close to the stage as they could get. Bands playing included a fine local ska band called Nifty Tom Fifty and national recording artists The Normals, P.O.D., Skillet, Bleach, and Switchfoot. A couple of highlights on the Air 1 stage were an enthusiastic performance by The Waiting on Saturday afternoon and an unscheduled jam session with Pete Stewart and Michael Tait of DC Talk.

Of the four teaching tents, the largest was the Camp Meeting Tent which was used not only as a speaker venue, but also was the site of concerts by Phil Keaggy, Mitch McVicker, Wayne Watson, and a praise concert by Petra. Because of its smaller seating capacity, this was a nice intimate setting in which to see these performers.

Camp Zaccheus was the name given to the children's area. With a petting zoo and craft area, little ones could spend a fun-filled day. Visits by Veggie Tale characters Bob and Larry added to the childrens' delight while performances by Willie Aames' "Bibleman," although contrived and corny from this writer's viewpoint, proved exciting for the four to seven year old crowd.

Although music filled the air both day and night, there were also teaching times for those willing to avail themselves. John Fischer challenged his listeners to see God throughout the world not only in the so-called subculture of Christianity. Brennan Manning brought us the freeing message of what it means to call God our "Abba." Other learning opportunities included a "cultural concerns forum" with members of DC Talk and Jars of Clay, and a guitar workshop by Phil Keaggy.

The music didn't end with the final notes of the main stage concert each night. Following that concert, the teaching tents became the sites of Late Night Laguna Seca and some of the best concerts of the weekend. From mainstage artists such as Burlap To Cashmere, Smalltown Poets and Bryan Duncan to newer artists such as Mitch McVicker and Ginny Owens and veteran John Fischer, the late night concerts provided yet another musical experience.

Music festivals provide wonderful opportunities for artists and fans to connect on a more personal level. Spirit West Coast was no exception. Many artists could be seen in the crowd watching concerts. Autograph signings allowed fans the chance to meet artists face to face. The Critical Concerns Forum provided young people a chance to ask questions and learn how the artists feel about many current social issues. And Interlink sessions allowed youth workers the chance to meet with the artists and get ideas on how to use Christian music in their ministries.

Providing for the needs of 19,000 plus festival goers must be a logistical mightmare but Jon Robertson and his volunteers at Celebration Concerts seem to have solved most of the difficult problems. Although some fans chose to stay in hotels in the Salinas/Monterey area, most camped right on the grounds of Laguna Seca where thousands of temporary campsites had been marked off in several color-coded campgrounds. Shuttle buses were run between the campgrounds and the main stage area as a convenience for those who did not want to make the long walks up and down hills. Facilities were adequate and well-maintained. Campsites, although very close together, allowed people the chance to get to know one another and enjoy that common bond in Jesus.

Perfect weather and beautiful vistas of the area made for a great camping experience. All in all it was a wonderful weekend of sun, music, and the fellowship of other believers. Only a few things were drawbacks to an otherwise well-planned festival. The absence of indie bands, especially local artists, was glaring. Apart from Nifty Tom Fifty, a late night show by Beverly Rivers and Breakfree, and the two concerts by McVicker, all of the other bands and artists were from major labels. In the past Koinonia Koffeehouse, a local Christian coffeehouse, has sponsored a stage providing a venue for local talent. They were sorely missed this year. Also, the festival was held on the same weekend as Tom Fest up in Portland, Oregon. Consequently there were no punk bands, other than P.O.D., represented.

The other drawback to the festival was the "selling" of Christianity. It's a fact of life that the promoters need to cover the costs of running the festival and that part of this is by selling merchandising space. But it is tiresome, at the least, to see Christian slogans slapped on everything from t-shirts and caps to rubber stamps for the purpose of making money. It is a sad commentary on our Christian subculture when the merchandise tent is crowded with people spending money on all sorts of unnecessary items and the Compassion International booth can't even get two hundred people to sponsor a child. For those non-Christians that we invite to such events, one has to wonder what kind of message we are sending.

The sunny California coast is a beautiful setting for four days of Christian music. Celebration Concerts has done a nearly flawless job bringing the Spirit West Coast festival to the public. Commercialism aside, Christians from throughout the western United States are fortunate to be able to enjoy such an event. As the festival continues to grow, it will be interesting to see what the coming years bring.