The legendary Cornerstone Festival will be ending due to financial hardship and low attendance after this summer.  The Bushnell, IL based alternative music and arts festival has hosted a slew of legendary sets throughout the years, and people could count on seeing the top of what alternative/heavy Christian music had to offer in a given year.

“So,” you might be thinking.  “This is a trends website, why write about the END of a festival – what good does that do?”

Well, here’s my answer: Every artist performing this year is effectively doing so for free due to the festival’s financial constraints. With these extraordinary circumstances, combined with the fame and notoriety the festival has garnered over the years, I predict that this festival will be one of the most memorable and historic events in Christian music.  I make this prediction in true contrarian fashion, like Warren Buffet makes initially mind-boggling investment decisions.  Ok, maybe not that extreme.  But what if, instead of going out with a whimper, this festival sparked a new movement of smaller, performer-incentive free (or a different business model – like what is suggested in this article) events? And, what if as a band you were able to tack on “performed at the last ever Cornerstone” to your resume? Could be some good marketing, depending on how things go.  Anyway, here’s the list of confirmed bands, as posted on the official website:

Aimee Wilson & The Factorye
Aradhna
Ashley Cleveland
Behold the Kingdom
Children 18:3
Crashdog
Crush The Enemy
Da Mac
Dead Horse
Destroy Nate Allen
Don’t Wake Aislin
FBS
Fight To Die
Flatfoot 56
Glenn Kaiser Band
Glenn Kaiser Blues Jam w/ Larry Howard
Good Luck Varsity
Grave Robber
Icon for Hire
Ilia
Insomniac Folklore
Iona
Jeff Elbel & Ping
Josh Garrels
Joy Williams
Leper
Listener
Max Simmons
Mike Mains & The Branches
Milano
Nathan Stiteler
Neal Morse
Norma Jean
Paul Brendon Lile
Photoside Cafe
Quiet Science
Rise Into Ruin
The 77s Unplugged
The Blamed
The Choir
The Crossing
The Echoing Green
The Burial
The King’s Kids
The Letter Black
The Lost Colors
The Satire
The Skies Revolt
The Unfortunate
The Violet Burning
The Waiting
The Wayside
Timbre
Triple Stitch
White Collar Sideshow
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