Big names set for Collide fest

Planners are hoping to draw 6,000 to 10,000 people to the Trumbull County Fairgrounds next weekend.

By JOHN BENSON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

CORTLAND — Cles and Davina Holbrook of Champion spent the last few years promoting their Christian radio Web site (KNET180radio.com) at music festivals throughout the Midwest.

In doing so, they realized the experience had prepared them for the higher calling of creating a massive Christian music festival for Northeast Ohio.

“The idea came up about a year ago when we decided. ‘Why don’t we do something around here?” said Cles. “We wanted to do something that was obviously pointed at Christians and that audience, but also it’s just a positive event that can bring some positive news to the Valley after all of the negative news, negative things that were happening.”

What began as inquiries to potential sponsors quickly became the full-time focus of the Holbrooks, as one local and national entity after another signed on to make the couple’s Christian music festival dreams become a reality. The result is the inaugural Collide music festival, which takes place Friday and Saturday at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds.

“We were able to get a nice size grant from the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau, who saw a value in what we were doing,” Cles said. The grant totaled $13,750.

“This has been a phenomenal summer for us here in Trumbull County,” said Trumbull County Tourism Executive Director Stephanie Sferra. “Collide is another event that will bring thousands of additional people to our area this summer.”

Big names

Whereas some music festivals begin small and grow into a mainstream attraction, that’s not the case with this two-day affair that features more than 50 bands, including national Christian recording artists Michael W. Smith, Point of Grace, Jars Of Clay, Sonicflood, Flatfoot 56 and more. 

“We could have done something small with some regional bands that didn’t really have any oomph to them, but we didn’t want to do that,” Cles said. “We wanted to do something that had some meat to it.”

That’s definitely the case with Michael W. Smith, who has sold nearly 20 million records and is one of the biggest names in Christian music. Billed as a big-time music event, Collide boasts three stages — featuring mainstream bands, children’s acts and hardcore groups — offering simultaneous Christian-based entertainment throughout.

“There is something for everybody,” Cles said. “Mom and dad can be listening to one thing while the kids are listening to something else. There are also other activities going on with extreme skateboard demonstrations, over 50 food vendors and of course camping. So this is a full-weekend family event.”

Cles, who is hoping to draw between 6,000 to 10,000 people, believes a successful Collide music festival will favorably impact the area’s economics and image.

“This will be undoubtedly the biggest event to come to the Trumbull County area probably ever,” Cles said. “Not just in Christian terms but in all terms, because of the volume of business we’re doing and the numbers of people that are coming. Our goal is to open this up and to do this every year and other things.

“We’ve been in talks with the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown and other local cities. What we want to do is to keep bringing positive events to the market, Christian-oriented, but things that bring a positive slant to the market.”