Together with Provident Label Group and 12 other CFA-affiliated Festivals across the country, Sonshine will host a regional leg of the competition. Independent artists interested in participating in the contest can submit an online press kit through Sonicbids, via the Sonshine website at www.sonshinefestival.com/contest.htm. A winner for the Sonshine region will be chosen by a panel comprised of festival administrators and Essential Records staff and will receive a 30-minute main stage performance slot on Thursday, July 17. All regional winners from the 12 participating festivals will then have the opportunity to compete in the final round in Nashville, TN in September, with the national winner receiving a development deal with Provident Label Group. The deadline for the Sonshine Festival competition entries is June 15.

“One thing I have always loved about producing festivals is that it has given me the opportunity to help promote up and coming new talent,” says Michael Scanland, Sonshine Festival co-director. “That is the main reason why we wanted to get involved with this very organized talent search. We are excited to have Provident and the CFA be a part of Sonshine 08.”

Another exciting development is the increase in ticket sales for the event. As gas prices go higher and concert ticket sales decrease industry-wide, Sonshine Festival is encouraged to see its advance ticket sales double where they were at this time last year.

Scanland comments on the record sales: “I feel our focused internet push, an increased web presence and various other new media strategies, combined with what I would say is our best line up ever in the history of the event, are the driving force behind the increased sales.”

With the goal of being an affordable, family-friendly event, Early Bird weekend passes will be available at a special rate until Monday, March 31.

Adding a fourth night of entertainment to the already outstanding, three-day lineup of events, Sonshine Festival will be held July 16 ? 19 at the Willmar Civic Center in Willmar, MN. The schedule boasts such acts as TobyMac, Third Day, Newsboys, David Crowder Band, Hawk Nelson, Thousand Foot Krutch, Pillar and John Reuben to name a few. Jars of Clay will perform a free concert open to the general public as well as ticket-holders on the newly-added Wednesday night concert.

The HM Stage has expanded their programming, playing host to larger name bands, such as Project 86, Inhale Exhale, August Buns Red, The Chariot, O Sleeper, Maylene & the Sons of Disaster, As I Lay Dying and Haste the Day to highlight a few. The World Impact Wrestling Team has also been added to the schedule of events on the Sports Arena Stage.

For more information about the Sonshine Festival, the Talent Competition or to view the complete program and information on purchasing tickets to the event please visit www.sonshinefestival.com.