For the past 29 years, faith-filled attendees of all ages, styles and denominations have made the pilgrimage to the hills of Western Illinois for this week-long celebration. They come to be inspired through seminary level classes and discussions, entertained with the best in music and film, spurred to further creativity with visual art, invigorated through sport and competition and to experience spiritual renewal among this diverse gathering of believers that makes the Cornerstone Festival community.

This year, the three new main music stages will have a more genre-specific feel:

Center Stage (formerly the main stage) will be the home for the pop, rock and indie music fan. Staged in a large circus tent, the Center Stage will have the atmosphere of a more intimate club setting. Artists on this stage include reunions of the OC Supertones and Squad Five-O, Eisley, Josh Garrels, and Danielson. Neal Morse (solo artist and member of Spock's Beard and Transatlantic), will be doing a special 2-hour set.

The Gallery Stage has long been a favorite of Cornerstone veterans. This stage, as always, is designed with the acoustic and folk fans in mind. Artists include Over the Rhine, The Farewell Drifters, Iona, Glenn Kaiser Band, The Choir, The Violet Burning and Ashley Cleveland.

Fans who like music at a louder volume, including metal, punk and hardcore, will be drawn to the impressive lineup at the Underground Stage. Confirmed artists include The Chariot, Norma Jean, For Today, Flatfoot 56, White Collar Sideshow and War of Ages.

More artists will be announced in the coming weeks on all stages.

Cornerstone is known for more than just music, and this year is no exception. Extensive seminary-level seminars, discussions, the Cornerstone Art Village, the Imaginarium, sporting events and the children's programs (including Creation Station and Artrageous!) will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

This year, ticket prices have been rolled back by 25% to help families struggling in these tough financial times. As always, tickets include free parking, free camping and free hot showers. Kids under the age of 11 can attend free of charge. Early ticketing discount rates and day tickets can be found at http://tinyurl.com/cstonetix2012

Cornerstone Festival 2012 will be held July 2-7 in Bushnell, Illinois. http://www.CornerstoneFestival.com

About Cornerstone Festival:
Cornerstone Festival (http://www.CornerstoneFestival.com) launched in 1984 to meet the needs of a new generation of music lovers and spiritual seekers, with the hope of bringing together great music, art, film, and intelligent Christian thinking on family, worship, and play. For too long the Christian community had neglected Christian artists and musicians that didn't fit into a narrow mold, and tackling real life issues was not a regular part of the Christian music festival agenda. Since inception, Cornerstone has highlighted music that was screaming to be heard and provided thousands of hours of seminars and workshops covering everything from personal life issues (sex, homosexuality, accountability, etc.) to social justice, being part of the global Christian community, caring for the poor, mission business, and hundreds of other topics over the years. People travel from all over the world to Cornerstone to hear and see the very best and most creative artists in the faith community across multiple artistic disciplines. Cornerstone fans are cultivating a way of engaging with the world that opens a path to a lifetime of individual growth and community.

Cornerstone is hosted each year by Jesus People USA, an inner city mission organization based in Chicago, and, since 1991 has been held at the 650-acre Cornerstone Farm, 23325 N Cornerstone Road, Marietta, Illinois 61459. The 2012 event will be held July 2-7. The event is also part of the FrontGate Media group.

 

 

 

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