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Concertgoers fill seats, lawn for 'Family Picnic'
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| | | The Third Day Family Picnic was a success for the artists, and Engage Atlanta, a flood victims' relief charity. Nicole Saffell. (click for larger version) | |
October 14, 2009
ALPHARETTA - Many Atlanta artists filled the bill on October 10th in Alpharetta--not the least of which was metro Atlanta based and Grammy- and Dove-award winning Christian Band, Third Day. Although hazy and overcast, the Verizon Amphitheatre was nearly full including the lawn, only fitting for this "Third Day Family Picnic."
And the show benefited Atlanta too: $12,000 was raised for Engage Atlanta, a new charity dedicated to disaster relief after the recent floods.
The event began at 5 p.m. with several smaller acts, until better-known Christian rock group, Jars of Clay took the stage, with lead singer Dan Haseltine energetically dancing around the stage, encouraging the crowd to sing along. They ended their set with a remix of their top 90s single, "Flood" complete with strobe lights to simulate lightning. It was ironic to say the least, given the recent Atlanta deluge.
One highlight of the evening was the Daraja Children's Choir of Africa. These high-stepping young orphans from Kenya, clad in bright orange uniforms, sang "New Song Rise" and "God of this City," inspiring hope for those listening.
Next Mac Powell of Third Day took the stage for the "Glory Revealed" set. Powell joined five other musicians for this folksy set, including fellow Atlantan and Dove winner Laura Story who leads worship at Perimeter Church in Johns Creek.
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| | | | A food drive tied in with the concert to benefit the Atlanta Food Bank and all of its affiliated food pantries was very successful, once the audience started streaming into the amphitheater. Nicole Saffell. (click for larger version) | | |
"Glory Revealed" is the fruit of a collaborative project from many contemporary Christian artists who made it their goal to put many Bible verses verbatim into song. Recorded in one week in June 2008 in another Atlanta native's mid-Georgia cabin, Jeff Foxworthy, the songs reflected their country and at times bluegrass roots with a fiddle, mandolin and stand-up bass all in the band.
The evening ended with the traditional, southern-influenced Christian rock of Third Day. Led by Powell's sultry baritone voice, their set was definitely the most visually interesting with 12 screens portraying several scenes and bright colors. [They even had a B-set from the crowd a-la-Coldplay, Powell joking "these seats just got a lot better."]
After the first few songs, Powell commented that it was "so great to be back home, ya'll with a hometown crowd." The hometown crowd seemed to agree.
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