Pneumafest has become a staple over the past few years in Williamson’s and the greater Tug Valley area. In its 7th year, the 2010 incarnation promises to be even bigger and better than prior years with 17 local, regional and national acts taking the stage.

“We’ve been really fortunate and blessed to have these types of acts come to Pneumafest,” said co-chair of the Pneumafest committee, Pat Waters. “We plan to have a lot of fun, a lot of great Christian music and the gospel will be shared.”

The event, to be held at the West Williamson Softball Park Friday, Sept. 24 and Saturday, Sept 25, will make the festival concert setting more convenient this year for music lovers with the addition of a large live feed video screen, a food court of vendors and a fireworks show to end the festivities on Saturday night.

But the real reason the event has been a success year after year is the musical performances.

Pneumafest has brought several nationally known and award winning acts to perform in the Tug Valley area and this year’s lineup continues that tradition.

Stellar Kart, a Phoenix, Ariz. based Christian pop-punk band, and Pillar, an Oklahoma based Christian rock band, will close the concert’s first night

Stellar Kart’s single “Me and Jesus” off of their 2006 release, “We Can’t Stand Sitting Down” garnered the group a 2007 Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song. Stellar Kart released their fourth studio album, “Everything Is Different Now” in February 2010.

Pillar, a seven-time Dove Award nominee and three-time winner, will be the closing act for the first day of the concert. The band released their sixth studio album in 2009, titled “Confessions”. The alternative metal/Christian rock album featured the singles “Fire on the Inside”, “Secrets and Regrets”, “Whatever It Takes”, and the band’s cover version of Collective Soul’s “Shine”.

The Sidewalk Prophets and Rush of Fools are set to close the concert on its final night. The Sidewalk Prophets were nominated for the 2010 New Artist of the Year by the Dove Awards and had their single, “The Words I Would Say”, featured on WOW Hits 2010, a compilation made up of some of the biggest Christian rock hits of the year. The compilation was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Rush of Fools scored a number one hit with their song “Undo” in 2007 on the Christian Adult Contemporary charts and reached number 11 on the Adult Contemporary charts with “Never Far Away”. “Undo” garnered them another honor from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) for song of the year in 2007. The Alabama-based Christian rock group is expected to release their third album this year.

The 2010 lineup is highlighted by many household names in the Christian rock genre, but Pneumafest also gives local and regional artists their chance to shine in front of a large festival setting. Among those are Sons of Thunder and Dime Store Heist, both of Williamson and Jessica McCoy of Delbarton. Others like 7:13 and Ravenna hail from Staffordsville, Ky. and Ashland, Ky. respectively and the Nick Fry Band, Out of Asher, and the Taylor Shea Band all call southern West Virginia their home.

Kids will be able to enjoy music and have some fun on inflatables courtesy of Funtime Inflatables during Saturday’s event.

A new edition to the concert’s customary lineup is the addition of Christian comedian Jay Banks who will emcee Friday’s festivities and perform some of his standup.

The concert is held each year in the memory of William Waters, one of the founders of Pneumafest and Pat Waters’ late husband.

“He was very passionate about Pneumafest,” said Pat. “It brings a lot of healing for me to continue it in his memory.”

“Pneumafest recognizes the many local business and churches that help sponsor the event and they’ll also be recognized during both days of the concert,” said Pat. “We certainly couldn’t do it without them.”

Along with the event’s sponsors are a group of people that work almost year-round to put the show together. That committee is comprised of: Nicky Cooke, Ed Ferguson, Emma Lowe, Tonia Marcum, Carol Smith, and Alice Tackett, among many other volunteers that help bring the non-profit concert to Williamson each year. Waters said the committee began working on this year’s concert shortly after the prior year’s event had ended.

Tickets will be available at the gate. Admission is $12 per night or $20 for both nights. Listed below is the schedule of events for Pneumafest. The schedule is subject to change.

Friday, Sept. 24

5:30 p.m., Gates open

6 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Sons of Thunder

6:45 p.m. – 7:20 p.m., 72 to Sunrise

7:20 p.m. – 8 p.m., speaker: Jay Banks

8:10 p.m. – 8:55 p.m., Stellar Kart

9:15 p.m., Pillar

Saturday, Sept. 25

12:45 p.m., Gates open

1 p.m. – 1:25 p.m., Taylor Shea Band

1:35 p.m. – 2 p.m., 7:13

2:10 p.m. – 2:35 p.m., Dime Store Heist

2:45 p.m. – 3:10 p.m., Point of Origin

3:20 p.m. – 3:45 p.m., Corrilla Brothers

3:55 p.m. – 4:20 p.m., Nick Fry Band

4:30 p.m. – 4:55 p.m., Ravenna

4:55 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., Jessica McCoy

5:15 p.m. – 5:40 p.m., Out of Asher

5:40 p.m. – 6 p.m., Presentation

6 p.m. – 6:40 p.m., Heart of Saints

6:40 p.m. – 7:20 p.m., speaker: Ralph Pyszkowski

7:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m., Sidewalk Prophets

8:45 p.m. – 9:15 p.m., Communion service

9:15 p.m., Rush of Fools