First featured act in a new Christian music series, Nathan Tasker will perform at the Oak Hills Event Center on Saturday night. Tasker is well-known in Christian music circles, Australia’s top Christian artist, and producer of three best-selling albums and a string of singles.

Details:
The Rugged Cross Concert Community presents Christian singer/songwriter Nathan Tasker on Saturday, February 11, 2012, at 6 p.m. at Oak Hills Event Center (Tivydale Road across from Hilda’s). Tickets are $10 and available at The UPS Store on East Main. For information call Greg Gremmer at 210-379-7887.

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Bringing Christian music to the masses

by Phil Houseal
Feb 8, 2012

Over the past 15 years or so Fredericksburg has become a true music mecca. On any given weekend, you can listen to your choice of musicians playing anything from country to blues to rock to roots, even classical and choral. But one style of music has been rare - contemporary Christian. Greg Gremmer would like to change that.

Gremmer, a local accountant and member of Resurrection Lutheran Church, has helped promote several concerts over the past two years. Now he is forming the Rugged Cross Concert Community to formalize the process and spread the word to a larger audience.

“Fredericksburg has a great heritage of music and the arts and we would like contemporary Christian music to become a prominent component of that,” Gremmer said.

Gremmer envisions a core group of planners that represents the 25 community churches and draws from all age groups. He is especially eager to elicit the opinions of the younger music fans.

“I believe if we invite participation from all adult and youth groups, and involve junior high and high school kids in making selections, we will gain the support of churches, businesses, and individuals who have a desire to hear a Christian message in the community.”

Gremmer’s use of the word “community” in this group is no accident.

“We thought we could get our community more involved if people felt it was a community project. That is why the word is in our name.”

Gremmer has been promoting Christian concerts through his church for several years. He has helped bring in such Christian stars as Bob Bennett, Bebo Norman, and Nathan Tasker. Several hundred usually attend each concert, so he knows the interest and support is there. Many come from out of town.

The group’s plan is to offer five concerts each year, rotating venues to area churches. He would like to feature a local praise band as opening act to give them the opportunity to perform in front of a larger audience and to mix with national Christian artists.

The first trial will be this weekend, when Nathan Tasker performs at the Oak Hills Event Center on Saturday night. Tasker is well-known in Christian music circles, and last year was named top international Christian artist in Australia, selected over many popular bands such as Casting Crowns, Mercy Me, and others. He boasts three best-selling albums and a string of #1 singles.

According to Gremmer, the concerts are not going to replace anything that churches are currently presenting on their own. Nor will they compete with existing festivals and music events.

“We are looking to give the Christian community another entertainment alternative to going to the movies every week,” Gremmer said. “This will help promote local Christian musicians, and our community will be fleshed out with Christian music, and the artists will sell CDs of their songs for locals to listen to. People that worship separately on Sundays will have this opportunity to share outside of church.”