Independence Day at C-Stone is different from anywhere else. You would think that, it being a Christian festival, there would be an emphasis put on the idea of independence. Not only independence for our country, but our own independence through Christ. What makes it even more odd is that, July 1st being Canada Day, the Canadians more often celebrate their independence than most of the Americans attending the festival.

As a child, I can remember the 4th of July being a big deal. There were parades (which I marched in as a Boy Scout) and picnics. The Lions Club had a barbecue in the town square, and everyone flew a flag. Even people who never flew one on other days would get them out and hang them on the disused poles in the side yard or the rusting bracket by the front door. After feasting all day, everyone would gather and watch the fireworks at the fairgrounds or over Gull Lake. The night would cool off finally, and everyone would talk of the rain that was sure to be coming in the next few days, and how the fireworks were better this year than any other year that anyone could remember.

This began to change in the early 70's (Watergate, Nixon, disco music....what more can I say?) By the early 80's, there were fewer people attending the parades, and I don't know if the Lions Club still barbecues or not.

I have often felt that the Fourth at Cornerstone should be the way I remember them as a boy. Everyone could hang a flag by their tent, and we could all get together for a massive barbecue, then watch the fireworks over the lake. Not to say that there aren't fireworks and picnics; it's just that the "feeling" of the Fourth just isn't there.

This year, the Fourth was especially busy, with concerts by Dime Store Prophets, Dryve, Broomtree, and Send The Beggar at the Label Showcase stage, Sixpence None The Richer on Main stage, and Vigilantes of Love and Five-Iron Frenzy on the Encore stages.

We spent much of the day at the Label Showcase. That is where the best concert of the festival (so far) happened, and I declare that Dime Store Prophets must be the hardest working Christian band that I have ever seen. One can tell just from watching them play that performing is something they love, and parts of the show reminded me of early performances of U2.

Late in the set, they were joined on stage by the Five-Iron Frenzy horn section to perform a ska version of "Feels Like Rain." In the middle of "Rain" they segued into a cover of the Bee-Gee's "Stayin' Alive." The best thing was that you could tell the Prophets and Frenzy were having as much (or maybe more) fun as the audience.

I didn't envy Dryve, with their having to follow DSP.

Another memorable performance was given by the Columbus, Ohio, band Broomtree (extra points going to anyone who knows where the name comes from.) If energy could propel a band up the charts, this band would be number 20 with a bullet. It will be interesting to see how this band does over the next few years; I sincerely hope that they get the attention they deserve.

We stayed for part of Send The Beggar, then headed back to camp to eat and prepare for Main stage. This evening we were determined to get as close as possible for the Sixpence concert.

We ended up getting about 12 feet from the stage, on the left side. Usually, I prefer to be back a little further, where there is less crowd. That way, if I feel like dancing, there is a little room, and if I feel like sitting out a song of two, there is room to do that too.

After the Sixpence concert, we wandered a bit, and listened to Rich Mullins. Throughout his set, he brought in other artists to sing; the most memorable for me was when Jimmy A came out joined Rich for a couple of songs.

After Main stage, we went to see Five-Iron Frenzy, but the tent was so packed that we couldn't get near enough to enjoy it. So, we went back to the camp site.

We all sat in the screen room and talked for quite a while. Some of my fondest memories from the day: sitting in the screen room, talking, and laughing about Bloom County and Dilbert; watching fireworks over the lake with "Awesome God" running through my mind; good friends, good times. I didn't want the festival (or at least this night) to end.