In the late 90's a group of Toowoomba business people, civic leaders and the city's church community come together with an audacious plan - stage a gospel music festival that will bring people into the city over the Easter weekend.

Despite humble beginnings, Easterfest (formerly the Australian Gospel Music Festival) grew to achieve major event status in Queensland, and became one of the largest ticketed drug and alcohol free events in the southern hemisphere.

But only a few years after their biggest event, Easterfest became yet another casualty of the music festival business.

It's been a decade since the final festival in 2015, and this podcast series will look back at how Easterfest grew to become a major player in Christian music internationally, and the events that led to the event coming to an end.

It's a celebration of almost two decades of music, community and a spirit of unity, with the story told by the organisers, volunteers and the musicians that graced the stages of Easterfest.

The Rise & Fall of Easterfest is written and hosted by Justin Rouillon and is a special production from the studios of 96five - celebrating 50 years of loving Brisbane.

For more podcasts with purpose, search for 96five in your podcast app or go to www.96five.com/listen/podcasts/

In the late 90's a group of Toowoomba business people, civic leaders and the city's church community come together with an audacious plan - stage a gospel music festival that will bring people into the city over the Easter weekend.
Despite humble beginnings, Easterfest (formerly the Australian Gospel Music Festival) grew to achieve major event status in Queensland, and became one of the largest ticketed drug and alcohol free events in the southern hemisphere.
But only a few years after their biggest event, Easterfest became yet another casualty of the music festival business.
It's been a decade since the final festival in 2015, and this podcast series will look back at how Easterfest grew to become a major player in Christian music internationally, and the events that led to the event coming to an end.
It's a celebration of almost two decades of music, community and a spirit of unity, with the story told by the organisers, volunteers and the musicians that graced the stages of Easterfest.
The Rise &amp; Fall of Easterfest is written and hosted by Justin Rouillon and is a special production from the studios of 96five - celebrating 50 years of loving Brisbane.
For more podcasts with purpose, search for 96five in your podcast app or go to <a href="https://www.96five.com/listen/podcasts/">www.96five.com/listen/podcasts/</a>

The Rise & Fall of Easterfest - The Preview

The Rise & Fall of Easterfest is a celebration of the Easterfest and Australian Gospel Music Festivals, that ran for almost two decades in Toowoomba. 

In this first episode, we’ll be looking at the rise – how did the festival get started in 1999 and then grow to become one of Queensland’s major events? 

How did things like local Christian music scenes and the growth of Christian radio in Australia also help?

You’ll hear from Isaac Moody (former Easterfest/AGMF CEO), Dave Schenk (former Easterfest event manager and later festival director) and Linda Monteith (Easterfest event manager), as well as other players who helped to get the festival running and growing.  You’ll also hear from many of the artists who graced the stages in the early years of AGMF and Easterfest. 

You can also keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify. 

‘Carnival of Flowers Toowoomba’ (Prepared by the Queensland Minister for Lands and Irrigation) audio courtesy of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. 

Soundtrack: Zero (Rhubarb), Your Sweet Voice (Paul Colman Trio), In Love With You (Claire Hazzard), Kitchen by Kitchen (Dumpster), Exerciser (Rhubarb), New Tragedy (Battered Fish/Leo Nine), Cravin' Mild (Dumpster), Run (Paul Colman Trio), Finest Unreliable Friend (Claire Hazzard), Psalm 121 - He Watches Over You (Sons of Korah).

All original music used with permission.   

This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.  It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.  

You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the 96five podcast page on our website. 

The Rise &amp; Fall of Easterfest is a celebration of the Easterfest and Australian Gospel Music Festivals, that ran for almost two decades in Toowoomba.&nbsp;
In this first episode, we&rsquo;ll be looking at the rise &ndash; how did the festival get started in 1999 and then grow to become one of Queensland&rsquo;s major events?&nbsp;
How did things like local Christian music scenes and the growth of Christian radio in Australia also help?
You&rsquo;ll hear from Isaac Moody (former Easterfest/AGMF CEO), Dave Schenk (former Easterfest event manager and later festival director) and Linda Monteith (Easterfest event manager), as well as other players who helped to get the festival running and growing.&nbsp; You&rsquo;ll also hear from many of the artists who graced the stages in the early years of AGMF and Easterfest.&nbsp;
You can also keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1u9mLRcvHgNEXSMlGq4ZLv?si=ADeaZc5WR0aQ2XLtG-ngww">Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify</a>.&nbsp;
&lsquo;Carnival of Flowers Toowoomba&rsquo; (Prepared by the Queensland Minister for Lands and Irrigation) audio courtesy of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.&nbsp;
Soundtrack: Zero (Rhubarb), Your Sweet Voice (Paul Colman Trio), In Love With You (Claire Hazzard), Kitchen by Kitchen (Dumpster), Exerciser (Rhubarb), New Tragedy (Battered Fish/Leo Nine), Cravin' Mild (Dumpster), Run (Paul Colman Trio), Finest Unreliable Friend (Claire Hazzard), Psalm 121 - He Watches Over You (Sons of Korah).
All original music used with permission.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.&nbsp; It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the <a href="https://96five.com/podcasts/">96five podcast page</a> on our website.&nbsp;

Episode 1 - The Rise

The Rise & Fall of Easterfest is a celebration of the Easterfest and Australian Gospel Music Festivals, that ran for almost two decades in Toowoomba. 

You can’t have a music festival without the music and that’s what the focus is in this episode.  

What did the Australian Christian music scene look like in the late 90s and early 2000s? 

How did local artists help AGMF grow in the early years?  And how did the festival help artists who had aspirations to take their music overseas? 

You’ll hear new interviews and archive material from some of the artists who graced the festival’s stages over the years. 

Keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify. 

Soundtrack: Children of the Western World (Steve Grace), Finest Hour (Rookie), Shovel (Dumpster), Chaos of Youth (Battered Fish/Leo Nine), Zero (Rhubarb), In Love With You (Claire Hazzard), We're a Band (Scat), Anna K (Rookie), Turn (Paul Colman Trio), New York, Show Me & We Will Not Be Silent (Alabaster Box), 

All original music used with permission.   

This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.  It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.  

You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the 96five podcast page on our website. 

The Rise &amp; Fall of Easterfest is a celebration of the Easterfest and Australian Gospel Music Festivals, that ran for almost two decades in Toowoomba.&nbsp;
You can&rsquo;t have a music festival without the music and that&rsquo;s what the focus is in this episode. &nbsp;
What did the Australian Christian music scene look like in the late 90s and early 2000s?&nbsp;
How did local artists help AGMF grow in the early years? &nbsp;And how did the festival help artists who had aspirations to take their music overseas?&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ll hear new interviews and archive material from some of the artists who graced the festival&rsquo;s stages over the years.&nbsp;
Keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1u9mLRcvHgNEXSMlGq4ZLv?si=ADeaZc5WR0aQ2XLtG-ngww">Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify</a>.&nbsp;
Soundtrack: Children of the Western World (Steve Grace), Finest Hour (Rookie), Shovel (Dumpster), Chaos of Youth (Battered Fish/Leo Nine), Zero (Rhubarb), In Love With You (Claire Hazzard), We're a Band (Scat), Anna K (Rookie), Turn (Paul Colman Trio), New York, Show Me &amp; We Will Not Be Silent (Alabaster Box),&nbsp;
All original music used with permission.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.&nbsp; It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the <a href="https://96five.com/podcasts/">96five podcast page</a> on our website.&nbsp;

Episode 2 - The Music

The Rise & Fall of Easterfest is a celebration of the Easterfest and Australian Gospel Music Festivals, that ran for almost two decades in Toowoomba. 

At the heart of the AGMF and Easterfest festivals was community – over and above the music, festival goers were really attending to be with other like minded people. 

In this episode we’ll be looking at the Easterfest experience and some of the ways that the event became more than just a music festival. 

You can keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review with your favourite memory of the Easterfest and AGMF days, and don’t be afraid to go hard with the five star ratings! Your ratings and reviews will help other people find the podcast. 

This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.  It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.  

You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the 96five podcast page on our website. 

The Rise &amp; Fall of Easterfest is a celebration of the Easterfest and Australian Gospel Music Festivals, that ran for almost two decades in Toowoomba.&nbsp;
At the heart of the AGMF and Easterfest festivals was community &ndash; over and above the music, festival goers were really attending to be with other like minded people.&nbsp;
In this episode we&rsquo;ll be looking at the Easterfest experience and some of the ways that the event became more than just a music festival.&nbsp;
You can keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1u9mLRcvHgNEXSMlGq4ZLv?si=ADeaZc5WR0aQ2XLtG-ngww">Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify</a>.&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t forget to leave us a review with your favourite memory of the Easterfest and AGMF days, and don&rsquo;t be afraid to go hard with the five star ratings! Your ratings and reviews will help other people find the podcast.&nbsp;
This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.&nbsp; It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the <a href="https://96five.com/podcasts/">96five podcast page</a> on our website.&nbsp;

Episode 3 - The Experience

The Rise & Fall of Easterfest is a celebration of the Easterfest and Australian Gospel Music Festivals, that ran for almost two decades in Toowoomba. 

The Easter of 2011 saw the biggest crowd in attendance that Easterfest had ever seen, but something on that weekend would lead to the downfall of Australia’s biggest Christian music festival. 

In this episode, we’ll be looking at how Easterfest became another casualty of the music festival business. 

We’ll also ask the question – could another festival, or something similar, rise up for a new generation? 

You can keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review with your favourite memory of the Easterfest and AGMF days, and don’t be afraid to go hard with the five star ratings! Your ratings and reviews will help other people find the podcast. 

This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.  It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.  

You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the 96five podcast page on our website. 

The Rise &amp; Fall of Easterfest is a celebration of the Easterfest and Australian Gospel Music Festivals, that ran for almost two decades in Toowoomba.&nbsp;
The Easter of 2011 saw the biggest crowd in attendance that Easterfest had ever seen, but something on that weekend would lead to the downfall of Australia&rsquo;s biggest Christian music festival.&nbsp;
In this episode, we&rsquo;ll be looking at how Easterfest became another casualty of the music festival business.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll also ask the question &ndash; could another festival, or something similar, rise up for a new generation?&nbsp;
You can keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1u9mLRcvHgNEXSMlGq4ZLv?si=ADeaZc5WR0aQ2XLtG-ngww">Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify</a>.&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t forget to leave us a review with your favourite memory of the Easterfest and AGMF days, and don&rsquo;t be afraid to go hard with the five star ratings! Your ratings and reviews will help other people find the podcast.&nbsp;
This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.&nbsp; It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the <a href="https://96five.com/podcasts/">96five podcast page</a> on our website.&nbsp;

Episode 4 - The Fall

When I was making a list of guests for this podcast series, Paul Colman was right at the very top, because he and his band the Paul Colman Trio, were the biggest act in Australian Christian music as the Australian Gospel Music Festival got going in the early 2000s. 

The Paul Colman Trio released a number of independent albums before relocating to the US in 2002.  They subsequently received a Dove Award and a Grammy nomination for their US debut 'New Map of the World'.

The trio disbanded in early 2004, before reforming at Easterfest's request in 2009, also recording and releasing the album 'Return' that year.

In this interview Paul chats about some of his Easterfest and AGMF memories, the Christian music scene of the late 90s and early 2000s, his stint as Newsboys guitarist, watching the band For King and Country develop, and the Paul Colman Trio reunion at Easterfest in 2009. 

Links:
Paul Colman Trio website
Paul Colman website
Paul Colman Trio Bandcamp

You can keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review with your favourite memory of the Easterfest and AGMF days, and don’t be afraid to go hard with the five star ratings! Your ratings and reviews will help other people find the podcast. 

This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.  It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.  

You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the 96five podcast page on our website. 

When I was making a list of guests for this podcast series, Paul Colman was right at the very top, because he and his band the Paul Colman Trio, were the biggest act in Australian Christian music as the Australian Gospel Music Festival got going in the early 2000s.&nbsp;
The Paul Colman Trio released a number of independent albums before relocating to the US in 2002.&nbsp; They subsequently received a Dove Award and a Grammy nomination for their US debut 'New Map of the World'.
The trio disbanded in early 2004, before reforming at Easterfest's request in 2009, also recording and releasing the album 'Return' that year.
In this interview Paul chats about some of his Easterfest and AGMF memories, the Christian music scene of the late 90s and early 2000s, his stint as Newsboys guitarist, watching the band For King and Country develop, and the Paul Colman Trio reunion at Easterfest in 2009.&nbsp;
Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.paulcolmantrio.com/">Paul Colman Trio website</a></li>
<li><a href="https://paulcolman.com/">Paul Colman website</a></li>
<li><a href="https://paulcolmantrio.bandcamp.com/">Paul Colman Trio Bandcamp</a></li>
</ul>
You can keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1u9mLRcvHgNEXSMlGq4ZLv?si=ADeaZc5WR0aQ2XLtG-ngww">Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify</a>.&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t forget to leave us a review with your favourite memory of the Easterfest and AGMF days, and don&rsquo;t be afraid to go hard with the five star ratings! Your ratings and reviews will help other people find the podcast.&nbsp;
This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.&nbsp; It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the <a href="https://96five.com/podcasts/">96five podcast page</a> on our website.&nbsp;

Bonus Bit #1 - Paul Colman's Full Interview

If you’ve listened to the full series of the Rise and Fall of Easterfest, you know that the events that unfolded on Easter Saturday night in 2011 would end up being one of those key moments in the Easterfest story. 

Steve Monro and Matt Gees were radio presenters with Vision Christian Media, who were on the ground on Easter Sunday in 2011, painting a picture to their listeners of what had transpired the night before. 

They were able to capture CEO Isaac Moody’s press conference as he addressed the media that morning, as well as speaking to Jason Solaris who was heading up the Youth With a Mission team, as well as some of the campers who’d gone through a pretty trying night. 

Thanks so much to Steve and Matt as well as Andrew Robbo Robinson from Vision Christian Media for providing the audio, and I hope you enjoy this bonus bit from the Easterfest of 2011.  

You can keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review with your favourite memory of the Easterfest and AGMF days, and don’t be afraid to go hard with the five star ratings! Your ratings and reviews will help other people find the podcast. 

This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.  It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.  

You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the 96five podcast page on our website. 

If you&rsquo;ve listened to the full series of the Rise and Fall of Easterfest, you know that the events that unfolded on Easter Saturday night in 2011 would end up being one of those key moments in the Easterfest story.&nbsp;
Steve Monro and Matt Gees were radio presenters with Vision Christian Media, who were on the ground on Easter Sunday in 2011, painting a picture to their listeners of what had transpired the night before.&nbsp;
They were able to capture CEO Isaac Moody&rsquo;s press conference as he addressed the media that morning, as well as speaking to Jason Solaris who was heading up the Youth With a Mission team, as well as some of the campers who&rsquo;d gone through a pretty trying night.&nbsp;
Thanks so much to Steve and Matt as well as Andrew Robbo Robinson from Vision Christian Media for providing the audio, and I hope you enjoy this bonus bit from the Easterfest of 2011. &nbsp;
You can keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1u9mLRcvHgNEXSMlGq4ZLv?si=ADeaZc5WR0aQ2XLtG-ngww">Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify</a>.&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t forget to leave us a review with your favourite memory of the Easterfest and AGMF days, and don&rsquo;t be afraid to go hard with the five star ratings! Your ratings and reviews will help other people find the podcast.&nbsp;
This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.&nbsp; It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the <a href="https://96five.com/podcasts/">96five podcast page</a> on our website.&nbsp;

Bonus Bit #2 - The Aftermath of Easter Saturday 2011

I was stoked that Claire Hazzard agreed to be part of this project, because she was one of the artists who was leading the charge in the independent Christian music scene in the late 90s and early 2000s. 

Claire is a Queensland artist who cut her teeth on the Brisbane music scene, before signing to indie label CW Media, releasing her debut album The Goodness and Severity and subsequently relocating to Melbourne. 

Through those early years Claire picked up a stack of national airplay, and toured across Australia with acts like the Paul Colman Trio. 

You can keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review with your favourite memory of the Easterfest and AGMF days, and don’t be afraid to go hard with the five star ratings! Your ratings and reviews will help other people find the podcast. 

This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.  It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.  

You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the 96five podcast page on our website. 

I was stoked that Claire Hazzard agreed to be part of this project, because she was one of the artists who was leading the charge in the independent Christian music scene in the late 90s and early 2000s.&nbsp;
Claire is a Queensland artist who cut her teeth on the Brisbane music scene, before signing to indie label CW Media, releasing her debut album The Goodness and Severity and subsequently relocating to Melbourne.&nbsp;
Through those early years Claire picked up a stack of national airplay, and toured across Australia with acts like the Paul Colman Trio.&nbsp;
You can keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1u9mLRcvHgNEXSMlGq4ZLv?si=ADeaZc5WR0aQ2XLtG-ngww">Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify</a>.&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t forget to leave us a review with your favourite memory of the Easterfest and AGMF days, and don&rsquo;t be afraid to go hard with the five star ratings! Your ratings and reviews will help other people find the podcast.&nbsp;
This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.&nbsp; It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the <a href="https://96five.com/podcasts/">96five podcast page</a> on our website.&nbsp;

Bonus Bit #3 - Claire Hazzard's Full Interview (Plus a Live Song!)

One of my favourite Easterfest stories is around two expat Aussie brothers, who wrote a bunch of killer songs, crafted a sound that can really only be described as epic, and found themselves at the very top of the Christian Music industry in the US. 

But when you look at the For King and Country story, the origins of it begin at Easterfest in 2009, when Joel and Luke Smallbone, originally billed as Austoville, and then Joel and Luke, play one of their first ever shows.

In this bonus bit we'll hear from Joel Smallbone about what that support from the Easterfest crew meant to him and his brother Luke.  

We'll also step back to 2013, with Liam Renton (former 96five breakfast and Australia's Hot 25 Countdown host) and interview with Joel that took place at the Momentum conference in the USA.

You can keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review with your favourite memory of the Easterfest and AGMF days, and don’t be afraid to go hard with the five star ratings! Your ratings and reviews will help other people find the podcast. 

This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.  It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.  

You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the 96five podcast page on our website. 

One of my favourite Easterfest stories is around two expat Aussie brothers, who wrote a bunch of killer songs, crafted a sound that can really only be described as epic, and found themselves at the very top of the Christian Music industry in the US.&nbsp;
But when you look at the For King and Country story, the origins of it begin at Easterfest in 2009, when Joel and Luke Smallbone, originally billed as Austoville, and then Joel and Luke, play one of their first ever shows.
In this bonus bit we'll hear from Joel Smallbone about what that support from the Easterfest crew meant to him and his brother Luke.&nbsp;&nbsp;
We'll also step back to 2013, with Liam Renton (former 96five breakfast and Australia's Hot 25 Countdown host) and interview with Joel that took place at the Momentum conference in the USA.
You can keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1u9mLRcvHgNEXSMlGq4ZLv?si=ADeaZc5WR0aQ2XLtG-ngww">Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify</a>.&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t forget to leave us a review with your favourite memory of the Easterfest and AGMF days, and don&rsquo;t be afraid to go hard with the five star ratings! Your ratings and reviews will help other people find the podcast.&nbsp;
This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.&nbsp; It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the <a href="https://96five.com/podcasts/">96five podcast page</a> on our website.&nbsp;

Bonus Bit #4 - The Aussie Brothers Who Conquered The World

When the Australian Gospel Music festival, the event that would give rise to Easterfest got going in 1999, the independent Christian music scenes across Australia were pretty healthy. 

There was a lot going on in that space with plenty of Aussie muso’s diving in and giving it a go. 

In Brisbane, the scene was thriving, with the local indie label Toupee Records bringing together the cream of the crop like Rhubarb, Battered Fish, Dumpster, Tonjip, Beanbag and Elementary Penguin. 

Many of the bands on the Toupee roster would help enable the growth of AGMF in those early years, so I thought who better to sit down and chat with about that era, than the founder of Toupee Records... Jeremy Bennett.  

You can keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify. 

Don’t forget to leave us a review with your favourite memory of the Easterfest and AGMF days, and don’t be afraid to go hard with the five star ratings! Your ratings and reviews will help other people find the podcast. 

This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.  It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.  

You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the 96five podcast page on our website. 

When the Australian Gospel Music festival, the event that would give rise to Easterfest got going in 1999, the independent Christian music scenes across Australia were pretty healthy.&nbsp;
There was a lot going on in that space with plenty of Aussie muso&rsquo;s diving in and giving it a go.&nbsp;
In Brisbane, the scene was thriving, with the local indie label Toupee Records bringing together the cream of the crop like Rhubarb, Battered Fish, Dumpster, Tonjip, Beanbag and Elementary Penguin.&nbsp;
Many of the bands on the Toupee roster would help enable the growth of AGMF in those early years, so I thought who better to sit down and chat with about that era, than the founder of Toupee Records... Jeremy Bennett. &nbsp;
You can keep those nostalgic vibes going with our special <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1u9mLRcvHgNEXSMlGq4ZLv?si=ADeaZc5WR0aQ2XLtG-ngww">Easterfest and AGMF playlist on Spotify</a>.&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t forget to leave us a review with your favourite memory of the Easterfest and AGMF days, and don&rsquo;t be afraid to go hard with the five star ratings! Your ratings and reviews will help other people find the podcast.&nbsp;
This podcast is brought to you from the studios of 96five.&nbsp; It was written and presented by Justin Rouillon.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You can find more podcasts like this by searching for 96five in your podcast app, by downloading the 96five app from your app store, or going to the <a href="https://96five.com/podcasts/">96five podcast page</a> on our website.&nbsp;

Bonus Bit #5 - Jeremy Bennett, Toupee Records & The Brisbane Scene

In the late 90's a group of Toowoomba business people, civic leaders and the city's church community come together with an audacious plan - stage a gospel music festival that will bring people into the city over the Easter weekend.

Despite humble beginnings, Easterfest (formerly the Australian Gospel Music Festival) grew to achieve major event status in Queensland, and became one of the largest ticketed drug and alcohol free events in the southern hemisphere.

But only a few years after their biggest event, Easterfest became yet another casualty of the music festival business.

It's been a decade since the final festival in 2015, and this podcast series will look back at how Easterfest grew to become a major player in Christian music internationally, and the events that led to the event coming to an end.

It's a celebration of almost two decades of music, community and a spirit of unity, with the story told by the organisers, volunteers and the musicians that graced the stages of Easterfest.

The Rise & Fall of Easterfest is written and hosted by Justin Rouillon and is a production of 96five Studios.

For more podcasts with purpose, search for 96five in your podcast app or go to www.96five.com/listen/podcasts/

In the late 90's a group of Toowoomba business people, civic leaders and the city's church community come together with an audacious plan - stage a gospel music festival that will bring people into the city over the Easter weekend.
Despite humble beginnings, Easterfest (formerly the Australian Gospel Music Festival) grew to achieve major event status in Queensland, and became one of the largest ticketed drug and alcohol free events in the southern hemisphere.
But only a few years after their biggest event, Easterfest became yet another casualty of the music festival business.
It's been a decade since the final festival in 2015, and this podcast series will look back at how Easterfest grew to become a major player in Christian music internationally, and the events that led to the event coming to an end.
It's a celebration of almost two decades of music, community and a spirit of unity, with the story told by the organisers, volunteers and the musicians that graced the stages of Easterfest.
The Rise &amp; Fall of Easterfest is written and hosted by Justin Rouillon and is a production of 96five Studios.
For more podcasts with purpose, search for 96five in your podcast app or go to <a href="https://www.96five.com/listen/podcasts/">www.96five.com/listen/podcasts/</a>

The Rise & Fall of Easterfest

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