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/

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 & 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.