This year, 2025, I set a goal for myself to attend more smaller Christian concerts than I ever have. I love going to huge events like Winter Jam and the Hits Deep Tour, but there's something about going to shows with artists that are still upcoming. The music is often more real and personal. The crowd tends to be more hyped in a crowd of 100 people coming together to see one of their favorite artists and maybe even their friends. So when I saw a few artists I love were having a show at The End in Nashville, I bought a ticket and headed down solo and hyped for it.
The show started with one of my favorite artists and close friends, Grace Graber. Grace is no stranger to Christian music, already releasing a couple of EPs and her We Love Christian Music Awards-winning album, Breakthrough. Grace started off the way she ended her set, full-out rock. While a lot of her music is on the pop side, Grace has been leaning more into her punk rock side and thriving! I've seen Grace live several times, but this was the best I've seen her yet. She and her band carried both new songs and fan favorites so well and were electrifying. By the end of Grace's set, my friend Torey and I were both drenched in sweat and struggling with sore voices at how amazing Grace killed it (and that metal scream at the end of her song "The Light" was the icing on the cake).
The next act was up-and-coming artist Jude Smith. I didn't know much about him before his performance, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Not only does he have a voice that drew in the crowd, but Jude also impressed us all with his talented guitar playing. With both covers and original music, Jude was an artist who fit perfectly and was a treat for us all.
The final act and headliner of the night was none other than California-based indie rock group Beach Chapel. Although considered underground, these guys have released several hit songs on streaming platforms, reaching over millions of listeners. The group played their set, including some upcoming songs, and got the whole crowd up close and jumping. Between rock songs and emotional ballads, I instantly became a fan watching these guys blow everyone away. Another friend and I managed to be in the front row and both left that night being bigger fans of them now than ever.
All throughout the night, each artist gave a message of hope and pointed listeners to Jesus. Grace Graber shared her testimony on how a Hawk Nelson song saved her life and how she is using music to remind fans that they are not alone. Jude Smith encouraged fans to keep holding on and believing in the destiny that we all have ahead. Last but not least, Beach Chapel reminded us all that there is a God who is so close to us and never lets us go through the trials and tribulations. Events like these, whether with 20k people or roughly 100, are amazing times where we get to sing out to these songs that God uses to give us hope and even new ones that immediately click. I love smaller shows like this to discover new artists, songs, be reminded of that hope that God gives us, and even make new friends who love Jesus and awesome Christian music.
Bradden Ford is a Christian music junkie charged with maintaining NewReleaseToday's new release database of artists and releases. He lives just outside of Nashville, Tennessee.
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