As the summer heats up, festival season is picking up speed. More and more artists and fans are flocking to various locations nationwide for weekends of community, sleep deprivation, sweat, and rock and roll. Catch up on the latest from the festival fields below.

As always, if you'd like to keep tabs on more than 1,200 Christian artists, check out our exclusive NRTwitter page to read the latest tweets from the Christian music community. And if you've discovered some great tweets of your own, feel free to pass them along by using the hashtag #nrtweets. 

IN MOTION

@children183band: "The hills are alive.......with the sound of @children183band newrecord! #ontherun (June 19)

If you need to shake up your music library a bit... Children 18:3’s new album On the Run hit the street this week. Find it on iTunes here.

@kevinmax: Another day of singing into the beautiful array of mic-options which is the world of @sethinmotion #east Nash to #west haven (June 23)

The legendary Kevin Max (of DC Talk fame) is back in Music City working hard on some new tunes. Keep listening for news. If he’s working with Seth Mosley (formerly of Me in Motion), chances are the results will be something great.

@FamilyForce5: $6800 to raise in 9 days. Can y'all do it for us? Been soo much work already put into getting this video ready to go! http://kck.st/KgBlNo (June 24)

Family Force 5 is working on their second fan funded music video, and they’re asking for their Texan fan base to turn out in force for the two day shoot. Go to the link above even if you’re miles away from Dallas; every $10 pledge earns fans a place in the credits.

FESTIVAL SEASON

‏@jarsofclay: Highlight of the day so far: security guy in armored car telling us he's listened to us since he was 6... from inside the vehicle over PA. (June 21)

Festival season gives bands to connect with fans... on stage, off stage, and even behind security lines.

@NEEDTOBREATHE: Someone FINALLY gave us what we asked for in our dressing room... http://img.ly/jNqg (June 20)

NEEDTOBREATHE’s request for reptilian companions in their dressing room was finally fulfilled.

@adamkronshagen: You know it's festival season when you've slept 5 hrs in 3 days,have a great tan, and have put on deodorant 9836 times in 12 hrs. #gettintan (June 23)

Who needs the beach when you can stand on a stage in direct sunlight every weekend all summer long? Adam of Icon For Hire is experiencing both the benefits and the challenges of festival season.

@eleventyrock: If you have a great recipe for dealing with sunburn share it now! We are in pain! (June 24)

Unfortunately, not everyone tans as easily as Adam does. If anyone has any home sunscreen remedies, shoot them to the Eleventyseven guys via Twitter--apparently they need some help.

ARTIST PROBLEMS

@mattmahermusic: welp. Part of my cognitive function Took a nap during "mighty to save" this morning. At one point I sang, "everyone needs a mountain...." (June 21)

On the flip side, maybe Matt Maher’s onto something. Maybe this would be a way to connect to any hikers in the audience!

@AdamCappa: My guitar strings are made to with stand the heat of the of the sun.... Because I play that fast. (June 22)

The real question is, does this mean Adam’s guitar bodies have to be flame retardant as well? What about his band members’?

@sethontherun: Hey dudes that like to fist bump after shows; it's cool,but a fist bump doesn't mean punch my knuckle as hard as possible. I like my knuckles (June 22)

In case you’re at a rock show any time soon, regardless of the adrenaline levels, keep in mind that musicians need their knuckles to keep playing the music you love so much.

@michaelgungor: Some friends and I played a bunch of covers at my sisters wedding yesterday. Very fun. So now we have a wedding band just in case (June 23)

So if Gungor ever loses their position as one of the more innovative worship artists currently creating music... they always have a backup gig.

THINK ABOUT IT

@jonsteingard: Scroll through your contacts and realize how blessed you are to have these people in your life. I can’t help but be grateful. (June 23)

New lead singer of Hawk Nelson shared this thought about the value of seeing the blessings in what we often take for granted.

@mikedonehey: God can do anything without me, but I can't do anything without Him. #churchquotes (June 24)

Just in case you needed a humbling change in perspective...