Music
ministry
Madison-based
Christian rock group
to perform at Salem festival
As
I Am to open for nationally
recognized Christian musicians
By
Lela Jane Bradshaw
Contributing Writer
(August 2009) When customers drop by the River
Valley Financial Bank in downtown Madison, they may not realize that
one of the friendly managers assisting them with their accounts is also
a rising star on the Christian music scene.
|
Photo
provided
Ryan
Nix performs with the group
As I Am in August at Adonai
Fest in Salem, Ind.
|
When Ryan Nix of Milton, Ky., isnt helping customers,
he can often be found singing lead and playing guitar with the Christian
rock group As I Am. The local group, which performs at North
Madison Christian Church, will soon be sharing the stage with musicians
from Texas, Nebraska and Minnesota when some of the nations popular
Christian music performers gather for Adonai Fest in Salem, Ind. Nix
explains that As I Am looks to use music as an instrument to tell
others about God.
As I Am will kick off the upcoming Christian music gathering, Adonai
Fest on Aug. 29 at the Salem Speedway. The festival will feature well
known Christian musical artists Addison Road, VOTA and Jason Gray. We
are opening up for three national bands we are the only
local band in the show, says Nix.
While the group has only been playing together for about a year, its
music is already reaching the public and touching lives. In addition
to Nix, 28, the band includes Madison musicians Tim Schanie on bass,
John Burns on drums and Chad Sebree on guitar. Locally, As I Am serves
as the worship band for North Madison Christian Church, where bass player
Schanie serves as a youth minister. The group is known for its role
in the contemporary worship services hosted on Sundays at 4:30 p.m.
The band can also be seen on You Tube performing its single, Push
Me Away. As I Am worked with Collin Welch, area film producer
and student at the Chicago Film Institute, to produce the video, which
includes Madisons historic landmarks.
The appearance of As I Am at Adonai Fest marks the groups return
to the Salem Speedway. They previously took part in another musical
gathering that included about 40 bands. Nix characterizes the groups
accomplishments saying, Weve had a lot of exciting things
happen. Its pretty exciting what God is doing in our lives.
Nix explains that the group was invited to take part in Adonai Fest
after a promoter attended one of their concerts about six months ago.
He is pleased to see the concert organizers bring these quality
bands to this area in such a way to promote Christian music in
a positive environment.
The members of As I Am hope to continue to develop together musically
and share their message of hope with a growing audience. Our goal
as a band is to eventually get our music out there to people who are
hurting and broken and looking for something more, says Nix.
Advance tickets for Adonai Fest are available
for $10 at the Salem Speedway or or online at www.itickets.com.
Back to August 2009 Articles.