Friday Night Music-Fest

At both the and , musicians of very different types gathered at their respective locations and performed on Friday night. Though the selections were polar opposites in nature, they both reflected the deep connection Dale City has with Christianity.

The Celebration Singers, a non-profit community organized and funded choir, performed a selection of Bach Chorales and traditional folk songs at Epiphany Lutheran Church. Sporting tuxedos, dresses, and otherwise professional attire for performing, the men and women of The Celebration Singers sang brilliantly within the confines of the church. The acoustics were shockingly good for a church that resembled more a community center than an auditorium, a pleasant surprise.

In choral events like this, the church also accepts any monetary and nonperishable food donations to benefit the ACTS Food Pantry, helping them earn additional funding from the Feinstein Foundation. 

The musical selection included Wachet Auf, Was Gott Tut, O Ewigkeit, Es Bringt das Rechte Jubeljahr, and folk songs like The Ash Grove, Annie Laurie, Loch Lomond, and Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming.

On the flip side, Common Grounds Café hosted a Christian Rock concert, featuring local bands from the Washington DC area like Shrine, Laws of Average, and Judahlyfe.

 A first appearance for Shrine, they held the largest crowd and produced the most unique experience. Their lead singer, Julie, seemed to be the most popular one there with her blue-feathered earrings and energetic personality, and also happens to be Shrine’s manager and marketing director. That said, their drummer looked like he took the more musically advanced route, playing more aggressively than his band-mates. 

Judahlyfe’s performance seemed more gospel than Christian Rock, not exactly earning any points with the crowd, though that made no difference in their performance; they were rock solid in their class, just severely misplaced.

The third band to go up, Laws of Average, was what I was hoping to hear at a Christian rock concert; something closer to more popular bands out there, only with a twist of metal. Their high-energy performance stole my interest and kept a firm grip on it, the members obviously having put some serious time into forming their sound.

There are opportunities to get involved for those interested in participating in both venues. If you have some singing experience, you can schedule an audition with The Celebration Singers via email or by contacting Horst Winkler at 703-583-4422. Common Grounds Cafe hosts occasional performances on Thursday evenings; anyone interested in performing can contact the coffee shop at 703-878-5055.