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Heather Allen, left, of Guntown and Deborah Winters of Tupelo sing along as the band New Song finishes its set Thursday night
during the Winter Jam Christian music concert at the BancorpSouth Arena. (Lauren Wood)
Tyler Smith, center, of Corinth, raises his hands as he sings along to the music of the band New Song. (Lauren Wood)
The Christian music festival, which featured artists like tobyMac, NewSong, Jason Castro, Royal Tailor and Jamie Grace, drew a nearly sold-out crowd of almost 9,000 to the building.
“Are there any God girls in this place?” singer-songwriter Jamie Grace asked the crowd, referencing the “God Girl” nickname she’s given herself. “Sing along.”
Pop rock Christian band Royal Tailor opened Winter Jam with a dazzling light show and fans screamed for lead singer Tauren Wells’ dance moves.
“It’s so great to be here in Tupelo,” he said.
Winter Jam almost always sells out at the arena; last year, more than 3,000 fans were turned away at the door. The festival set up a stage for the artists to perform mini-sets for the fans who couldn’t get in. They didn’t need a stage this year, but one was set up in case.
Fans lined up at the arena hours ahead of the concert.
Elizabeth Stamper, 32, her husband and her children, 13-year-old Austin and 11-year-old McKenzie, all of Mantachie, beat the crowd by being a part of the Jam Nation line. Fans in that line were able to get inside more than two hours before the show began to secure good seats, along with other perks.
The family, along with friend Barbara Fondren of Hamilton, began standing in line at about 2:30 Thursday afternoon.
“We’re excited to see tobyMac,” Stamper said. “He’s one of the most popular (performers). The kids are huge fans.”
Fondren said Winter Jam, at just $10 a ticket, was a great deal.
“You get a good show at a good rate, and you get a good message out of it,” she said.
sheena.barnett@journalinc.com