Twenty-five years ago, a group for Christians with a love for music decided to put together a festival dedicated to Christian Rock. Over the course of twenty-five years, that festival has changed locations and expanded to cover everything dealing with Christians and well… creativity. The festival’s name: Cornerstone. The festival’s founders: Jesus People USA. The festival’s location: Bushnell, IL.

 As common when something has been around for a quarter century, this year’s Cornerstone Festival will be a huge celebration. We here at Tastyfresh.com are proud to not only be present at this celebration, but to help put it on in our own special way. This year, we’re going to have a truly huge party.

Doug Theodore, Jeremy Kadinger, Kevin Oneel and myself starting planning for the 2008 Afterhours Club stage before we had even gotten out of Bushnell last summer.  After the huge success of last year with Kenneth Thomas, Greg “Stryke” Chin, Joel Armstrong, BTU Productions and all the other DJs, we knew we would be hard pressed to beat it. We also ran into another snag when we found out that there would be a 25th Anniversary program on July 4th which would shut down every stage until midnight.  Despite all of that, I think we might be set up to outdo ourselves this year. So without further delay, I give you the Afterhours 2008 Line-up!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Something we really felt led to do this year was to have a night dedicated to people who have never performed at Afterhours or any prior incarnation of the EDM stage. Since so many people from our scene have performed there at one time or another finding new talent for this night that would also draw a crowd we thought would be an issue.  God has a way of working things out because not only do we have a stellar line-up for this night, but it may actually be the best night of the week.

Deeflash (http://www.myspace.com/deeflashmusic)

Chris Reiche (AKA deeflash) has been DJing for 2 years now. Never content with doing the same thing twice, he is always looking to make his sets more engaging and exciting. Chris started DJing in his studio just to make mixes for friends. As he grew more confident with his abilities, he started to look for opportunities to DJ for crowds. Starting with just a laptop and a few pieces of equipment, he began DJing for his church's youth group. This then led him into DJ-led worship, private parties, a national youth conference, a secure spot as the Thursday night DJ at a young adult service/café and performing at concerts hosted at various venues. With his main focus on building relationships and being led by the Spirit, Chris is becoming known for his ability to create atmospheres and work with crowds.

Matthew Hyatt (http://www.myspace.com/matthewhyatt)

Native to Grand Rapids, MI USA, Matthew Hyatt has been submerged in music since youth.  Recording at an early age, through his teens he began to develop his production and musical skills.  Starting on a two track, to a four track, to a digital environment, sound is still a moving force in his life today.  The studio is much different now than when he first began to get involved with guitars, analog keyboards, drum machines, effects, and outboard sequencers in the mid 90’s. The iron dreamer is bringing his message and sound against all odds, and overcoming the giants in his path to push forward his passion for music and people. His current projects are running the Giantslayers label, and supporting Tekfunk with remixes and production needs. 

Paul Cooper (http://www.myspace.com/ikondance)

Paul Cooper from Leeds, England started off DJing at 15; way back in 1988. He is most definitely one of the original old school DJ’s who grew up during the birth of house and techno. He progressed from DJing on the radio and then into clubs in England and occasionally abroad. He has been invited to play at most of the Christian music festivals in the UK since he can remember and regularly DJ’s at the Greenbelt festival each year in Cheltenham. Highlights in his career include producing one of the first Christian dance albums… Ikon – Global Transmission, DJing at Back to Basics in their fledgling years and supporting prog housers Blue Amazon during their live P.A in 1997. He is still writing music and has worked with many others notably, Jon Schorah (Cedar) in their ‘Stark’ project. Paul’s latest tracks have been signed to Deeplife Records and can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/ikondance.

Topher Jones (http://www.myspace.com/djtopherjones1)

Topher Jones is a name on the rise. Hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana, Topher is making waves around the globe. His tracks have become household in the playlists of all the big names. His smash hit remix of "Snow Patrol-Chasing Cars" with Blake Jarrel has been one of the biggest dance tracks in recent years. With Tiesto playing every track of Topher's on his "Club Life" radio show and his remix of "Silently" receiving the "Track of the Week" on Armin van Buuren's "A State of Trance" radio show, his productions are receiving global acclaim. Holding down residencies in his hometown of Indianapolis, Topher has been playing all around the Midwest, frequenting Detroit and Chicago. 2007 was a year of huge strides for Topher and 2008 only looks to be even bigger and better.

Kyle Geiger (http://www.myspace.com/kylegeiger)

Named in DJ Mag as the "Breakthrough DJ of 2008" by Adam Beyer, Kyle's explosive decks and effects DJ sets bridge the divide between techno and minimal. Originally inspired by the harder, percussive stylings of the late 90's Swedish techno sound featured on seminal labels like Drumcode and Code Red, Kyle has witnessed the evolution of the genre as it morphed into a slower, groove based sound. Still loving the energy and power of the earlier phases of techno while embracing the genre's changes, Kyle has refined his productions into what very well may be a new breed of techno that pushes things forward for the next generation of techno to come.

The Indiana-based producer has now come full circle. With his initial projects completed and urged on by long time friends and minimal techno veterans JPLS and Skoozbot, a demo made it to Drumcode label manager Adam Beyer who was on the hunt for what he describes as a "modern techno sound". Beyer immediately put Kyle's tracks to the test at the 2007 Winter Music Conference and invited him onboard as a Drumcode artist. The future is proving to be a very promising place for Kyle Geiger as he is set to drop two highly anticipated releases on Drumcode and take his widely recognized DJ set around the world and to the next level.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Wednesday this year is Double Vision Night. In the history of the EDM stage, I don’t remember any night having been dedicated to tag-team DJ sets and that’s exactly what we’re doing here.

AlexB and Kevin Oneel (http://www.myspace.com/djal3x and http://www.myspace.com/oneel)

Two longtime mainstays of the Southeastern electronic music scene, AlexB and Kevin Oneel unite forces for a special one night only performance at Cornerstone.  Combining the best of house, progressive, electro and breaks, AlexB and Kevin Oneel present a unique, multi-media show featuring both old and new technologies. Pastdeux Music and TekTak Music combine forces for the night to display ground-breaking, genre-shattering music from some of the hottest producers around.

Shiloh (http://www.myspace.com/shilohbrothers)

Colin and Justin Moreh are the 2 peas that form the Shiloh pod. The brothers are collectively 2 of the hottest and most prolific dance music producers around and have firmly entered in the A-list of producers of underground dance music. One of the busiest production teams of the last 3 years, Shiloh has remixed for labels like EMI and have enjoyed huge support by the who's who list of the biggest DJ's including Sasha, Paul Van Dyk, Tiesto, Paul Oakenfold, James Zabiela, Armin VanBurren, John Digweed, Hernan Cattaneo, Dave Seaman, Luke Chable, Nick Warren etc. etc., numerous plays on BBC Radio One, and their records have topped hype charts and record shop sales charts the world over with their very first offering, the massive "Will U Ever Come Around", signed to a reality TV series in the UK. They've also racked up numerous compilation appearances—among the most recent being Nick Warren's Global Underground 28 – Shanghai, Paul van Dyk's the Politics of Dancing 2, Dave Seaman's Renaissance Masters Series, as well as Luke Chable's Addicted mix on Platipus. Shiloh's huge mark on the industry in such a short period time has been cut deep as underground dance music as a whole anxiously anticipates each future offering and keeps them in constant demand. Undeniably, Shiloh has become a progressive house-hold name.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Last year, the most incredible night was the night Greg “Stryke” Chin performed. He came in with one of the wildest sets I’ve ever seen or heard.  Two turntables, an M-Audio Trigger Finger, an Alienware Laptop and Traktor were his weapons and he totally destroyed the dancefloor. Since this will be Stryke's third year playing in a row, this will be the last year we will have him at the festival for a while. You don’t want to miss him. Oh… and I’ll be opening for him.  If you missed my Live PA last year, I’ll be back. I’ll be DJing this time, but I’ll be back. Expect some great tribal, tech house, electro and progressive from me while I prepare you for the master.

Dave Richards (http://www.daverichards101.com)

Dave Richards has been producing a mixture of tribal and progressive music for about ten years now. He has had releases on Next Dimension Music, Surge, MYX Records, N*Soul Records, Deepsink and Deeplife. In 2002, he became the owner of Tastyfresh.com and since then has developed the site’s name and favorable reputation across both the Christian and secular scenes. 2007 market a huge change for Dave as he became the host of Tastyfresh Presents … which is a podcast that features DJs and producers who also happen to be Christians. 2007 also marked the start of Dave’s DJ career as he made the jump from studio to stage.

Greg “Stryke” Chin (http://www.myspace.com/djstryke)

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Stryke began his music career at an early age. He started playing classical piano at the age of four. Moving to Miami, Florida (where he still resides) when he was ten, Stryke became heavily involved in early electronic alternative scene. His love for Beethoven and Chopin were quickly joined by his new love for groups such as Depeche Mode and New Order (not to mention an unhealthy addiction to video games, which he still has to this very day). Buying his first synthesizer at age 12, Stryke quickly learned the ways of synthesis and began writing electronic music with his trusty monophonic Roland SH-101 synth. He soon discovered house and techno from a mix tape given to him by his cousin, a DJ in New York. He was hooked. At age 14, the young Stryke had already begun DJing to make money to buy more synth equipment. But after discovering this new underground dance music, he became as passionate about DJing as he was about making music.

Make no mistake however, all pigeonholing talk aside, when it comes to DJing, Stryke gets primal. He's considered to be one of the top DJs around today. His globetrotting schedule and growing legions of fans is proof positive of his ability to command dancefloors worldwide. His dexterity is proven time and time again. His live shows, while rare, are an even bigger treat. He's had Billboard chart success with his Ad Finem project and as a remixer. His guest vocal on the track "Time" with Murk, went #1 in the US in 2004. He's collaborated with artists such as Murk, Christian Smith, John Beltran, Santos, & Alex Flatner, to name a few. With releases on labels such as Ovum, Plastic City, Hooj Choons, Monoid, Circle, Guidance, Platform, Twisted, & many others, there seems to be no end in sight for this bright star. Over the years, his residencies have included nights at clubs such as the legendary Edge, Warsaw, Maze, & Nocturnal.

Friday, July 4, 2008

For Friday, we have just one act, but… he was one of the most requested DJs to return this year. We’re only having one act because all of the stages will be shutting down on this night to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the festival. Doug Theodore will be starting up right at midnight and taking us straight until 2am for our final night at the festival. He will devastate the floor and you won’t want to miss out.

The After Party with Doug Theodore (http://www.myspace.com/djdougtheodore)

To say 2008 has started out with a bang for Doug would be an understatement.  Doug has continued his momentum from a successful latter part of 2007 with a stellar beginning to the year.  He has performed at over 20 out of state events and currently holds down residencies at 3 locations including Augusta’s Netparties monthly, Café:ine weekly, and da gathering on the gulf shores of Alabama monthly as well.

Doug was voted on and finished in the top 10 breakout DJs of Lunarmagazine.com and finished as Tastyfresh.com’s homegrown DJ of 2007 as well.  He also finished the year as one of the most requested DJs to appear at Cornerstone 2008 in recent polling.  He helped prepare the dance floor at Cornerstone Music Festival 2007 for Kenneth Thomas by opening for him wonderfully. 2008 starts off with a bang as Doug is set to have his own show start on Tastyfresh.com in April called Southern Housepitality.  This will be a podcast featuring the latest house and electro.  Tastyfresh.com is extremely happy to have Doug on staff and as a part of the community.

This will be his third performance at Cornerstone Music Festival and first as a headliner.  Doug hosts the festival’s official “afterparty” on July 4th after the fireworks display.   Do not miss this event as Doug aims to close out Afterhours with a collection of ferocious beats.

But wait… There’s more.
Last year, we hosted a generator stage during the day across from the Asylum tent. This year, we’ll be back. The plans are still being solidified for this stage, but Doug Theodore has laid out the basics in his companion article to this one.  To help cover expenses for this stage, Cornerstone for the first time is allowing generator stages to sell festival tickets. If you are planning to go to the festival, please consider purchasing advance tickets through www.tastyfresh.com/afterhours. You will not only help provide us with a few dollars per ticket, but you will also get a discount on your purchase.
That is all for now. The latest information pertaining to Afterhours will always be at: www.tastyfresh.com/afterhours. I can’t wait to be with all of you again in July.