Louder Than The Music

As the UK's Big Church Day Out event continues to go from strength to strength, LTTM chatted to organiser and former Delirious band member Tim Jupp about what's new this year, and why this could be the most exciting year yet!

Tell us a bit about the lineup for this year's Big Church Day Out?

Every year we invite a wide diversity of artists and are never quite sure where things will land in the end. It often feels that God has a plan up His sleeve. This year we are incredibly excited to have not only some BCDO favourites, such as Israel Houghton & Rend Collective, but also some newcomers to the event, with Bethel Music, Jesus Culture & NEEDTOBREATHE venturing to Wiston for the first time. We think 2015 is possibly one of the most exciting collections of both artists and worship leaders, certainly that we have ever seen, at Big Church Day Out and possibly of any event that has ever happened in Europe!

It looks like a very exciting lineup - how do you choose which artists will appear each year?

We love to work out of relationship and put a lot of time and effort into developing connections with those that we feel fit the DNA of the Big Church Day Out! Rarely, if ever, have we ever invited anyone that we don’t have a personal connection with or, at the very least, had the opportunity to see live!

Aside from the music, what else is new this year?

One of our biggest changes for 2015 is that we are developing the site so that we can accommodate a lot more growth over the next few years! This means more infrastructure, more cost, and more risk! This will add capacity for another 10,000 people and the possibility for more to hear about Jesus in this next season. There will be a few more surprises, with some fun activities planned, and as usual, something for everyone!

Big Church Day Out seems to grow bigger and better each year - you must be proud of how far it's come?

We’ve been excited to see how the event has not only grown, but continues to reach out in being inclusive to such a broad demographic of the wider church, as well as growing in its reach to outside the church. In many ways we sometimes feel that the event is still developing its identity and all we try to do is the very best we know with what God has put in our hands!

Looking back over the past few years of the event, what highlights stand out for you the most?

On a personal level my highlights have been seeing the huge breadth of the church coming together and how the event has grown evangelistically in recent years. With the artists there are too many great moments to mention, but I’ve loved seeing moments such as Jason Upton singing over people in the late night worship session in the church, with only candles to light the room. Plus, seeing Amy Grant playing so many known songs at the Tea Tent in 2013. Most of all, I love the closing moments every night when the whole church comes together to worship!