When hearing the term “Christian Music Festival,” most metal fans’ initial reaction is to run away. Over the past few years, though, the Cornerstone Festival has had a heavy dose of Christian metal and hardcore bands on its bill. However, that’s about to change since the Christian music and arts festival has announced that this will be its last year of existence.

Organizers of the Cornerstone Festival released the following statement confirming the news:

“Dear Cornerstone Festival Family:

We are so grateful to have been able to share with you the gift that has been Cornerstone Festival all these years. Our annual gathering in this truly special community has shaped and illuminated our journeys together and apart, beginning in 1984, when the first Cornerstone drew 5000 people to a small fairgrounds outside Chicago.  Through our peak years in the 90s when tens of thousands celebrated this festival’s amazing unity-in-diversity amid the Midwestern countryside, to more recent belt-tightening days, we’ve traveled our ups and downs together in a way that will be a part of our lives forever.

In 2012, we’ll be celebrating one final Cornerstone Festival together.  Based on a range of factors – including changes in the market and a difficult economy – the timing seems right.  This was obviously a hard decision, wrestled with over years and particularly over recent months.  But with the decision made, we have the opportunity to come together one last time and bring to a happy, grateful – if tearful – close to this chapter of our lives. Given this change, we’ll be making some adjustments to the lineup and schedule in the days ahead. Without giving too much away, we can say that we’d like to make this a special gathering to remember, to share stories and encourage one another with the vision of Cornerstone in ways that look back and ahead toward new things God is doing.  Along with activities like art workshops, kids’ programs, seminars, games, movies – and MUSIC, of course – Cornerstone 2012 promises to be a time of thankful reflection and sharing among people who’ve walked this significant part of their life’s journey together. Keep checking our website and Facebook page for changes and latest information.

Most of you know that Cornerstone Festival grew out of a labor of love from our church and community, Jesus People USA.  The festival emerged from JPUSA’s Cornerstone magazine and Resurrection Band.  Our community continues to operate one of Chicago’s largest homeless shelters, also bearing the name Cornerstone.  We remain confident in God’s faithfulness and grace to lead us on to new chapters in our ongoing journey. Thanks again to everyone who’s been a part of this amazing journey with us!  What a privilege it’s been. Most of all, thanks to Jesus: the stone rejected that became the true Cornerstone.  Amen! We look forward with mixed sadness and joy to seeing you all this summer, one last time on our Bushnell campground, for a very special Cornerstone Festival 2012.”

Some of the heavier bands confirmed for this year’s Cornerstone Festival include The Chariot, Norma Jean, War Of Ages, Becoming The Archetype, For Today, Flatfoot 56, White Collar Slideshow, A Plea For Purging, and many others. It would be presumed that none of the bands’ schedules will be effected, though more is expected to be revealed via the festival’s website and Facebook page. The final Cornerstone Festival will take place in Bushnell, IL from July 2 to 7.