Petra brings 50th anniversary tour to state fair's Powerlight Fest

Petra lead singer John Schlitt likens the band's shows as part of a 50th anniversary tour to a family reunion.

"We have nothing to prove. We're not featuring a new album. It's just basically getting together with a bunch of friends who have been with us for 50 years and having a great time," said Schlitt, a Mt. Pulaski native, during a recent interview. "And the band sounds amazing."

One of the most popular and influential bands in Christian music history, Petra headlines the Powerlight Fest at the Lincoln Stage at the Illinois State Fair Sunday.

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The free concert, which includes Unspoken and Stars Go Dim, gets under way at 3 p.m.

Petra kicked off its three-year-long 50th anniversary tour last year, though the fair concert is one of the first dates in the Midwest.

Schlitt was last at the Powerlight Fest as a solo act in 2014.

Even after Petra formally dissolved in 2006, Schlitt said people are still discovering the band, mostly because of its distinctive straight-on style that earned it comparisons to rock bands like Foreigner, Styx and Kansas, and even his former band, Head East.

"I think Petra's music is timeless," Schlitt said. "Granted, it's a style, but there are kids looking for that kind of sound now. They're discovering it and saying, 'Wow, this is new.' I'm excited when I get emails from kids who say, 'Man, I can't believe you guys. Where are you from?' Well, we're from your past, buddy.

"I'm glad they're listening."

Schlitt shared back and forth vocals with drummer Steve Huston on Head East's classic "Never Been Any Reason" several years before he was ousted from the band over drug dependency. After devoting himself to Christianity, Schlitt replaced Greg X. Volz as Petra's lead singer in 1986.

"Someone handed me a Petra record (before I joined the band) and said, 'Sounds like your old band, but Christian,'" Schlitted recalled. "I said, 'Sure, it does.' Sure enough, they had an amazing singer, great musicianship. It was my style of music with a message I was very interested in."

During Schlitt's time as the frontman, Petra racked up four Grammy Awards and 10 Dove Awards. It became the first rock band inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Joining Schlitt on the tour are guitarist Bob Hartman, keyboardist John Lawry, bassist Greg Bailey and drummer Cristian Borneo.

Schlitt, who's now based in Nashville, said he's looking forward to being back in central Illinois and the Powerlight Fest.

"Any day you can celebrate with exciting music about a subject that changes lives, I just appreciate it," he said. "It's an all-day affair. I love it."

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

Powerlight Fest schedule

3 p.m. -- Praise & Worship, Hope Church

4:10 p.m. -- K3HLAB

5 p.m. -- Stars Go Dim

6:30 p.m. -- Unspoken

8 p.m. -- Petra

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Petra headlines Christian music festival in Springfield