A tale of a city’s two Brat Fests

For probably the first time in human memory a rock show headliner took the stage not simply on time, but actually one minute early. Scott Stapp was the headliner of Lifest at Brat Fest, the Christian music experience brand new for the 2014 edition of the annual event.

Stapp, who rose to fame as the lead singer of the band Creed, started his hourlong set with “Slow Suicide,” the lead single from his latest solo album entitled “Proof of Life,” which was released in late 2013. Stapp’s previous album was 2005’s “The Great Divide.” The gap between albums is explained by the entertainer’s descent into typical rock star problems, including substance abuse.

Creed, a Christian-leaning band from Florida that emerged from the ashes of grunge music in the late 1990s, last released an album in 2009. In its heyday, though, the band sold millions of albums, scored number one songs, and won a Grammy.

Introducing songs, which included Creed’s “Higher” and “Arms Wide Open,” the wallet-chained, tattooed singer exhorted the audience with snippets about his downward spiral and encouragement to Christian faith.

“Daddy’s not a rock star,” Stapp said at the end of a vignette that featured a dressing down by his toddler son. “Jesus is a rock star.”

He then launched into “Jesus Was a Rock Star” from his new solo album.

Begun in 1990, Lifest continues as “a Christian rock festival” held annually in Oshkosh with the tagline “A Party with a Purpose.” According to its website, it is the largest Christian music festival in Wisconsin.

Brat Fest organizer Tim Metcalfe has said that his decision to include Lifest in the Brat Fest format was due to his own religious awakening at a Christian music event last year.

The injection of the Christian element has not been without controversy. Ald. Lisa Subeck (District 1) objected to Bob Lenz, Lifest’s founder, being invited to speak at the Brat Fest edition because of his anti-abortion activism. Subsequently, he was disinvited.

Of course, there are as many motivations to attend Brat Fest as there are attendees.

“There were free brats today for people who biked here from ten to two today and tomorrow. That’s one draw,” Lindsay Suttin said.

Of Lifest, Suttin said: “I’m not personally interested in it. I don’t really have an opinion on it one way or the other.”

First-time attendee Teresa Bull thought the event was a great idea, though. “It’s pretty cool. I like the Lifest stage. It seems pretty popular.”

The relationship between political controversy and Memorial Day weekend brat consumption is a few years old.

Less than three miles, yet seemingly a world away, revelers enjoyed Wurst Times, a festival at High Noon Saloon that could’ve fit in Brat Fest’s back pocket.

A few years ago alternative brat festivals were cooked up in light of the fact that executives from Johnsonville, one of Brat Fest’s sponsors, had made contributions to Gov. Scott Walker. In the aftermath of the Act 10 controversy and the beginning of the recall campaigns of 2011, that made Brat Fest a non-starter for some.

Wurst Times attendee Christopher Daly said: “It was not the worst time. It was actually a really great time. Compared to Brat Fest, which I went to last year, the atmosphere here was infinitely more friendly and accommodating and the sense of community was really palpable.”

Now in its fourth year, the one-day Wurst Times includes five stages and more than 40 bands. Proceeds from the event benefit Second Harvest and “musical instruments for kids in the Madison Area School District.”

Chris Plowman, who performed at the festival with his band The Sills, has actually never been to Brat Fest. “I don’t really associate with huge, big things, normally. It just seems too corporate. And then I found out they give money to [...] Scott Walker,” he said. 

About the addition of Lifest, Plowman said: “I don’t have anything against Christianity. I just think it’s stupid they had to start the whole stage.”