For sheer naming enthusiasm, Crowder’s Fantastical Church Music Conference should win something.  I am intrigued by the lineup — a mix of radio-friendly best sellers (DC*B, Hillsong, Matt Redman) and more indie-inclined artists such as The Welcome Wagon, John Mark McMillan (the songwriter behind How He Loves) and The Civil Wars.

I appreciate the musical diversity of the lineup (although, I have to say, it would be nice to see a little more racial/ethnic diversity from the stage, too).  Whimsy and play are vastly underrated when it comes to musical expressions of worship (we tend to stick with highly polished stadium anthems these days) — it is to Crowder’s credit that this event seems to stand out from the crowd.

Download a free live album from The Civil Wars here.