TobyMac, Tim Rosenau return to GJCF

     A popular Christian rock band featuring one of Monticello’s own is set to return to the Great Jones County Fair on Sunday evening, July 21.

     TobyMac, which includes Tim Rosenau, formerly of Monticello, is the lead act closing out the “Five Best Days of Summer.” Rosenau is seen on lead guitar and vocals.

     TobyMac last performed at the fair in 2013. They are one of the leading contemporary Christian acts touring the country.

     TobyMac (Toby McKeehan) has put out eight albums since the band came together in 2001. Their most recent, “The Elements,” was released in October 2018.

     “When somebody has to walk through a desert or a storm, they are fighting the elements, fighting things that aren’t natural to themselves,” said TobyMac via his website (tobymac.com) about his latest album. “Our lives are much the same. We’re fighting against these things every day trying to remain true to who we are called to be.”

     TobyMac’s single from this newest album, “I Just Need U,” debuted at number one on the Hot Christian Songs chart. This marks TobyMac’s sixth number one single to top the charts. The album itself was TobyMac’s fifth album to tope the Christian Albums Billboard chart.

     TobyMac has also gone on to win several notable music awards: 2012 Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist from the American Music Awards, 2013 Top Christian Artist and Top Christian Album (“Eye on It”) from the Billboard Music Awards, 2016 Best Contemporary Christian Music Album from the Grammys, and 2016 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the GMA Dove Awards.

     “The most important thing to me now is when I walk into a studio to record a song ‘does it make you feel something?’ And, is there a reason for it to exist in this world?” said TobyMac.

     The opening act for Sunday will be We Are Messengers. This is a Christian Irish band that formed in just 2015.

     They released their debut album, “We Are Messengers” in 2016. Since then, they’ve also released six singles.

     Their first album hit the top 10 on the Billboard Christian charts.

     The band’s sophomore album “Honest” is due for release this month, March 29.

     Despite only being on the music scene for a few years, We Are Messengers has been nominated for a few awards: GMA Dove Awards New Artist of the Year in 2016, and K-LOVE Fan Awards Song of the Year in both 2017 and 2018.

     We Are Messengers is “a band focused on spreading the message of God's love and using songs born from their own struggles to impact the lives of their audiences.”

     Tickets for TobyMac and We Are Messengers go on sale Friday, March 13 at 10 a.m. Track tickets will be reserved seating for $35. Amphitheater and hillside tickets are $25.

     You can purchase tickets by visiting www.greatjonescountyfair.com.