Sunday 11^th June 2000

 -         Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham

-          Hope 2000.BRUM

Birmingham’s largest Christian festival since the Billy Graham crusades in the early ‘80s was visited by over 10,000 people.

Don Maclean (BBC) and Nicky Tapper (Galaxy FM) hosted the main stage’s events whilst around the park there were stalls and activities for all ages to enjoy.  The dance tent provided a home for the youth, the children’s tent gave a respite for the parents whilst the new talent stage was a chance for stars of the future to entertain.

At 6,30pm the main stage was handed over to T.V. personality Tim Vine and Soul Survivor’s Dawn Reynolds who hosted the evening’s entertainment.  Around 5000 people saw ‘Shekinah’, who were first to perform.  The talented hip-hop group warmed up an excited crowd.

Wild Clover entered the stage at 7.15pm and opened with the energetic ‘Lord of the Dance’ which had even the most reserved people dancing to.  In their own inimitable style, there were no pauses for breath in the whole of their 25 minute set.

No sooner had the first tune finished, they belted out a 15 minute medley of songs – B Minor, Red-Haired Lass, Young at Heart, Farewell to Ireland, and The Irish Rover.  The crowd shouted for more but time would not allow as ‘Mowglee’ then took to the stage.  Finally at 8.15pm, the headline act, Cameron Dante took to the decks on the stage.  Formally having chart success with 'Bizarre Inc.', 'World Wide Message Tribe' and now also a Radio 1 dance DJ, he had the eager crowd in his hands.  In response to six dancers on stage the audience shouted and moved to a solid 40 minutes of dance tracks.

A fabulous evening’s entertainment was rounded off in typical festival style with all of the acts on stage to join with the audience in singing ‘Amazing Grace’.  ‘How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me’.  A fitting end to a well organised day.