|PIC1|The upcoming annual Parachute Music Festival leaves thousands of to-be attendees excited, as event organisers announce that there will be a special event to mark the festival’s 15th anniversary, in addition to a promised “four-day extravaganza.”

“It will be huge,” says Tanya Cathro, Parachute 06 media area head. “And we have a surprise happening this year – we’re doing something quite large to mark the anniversary.”

The Parachute 06, which will happen January 27-30, in Hamilton city of New Zealand, will draw an audience of more than 25,000, and provide them with inspirational music and sermon from more than 100 globally renowned Christian musicians and legendary inspirational speakers.

Headlining the drug and alcohol-free event will be premier British rock/worship group Delirious?, who last shook up main stage at Parachute 2003. Other internationals include American hardcore act Day of Fire and Tooth and Nail protégés Anberline, fresh from touring the US.

|TOP|For the first time, breakthrough R&B artists Adeaze will perform, joined by 2005 NZ Idol winner Rosita Vai. Also making an appearance will be 2005 NZ Schools Tour headliners My Life Story, Magnify, Mumsdollar, Julia Grace, Rapture Ruckus and the Parachute Band.

Speakers will include internationally renowned evangelist and harvest Christian Crusades founder Greg Laurie and leading Australian pastors Phil Baker and Wayne Alcorn.

“We want to emphasize that we’re a festival which wants to appeal to a mainstream audience and provide an event that caters to the youth of this nation and specifically the unchurched. So the festival is changing and people have to change with it,” Cathro says.

For more information on the festival, go to http://www.parachutemusic.com.