– Mardi Ford

The Observer

Portland-based rock/blues Christian band, SONSOFDAY, will kick off a summer road tour with a free outdoor concert in Elgin at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

This will be the band’s third Union County appearance they performed in La Grande last summer and again last winter.

The concert, which will include guest bands Paper Rings, out of Camas, Wash., and Canadian band Thirst for You, will be preceded by a barbecue from 5 to 7 p.m. for $2.50 per person.

SONSOFDAY are heading to the Cornerstone Music Festival in Marietta, Ill., where they have been invited to play, with concert dates scheduled along the way. SONSOFDAY’s first full album is titled “Fragile People” and includes 12 original songs.

The band is comprised of four brothers Vlad, Rocky, Bogdon and Scott Bellos.

Vitaliy, the fifth brother, is the band’s sound technician.

The Bellos brothers’ family history is fascinating.

During the height of communist Soviet Union, the brothers’ grandfather, Joseph, was a member of the Ukraine KGB security force that persecuted Christians.

According to the band’s website, while searching the home of an old woman Joseph was arresting, he found her hidden Bible. Out of curiosity, Joseph secretly took the book for himself and began reading it. He discovered God within its pages, and ultimately found Christ. Eventually his entire family came to know and love Jesus.

In 1992, the family was granted religious amnesty and immigrated to the U.S. Through their music, Joseph’s grandsons are repeating his story, as well as their own, to audiences across the U.S.

The free concert will take place in front of the Elgin Baptist Church, weather permitting, or inside, if not. People are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

The church’s pastor since last October, Kurt Lenhoff, says they had been looking for a way to benefit Elgin families with a wholesome and fun event.

Lenhoff and his family wife, Melissa, son Skyler, 9, and daughter Ashley, 5 just moved to Elgin from Vancouver, Wash., three months ago, commuting on weekends until a position with a local bank opened up.

Lenhoff heard the band was trying to make its way across the U.S. to perform at the Cornerstone Music Festival.

Being new to the area, Lenhoff says he was more of a participant in the planning than a leader.

“Rich Zinzer knew a couple of guys Armen (Woosley) and John Lamoreau who knew the band. We started brainstorming about a way we could help them and do something for the community. This is what we came up with and it worked out right for the Riverfest weekend,” Lenhoff says.

Lenhoff says the support of Elgin and the greater community to promote and underwrite the event has been phenomenal.

“It’s going to be great. These guys (in the band) just want the opportunity to use what they’ve been given, to share the love they have for Jesus. To share their story,” he says.

Zinzer says the concert was an opportunity to launch the band on the road to Cornerstone. He has been helping them book events along the way to pay for their trip.

“I think people will be pleased with SONSOFDAY’s message and music quality. If we can help these guys in their music ministry, it would be a real blessing to them,” Zinzer says.

After the concert and barbecue, local musicians and praise leaders are going to join the bands for a time of worship and fellowship.