One Music Festival is an interdenominational Christian music and arts festival for all ages, which ran at the Pavilion at the Kiama Showgrounds on Saturday 25 November 2023. It is run by local churches in partnership with Scripture Union.  

“Our Heartbeat is to bring together people of all ages and backgrounds to experience and celebrate the good news of Jesus the king through; live music, arts, messages of hope and an intergenerational community.”

Numbers were down in the afternoon session at the second One Music Festival at the Kiama Showground after light rain moved artists from the showground to the Anglican Church Hall, but prayers were answered with the return of clear warm weather in the afternoon with many turning up especially in the evening for a lineup of popular, high energy Christian rock bands until 9pm.



The festival catered to all ages, but music was mainly aimed at teens aged 12 to 18.

The Bugle spoke to the glowingly positive Wicky (Wynclife) Ochieng, who is the One Music Festival organiser, which is now in its second year. “The festival is very much about joy, celebrating the spirit of Jesus together through music, art and even simple fellowship,” Wicky said.

The theme was Romans 116 “Be not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.”

Wicky is a multi-denominational faith teacher, or Christian Education Teacher, at local schools including Kiama High School, and is a member of a local Anglican congregation. 

Wicky (Wynclife) Ochieng

Over 21 different churches were represented by teens turning up as volunteers or to enjoy the music, including Catholic, Anglican and Uniting and Evangelical churches, with ticket holders traveling from Wollongong, Shoalhaven and the Southern Highlands and Sydney.

The festival had two stages, the main one in the Pavilion and a second stage at the Anglican Church Hall.

Notable additions to the music were Ben Pakula with his Kids Acts entertainment and an inspirational speaker Mark Roberts, who has been a pastor at Wollongong Baptist Church for eight years, with fun outdoor activities on the oval as it dried. 

There were a number of faith-based recruiting stalls within the Pavilion including Melissa Higgins for Mission Aviation fellowship. Melissa, who has been a commercial pilot since 19, is normally based in Arnhem Land as a pilot.

One of the major sponsors was Scripture Union. Other sponsors included Chittick Lodge at Gerringong, Shoalhaven Zoo, and Epics Music. 

Musical features included Emu Music, Aslandia, Mayfair Lane Seraph Music, River Movement, Sam Hornshaw, Fern Johnston, and a kids show by Ben Pakula!

Also featured were Thirsty Tree Music, Geoff White, Ruthlee, Frontline, Naomi Grace, Lani Faith, and Guest Speaker Mark Roberts.

One Music Festival looks set to return next year for its third year.