Skateboarder, rock band, more on the way to Ice Cream Days

(Photo contributed) Professional skateboarder Tim Byrne will be one of the new acts rolling into Le Mars for Ice Cream Days this year. Byrne, along with hip hop artist Heath McNease, rock band Me in Motion and BMX biker Vic Murphy will be performing Friday, June 19 at the Olson Cultural Event Center. [Click to enlarge]

The free show runs from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

The event is the collaborative effort of Le Mars pastors, youth pastors and youth working to help bring a new family-friendly event to the Le Mars annual celebration.

This Youth Network is putting together the event, including running concession stands for the evening and raising money to pay for the entertainment.

Tim Byrne, of Portland, Ore., placed in the top five in the world at a Pro Freestyle contest. He travels to skate and share his radical story of how Jesus Christ changed his life forever.

Me in Motion, a three-piece alternative Christian rock band from Columbus, Ohio, aim to ignite people, according to Seth Mosley, the band's frontman and founder on the band's Facebook site.

"I want to inspire people to realize that there is something to be done here and now," he stated.

On the Facebook page, the band quotes Leo Tolstoy, who said, "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."

The wisdom behind these words, according to Mosley on Facebook, is a call to individuals to examine their own lives and the difference they can make. The band thinks that is worth sharing with its generation.

Vocally driven, the band cites inspiration from Oasis, Jet, Weezer, and the Beatles.

Heath McNease, of Georgia, has created his own style of hip-hop, mixing boom bap, dirty south, blues, jazz, reggae, rock and more.

His aim, he said on the website of his label, 7 Spin Records, isn't to appeal only to the hip-hop crowd. He goes for those who appreciate good music.

He cites everyone from the Beatles to Outkast to Led Zeppelin for influences, and some of his songs even have a hint of Jack Johnson.

Vic Murphy, the BMX biker and ordained pastor in San Diego, has appeared in all the major BMX magazines and on sports shows including on ESPN.

Murphy committed his life to Christ after trying to prove to his friends God didn't exist, then combined his love for extreme sports with a desire to share Christ's message with youth.

The local Youth Network is still seeking volunteers and donations for the event. To volunteer to help with concession stands or other activities, contact Roxie Rahn at 546-8883. To donate, contact Jim Rahn at 546-6311.