Pensacola Beach, FL

Gulf Breeze natives Big Daddy Weave to perform at Grace Fest Big Daddy Weave Christian performing group Big Daddy Weave will perform at Grace Fest 2007. Formed in Mobile, Ala., two brothers from the group Mike and Jay Weaver are originally from Gulf Breeze. "We love keeping it on the home front," Mike Weaver said. "We're still connected [to Gulf Breeze], and they won't let us forget where we are from. I've been all over the place, and I realized that this area has some very special elements that not everyone else has. I love the hospitality of the South. I love to see the sun shine on the water as I come across the bay bridge, and I love bringing people back to where I come from," said Mike Weaver. Big Daddy Weave is set to return to the Gulf Coast in early spring as they perform at GraceFest being held at the Pensacola Fair Grounds on April 14 at 4:15 p.m. Members of the critically acclaimed band are no strangers to Grace Fest either, having performed at the event since it's conception. "Grace Fest is a mainstay for us. We may have missed one. It's like a giant family reunion, and it's been a really neat thing. We actually played GraceFest before we were signed," Weaver said. Event planners agree with Weaver that the relationship has been mutually beneficial for both Big Daddy Weave and GraceFest. As the band's success and audience has grown, so have the credibility and audiences of the Christian music festival. "We're really proud of them," GraceFest event facilitator Sparkie Folkers said. "We know that they want to come back home. They love playing GraceFest, and we love having them. They always have an open invitation," Folkers said.