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A free outdoor concert of contemporary Christian music is coming to Arkansas City.

Organizers hope it will blossom into a weekend-long music festival in the future. But for now, they are putting together a one-night show.

The concert will start at 6 p.m. Oct. 23, near the levy in an open field just off Summit Street near the bridge at the southern edge of Arkansas City.

There will be four bands; two local groups and two from out of town.

Organizers have two goals in mind, said organizer Telisa Rohr.

She said festival organizers first want to bring quality Christian music to Arkansas City to give people encouragement through a positive message.

The group also wants to encourage the development of the area around the river, and use of the big field there as a music venue for all forms of music, organizer James Jordan said.

The headline band is Remedy Drive, an independent rock band from Lincoln, Neb. Remedy Drive is currently on tour to support their most recent CD "Rip Open The Skies." Their whole story, and their music, can be found on their web site at: www.remedydrive.com/

Another performer is Ashley Reynolds, an up-and-coming pop singer from the Kansas City, Mo., area.

In 2006, Ashley Reynolds received the Pop Artist of the Year award at the Locals playing in the concert are the Butler brothers and Tim Durham. Steve and Page Butler have become icons in Christian music in south-central Kansas in recent years.

Durham runs the local Family Life Services office during the day, and plays music when he gets a chance by night.

For more information about the concert, see their Web site at: www.riveroflifemusicfestival.homestead.com/,

or call James Jordan at: (620) 442-8734.