By STEVE EIGHINGER

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

The faith-related music festival that rocked the Quincy riverfront each fall for three years will not be returning for a fourth.

SHOUTfest, which drew about 20,000 people during its three-year history in Quincy, will not be back due to a combination of developments, according to Bruce Rice, executive director of radio station WGCA, which served as the event's chief sponsor since its 2005 inception.

"The flood, of course, has made it virtually impossible to schedule anything of that magnitude because we don't know what condition the riverfront will be in anytime soon," Rice said. "Plus, even more importantly, SHOUTfest is undergoing some management changes that we felt would make it wise for us to sit out this year and maybe look at bringing it back in 2009 -- but nothing is definite."

Rice said WGCA had an original three-year agreement with the nationwide festival, which is headquartered in Nashville Tenn.

"If we are unable to bring SHOUTfest back in 2009, we are already looking at some alternative plans that we feel will provide the same kind of entertainment and Christian message," Rice said.

SHOUTfest was a surprise hit from the start, when more than 7,000 people jammed the riverfront for its 2005 debut. The festival annually combined established contemporary Christian acts with rising stars for an energetic, day-long concert that drew both young and old.

Among the numerous acts to take the stage(s) at Clat Adams Park over the past three years were Building 429, Seventh Day Slumber, Storyside B, KJ-52, Krystal Meyers, Superchic(k), Pillar, Skillet, the Afters, Grits, DecembeRadio, Disciple and ZOEgirl.

SHOUTfest annually pulled fans from West-Central Illinois, Northeast Missouri and southeast Iowa. A local author even wrote a book about her experiences at SHOUTfest and more than 30 churches annually partnered with WGCA to assist in organization and staffing of the event

A local talent contest in downtown Quincy the week before each SHOUTfest was also a popular part of the event.

--seighinger@whig.com/221-3377