After nearly a decade with Christian rock band Hawk Nelson, frontman and founding member Jason Dunn will depart the GRAMMY® and Dove Award nominated group on May 15th. Dunn plans to release his first solo project under the name Lights Go Down later this year.

Dunn spent the last few months recording at Profile Studios in Vancouver, B.C., with RIAA Gold-accredited record producer Steve Kravac (Blink 182, MxPx, Less Than Jake). Tentatively titled Abandon Progress, information about the album’s release date and label and distribution plans are forthcoming.

Hailing from Ontario, Canada, Hawk Nelson signed to Tooth and Nail Records in 2004, and to date have recorded 5 full-length albums selling in excess of 600,000 units. A compilation album, The Songs You’ve Already Heard: Best of Hawk Nelson, is scheduled for release on March 27, 2012.

"I will miss playing music on stage with my friends, but really looking forward to the future with Lights Go Down,” says Dunn. “I wish Hawk Nelson the very best with their future endeavors."

For more information, follow Lights Go Down on Facebook and Twitter.

Source: CMSpin

 

With 46 No. 1 singles, including "Do Everything," which topped charts last month; 56 GMA Dove Awards; five GRAMMY awards; and more than 200 songs recorded on 17 original albums spread across an illustrious 25-year career, Steven Curtis Chapman has already amassed a collection of songs worth celebrating.
 
Since his first national recording, First Hand, Chapman has become one of the most beloved artists in all of popular music. This year on his website, StevenCurtisChapman.com, he revisits some of his favorite tracks with a video series called Twenty Five, featuring acoustic performances of some of Chapman’s most popular songs and the stories behind them. 
Every other Thursday in 2012, a new acoustic, one-take, raw performance of one of Chapman’s songs will be debuted, each one only available to view for only 25 days. To check out Twenty Five, visit  stevencurtischapman.com/scc25.
 
In addition, Sparrow Records is releasing a new Chapman greatest-hits package, #1’s Vol. 1. Available on April 3, the album features 13 of his biggest songs, each of which charted at No. 1, and features the career-defining songs “Dive,” “The Great Adventure,” “I Will Be Here” and more. Would you believe more than 15 years have gone by since his previous greatest-hits album released? Many of Chapman’s biggest songs and albums have never been represented on a greatest-hits collection.
 
In November, Chapman wrapped his first "Songs & Stories" tour with friends Andrew Peterson and Josh Wilson. After performing in front of sold-out crowds across the country, the Show HOPE-sponsored tour continued to be in high demand and, as a result, Chapman announced a spring leg of the intimate tour.
 
The spring leg of the “Songs & Stories” tour launches on Feb. 2 in Broken Arrow, Okla., with Peterson and Wilson supporting. After visiting markets including Cleveland, Nashville and Tampa, among others, the tour will wrap on Mar. 11 in Ocala, Fla. During this uniquely formatted writer’s night, 47 instruments are integrated into the show, and true collaboration dominates the night with Peterson, Wilson and Chapman all playing and singing on each other's songs. Chapman performs songs from his latest album re:creation and more, including his most recent No. 1, “Do Everything,” for which he collected his 16th career GRAMMY nomination. Chapman also opens up about the stories that inspired him to write the songs that have impacted lives around the world.

Source: CMSpin

 

Sidewalk Prophets will release their sophomore album, Live Like That on Tuesday, March 27. Their current single is the title track off the new album and plays a strong part in the overall messaging from the band. In its first day on iTunes, “Live Like That” peaked at No. 3 on the iTunes Christian and Gospel chart. With the help of their fans, Sidewalk Prophets’ album cover encompasses the faces and hearts of people all across the country who have inspired someone to “live like that.” Log on to www.SidewalkProphets.com to preview Live Like That for a limited time.

“There comes a point in our lives when we ask: what exactly is this life for? It’s in those moments that I’m reminded of those who have impacted my life – my grandparents, parents, teachers and pastor – and whether they knew it or not, I saw Christ in them,” said Dave from Sidewalk Prophets. “This album is a reflection of our journey in music and our desire to live our lives in such a way that it is rooted in a deep passion and love that knows no bounds.”

Following in the footsteps of their debut album, Live Like That (produced by Dove Award winning producer Ian Eskelin), is a powerful musical devotion that weaves together thought provoking lyrics and melodies. Each song on the record was written/co-written by Sidewalk Prophets’ Dave Frey and Ben McDonald. Sidewalk Prophets fans were able to participate in the creative process of the album, singing background vocals on “Love Love Love” and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us.”

Beginning today, fans can pre-order the 12-track album with exclusive pre-sale offers on their website. The featured bundle is the “Live Like That Signature Package” which contains personal letters from each band member, an autographed album and poster, an exclusive download, t-shirt, and more! Check out the Live Like That Signature Package and other exclusive bundles at: www.sidewalkprophets.com/store.
 
Sidewalk Prophets have made an impressive debut on the CCM scene, winning “New Artist of the Year” in 2010 and garnering four Dove Nominations to date, including “Pop Contemporary Song of the Year” and “Group of the Year.” Produced by Ian Eskelin (Francesca Battistelli), their debut album These Simple Truths catapulted Sidewalk Prophets into one of the top-selling new artists of the genre. The album delivered the smash No. 1 singles “You Love Me Anyway” and “The Words I Would Say,” which topped Billboard’s AC/Indicator Chart for five consecutive weeks. Sidewalk Prophets recently kicked-off “The Rock & Worship Roadshow” alongside Hawk Nelson, MercyMe, Tenth Avenue North, among others.
 
TRACK LISTING for Live Like That:
1. Hebrews 12:1 (Prelude)
2. Live Like That
3. Love, Love, Love
4. Save My Life
5. Keep Making Me
6. It's Good (Love's Not Safe)
7. Help Me Find It
8. Heart's on Fire
9. Wrecking Ball
10. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us
11. For You Tonight
12. This is Not Goodbye

Source: CMSpin

 

With the release of their successful eighth studio album, The Anthem of Angels, in November 2011, Seventh Day Slumber is preparing for their upcoming U.S tour, appropriately named “The Anthem of Angels Tour.”  The album debuted at the iTunes Top Christian Albums chart at No. 4. In addition the Rock single, "Never Too Far Gone" was in the Top 15 in December 2011.
 
Kicking off March 1st and running through May 31st, the tour will hit across the nation and feature special guests Manic Dive and Ilia.
 
"We are very excited about 'The Anthem Of Angels Tour'," shares frontman Joseph Rojas. "Our fans have been so supportive over the years, and we can't wait for them to see the NEW show! We will be playing songs off of our past records as well as plenty of new stuff. We are excited to be bringing Manic Drive and Ilia out on the road with us and believe this tour will be a life changing experience for a lot of people! All ages are welcomed. 'The Anthem Of Angels Tour' will be the biggest tour we have done to date production wise!"
 
Seventh Day Slumber currently has two singles out, ”One Mistake” on Billboard’s Christian CHR Chart and “Wasted Life” at rock radio, which was the track of the newest music video from the band.  You can view the video for “Wasted Life” here. Since 2005 when Seventh Day Slumber signed to BEC Recordings, they have not only found chart success and a string of top ten singles, they’ve seen the power of music and the gospel to change lives.
 
For more information on Seventh Day Slumber and to check if “The Anthem of Angels Tour” is coming to a city near you, please visit http://www.seventhdayslumber.com/

Source: CMSpin

 

GRAMMY Award nominee Matt Maher has extended his popular “The Love In Between” tour to include 16 additional dates.  The follow-up run to his fall leg will feature guest artist Sparrow Records singer-songwriter Audrey Assad, with Reunion Records newcomer Lindsay McCaul at select shows.

Originally kicking off mid-September, “The Love In Between” tour visited more than 25 cities through late October, seeing thousands in attendance and multiple sold out shows.  The tour’s
second leg will open tonight in Altoona, Pa. with additional stops in Atlanta, St. Louis, and Cincinnati, among others.

“The Love In Between” tour was named for Maher’s latest label project, released Sept. 20, 2011.  The album debuted at No. 7 on the SoundScan Top Contemporary Christian Chart and graced the Billboard 200 at No. 97.  The Love In Between additionally experienced notable success at iTunes, breaking into the Top 5 on the Christian & Gospel Top Albums Chart.  Maher willplay a selection of songs from the current record on tour, including new radio single, “Rise Up.”

Visit www.mattmahermusic.com for an up-to-date tour itinerary or refer to the schedule following this release.

About Matt Maher
Matt Maher – worship leader, songwriter, singer and recording artist – has embraced his calling as a “musical missionary” to impact a global stage.

Maher is well known for writing moving worship anthems including “Your Grace Is Enough,” “As It Is In Heaven,” “I Will Rise,” “All To Us,” “Here For You,” “Hold Us Together” and “Christ Is Risen.”  His songs have appeared among the top 10 ranked songs on the CCLI chart, marking their popularity in church services worldwide, while also being recorded by artists including Chris Tomlin, Audrey Assad, Matt Redman, and the Passion movement.
Additionally “Alive Again” was selected by iTunes as the best Christian & Gospel song of 2009.  Such popularity has prompted more than 350,000 career sales.  National media exposure includes the covers of Breakaway and Christian Single, a live performance on “FOX & Friends,” and guest writer for Billboard magazine.

Maher sits on the board of directors for the Catholic youth organization, Life Teen, and is a staple writer with EMI CMG Publishing.  Amid busy touring and writing schedules, he hosts WorshipTogether’s “New Song Café” and is an active, bylined contributor to The Washington Post's "On Faith" section ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith), an interactive conversation on religion.

Maher is from St. John’s Newfoundland, Canada and currently resides in Mesa, Ariz. with his wife Kristin and son Conor.  For more information on Matt Maher, visit www.mattmahermusic.com. Also follow Matt on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mattmahermusic.

About Audrey Assad
28-year-old, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Audrey Assad propelled to the forefront of Christian music with her debut album on Sparrow Records titled The House You’re Building.  Produced by Marshall Altman (Brooke Fraser, Natasha Bedingfield, William Fitzsimmons, Marc Broussard), the record released in the summer of 2010 to much acclaim.  An avid reader, poems from Gerard Manley Hopkins and books were amongst Assad’s inspirations in her songwriting.  Her collaborations with everyone from Chris Tomlin to Jars of Clay have marked her songwriting and vocal talent.  Assad’s fresh sound was named among the best of 2010 from Relevant Magazine, Rhapsody.com, Gospel Music Channel online and more and was even profiled on CNN Online.  In addition, The House You’re Building was named Amazon.com’s “Best Christian Music of 2010” and iTunes ® Christian & Gospel “Breakthrough Album of the Year.”  Assad released an exclusive iTunes ® Live from SoHo album in August.  She will release her sophomore album, Heart, on February 14, 2012, also produced by Altman.

About Lindsay McCaul
There’s a phrase often heard in music industry circles: “It all begins with a song.”  That motto carries extra weight in Christian music where a great lyric transcends entertainment and becomes a vehicle to share the gospel.  Lindsay McCaul is an artist keenly aware of words and their value.  From her teen years pouring over the lyrics of her favorite music to her college days majoring in linguistics at Moody Bible Institute, McCaul’s gifts manifest themselves in vibrant, insightful songs crafted with thoughtful precision reflecting a compassionate heart and deep intellect. 

McCaul’s talent was brought to the attention of Reunion Records by five-time SESAC Christian
Songwriter of the Year and 2010 Gospel Music Association Producer of the Year, Jason Ingram, and she released her label debut, If It Leads Me Back, Jan. 17, 2012.  The up-and-comer has already received much national attention during her short time on the music scene, with TLC reality program “Say Yes To The Dress: Atlanta” inviting McCaul to perform “Take My Hand,” from her new release, on the program.  Additionally, Mark Hall, frontman for platinum-selling band Casting Crowns, asked McCaul to open on the group’s “Come to the Well” tour last fall and this spring.

For more information on Lindsay McCaul and If It Leads Me Back, visit www.lindsaymccaul.com, www.facebook.com/lindsaymccaulmusic or www.providentpress.com.

“The Love In Between” Tour Itinerary *
 
1-20 - Altoona, PA (w/Audrey Assad)
1-21 - Silver Spring, MD (w/ Audrey Assad)
1-22 - Fairfax & Woodbridge, VA (am & pm events w/ Audrey Assad)
1-26 - Madison, LA (w/ Lindsay McCaul)
1-27 - Atlanta, GA (w/ Lindsay McCaul)
1-28 - Brandon, FL (w/ Lindsay McCaul)
2-1 - Gainesville, FL (w/ Audrey Assad)
2-3 - Lafayette, LA (w/ Audrey Assad)
2-4 - Mandeville, LA (w/ Audrey Assad)
2-10 - Ft. Wayne, IN (w/ Audrey Assad)
2-11 - Lexington, KY (w/ Audrey Assad)
2-12 - Zeeland, MI (w/ Audrey Assad)
2-15 - Aimes, IA (w/ Audrey Assad)
2-16 - St. Louis, MO (w/ Audrey Assad)
2-17 - Vancouver, BC
2-18 - Cincinnati, OH

Source: CMSpin

 

Breakout Urban sensation and Dove Award winning Group 1 Crew re-launches their third album, Outta Space Love: Bigger Love Edition on January 24. The album features more music along with the original 12 tracks. Outta Space Love: Bigger Love Edition will include eight additional tracks with remixes of their hit singles “Walking On The Stars” and “Live It Up” as well as four brand new songs. One of the new tracks on the album is “He Said,” which features multi-award winning artist, Chris August.

Group 1 Crew is currently featured on the 2012 Winter Jam Tour alongside headlining acts: Building 429, Peter Furler, Kari Jobe, Newsong, Sanctus Real and Skillet. For more information on tour dates, visit their website: www.Group1Crew.com.

Outta Space Love is Group 1 Crew’s third Fervent Records release and originally debuted at No.1 on the Soundscan Christian Digital Chart and No. 4 on the overall Christian Album Chart. This album delivered the Top 5 hit “Walking On The Stars” and “Please Don’t Let Me Go” as well as fan-favorite songs “Breakdown” and “Live It Up.”
Group 1 Crew has become one of the leading Hip-Hop focused acts in the Christian music scene, broadening the parameters of faith-based music with songs that percolate with energy and resonate with the truth of God’s grace. To date, the talented group has had three hit singles break into the Top 5 on Billboard’s Christian CHR Charts, including “Keys To The Kingdom” and “Movin’.” They have earned five Dove Awards; three for the Rap/Hip-Hop Album Of The Year category and two for the Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song with “Movin’ ” and “Walking on the Stars.” Group 1 Crew made their national TV performance debut on The Mo’Nique Show and their music has been featured in a variety of popular television shows, including NBC’s America’s Got Talent, FOX’s The Simple Life, Style Network’s Kimora Lee Simmons: Life in the Fab Lane, MTV’s Run’s House, and The CW’s One Tree Hill.

Outta Space Love: Bigger Love Edition Track Listing:
1. Live It Up
2. Need Your Love
3. Walking On The Stars
4. Let’s Go (Feat. TobyMac)
5. Lean On Me
6. Beautiful
7. Transcend
8. Outta Space Love
9. Please Don’t Let Me Go
10. Wait
11. Breakdown
12. Manipulation
13. Control
14. Digirock
15. Take It There
16. He Said
17. Walking On The Stars (Garcia Glam Mix)
18. Live It Up (Dance Floor Mix)

Source: CMSpin

 

With their latest radio single, "God's Not Dead (Like A Lion)," Newsboys continue to take over the radio waves in a powerful way. The song, the debut from their brand new release God's Not Dead (Inpop Records), is being heard on hundreds of stations across the country as well as climbing up the Billboard radio charts.
 
The single is currently #3 on Billboard's Christian CHR Chart, and #17 on Billboard's Christian AC Indicator chart, moving up an astonishing 12 spots this week. The song is also #25 on Billboard's National Christian Audience Chart, closing in on almost 2 million impressions in just the first two weeks. The song also received an astounding 34 AC adds in 2 weeks on such key stations as KLOVE, Sirius/XM, Family Life Radio Network, WJQK / Grand Rapids, MI; WHPZ / South Bend, IN; WBSN / New Orleans, LA; and KSOS / Las Vegas, NV.
 
The music video for "God's Not Dead (Like A Lion)" is also hot off the presses!  Making its debut on Vevo just this week, you can view the new music video here. Be sure to share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter to spread the news that "God's Not Dead!"
 
On the heels of releasing their highly acclaimed rock worship project, the band announced the news of their biggest tour yet, the “God’s Not Dead Tour.” Kicking off this week on Jan 12th and running through May 6th, the tour will run in 60+ markets across the U.S. The tour is presented by Compassion International, continuing their partnership with Newsboys to raise awareness for child sponsorships. A special VIP Pre-Show Meet & Greet Experience will be held nightly with a portion of its proceeds going to support Compassion International's child trafficking initiatives. Other major sponsors supporting the tour are I Am Second and Interstate Batteries. Tour dates for the "God's Not Dead Tour" are listed below, with more dates being added daily.

Source: CMSpin

 

After a successful 2009 release that spawned the mega-hit single “What Faith Can Do,” Kutless will be releasing a new studio album titled Believer next month on February 28 (BEC Recordings). The album is produced by Grammy-nominated Chris Stevens as well as David Garcia (TobyMac, Mandisa, Carrie Underwood) and Dave Lubben (worship leader, Kutless). Click here to view the album cover and tracklisting.
 
The debut radio single from this album is already gaining traction out of the gate at K-LOVE, Air1 and Way-FM have already added the song, “Carry Me To The Cross.”  You can listen to the song here as well as hear the band perform it live on KLOVE here.
 
With over two million albums sold, a RIAA Gold-selling album, AC Song of the Year in 2010, and 11 No. 1 radio singles, Kutless has transformed from that new rock band from Oregon to the one new bands look up to, the band whose music is all over the radio in multiple formats and on major tours.
Believer finds Kutless using a decade of growth to deliver an expertly crafted set of songs with as much diversity in the music as there is consistency in the message.
 
Believer is poised to become a career highlight from Kutless. The title itself is particularly important. On this album, believers will find a deeply relevant message: What does it really mean to surrender to Christ? How does this relationship change you every day? How does it define you? It is only now, after all these years, that Kutless is able to explore these vital issues.
 
Frontman Jon Micah Sumrall declares, “We’ve made a huge leap in the quality of the songwriting. It’s diverse – there are things I love on the upbeat side (heavier rocking moments), and things I love about the intimate worshipful moments. I really feel like this newest record shows a real maturity from over the years of what we’ve learned, what we’ve brought together.”
 
It only takes one listen to realize that Kutless has really come of age musically. They’ve determined their style instead of chasing the latest trend, and it shows.
 
For more information, go to www.kutless.com or follow the band on Twitter @kutless and become their fan on Facebook: facebook.com/kutless.

Source: CMSpin

 

Having released the acclaimed instrumental project, GLORY (Nov. 21, 2011), celebrated artist, songwriter, composer, instrumentalist, performer, author and producer, Michael W. Smith delivers his latest musical offering, Decades of Worship, on Jan. 17.  Smith, a mainstay with a 29-year career, brings together the best of his beloved worship hymns on this, his 24th project.

Since his entrance onto the music scene in the early 80s, Smith has been a worship leader, writer and has recorded some of the church’s most popular worship anthems including “Great Is The Lord,” “Agnus Dei,” “A New Hallelujah” and “Healing Rain” to name a few.  These songs were released on three worship albums since 2001, including Worship, Worship Again, A New  Hallelujah, and  Healing Rain, which have collectively sold more than 3.7 million copies. 

Available for the first time, Smith’s top worship songs are all on one CD.  Decades Of Worship features 12 total tracks comprising such classics as “Agnus Dei” and “A New Hallelujah” mentioned above as well as “Above All,” “Mighty To Save,” and “Breathe,” among others.  A complete track listing is as follows:
Decades of Worship
1. Agnus Dei
2. Above All
3. Breathe
4. Awesome God
5. You Are Holy (Prince of Peace)
6. Here I Am To Worship
7. I See You
8. Mighty To Save
9. A New Hallelujah
10. Healing Rain
11. So Great (with Christy Nockels & Israel Houghton)
12. Take Me Over
BONUS CUT: Great Is The Lord (newly remastered)

“As long as I can remember, I have felt called to lead worship.  Each song on this collection is a reflection of my heart to see people draw closer to God.  I pray that these songs move people to encounter God in a new and deeper way,” shares Smith.
 
The new year ushers in a flurry of activity for Michael.  In addition to a Spring Tour in the U.S.,  concert dates have already been booked in Brazil, Australia, Europe and Canada.  July 7 – 14 will see Smith hosting his semi-annual Michael W. Smith and Friends Cruise; this trip touring Eastern Canada and New England.

For a list of current tour dates, visit: www.michaelwsmith.com.
 
About Michael W. Smith
 
Throughout his 29-year career as a recording artist, Michael W. Smith has amassed an impressive catalog of achievements.  His prior 22 albums have garnered multiple honors including an American Music Award, three GRAMMY ® Awards (from 13 nominations), 44 GMA Dove Awards and 33 No. 1 radio hits.  In addition, he holds 16 Gold, 7 Platinum and 2 Double-Platinum albums for career sales of 15 million.  GLORY, Smith’s 23rd career project and second full-length instrumental album, release Nov. 21, 2011. 

Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2009, Smith has scored film projects, written 12 books and been featured by media outlets including “Hannity,” NBC’s “Today,” ABC’s “Good Morning America,” “NBC Nightly News,” “Larry King Live,” “FOX & Friends,” The Associated Press, Billboard, USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post,  Los Angeles Times, Newsweek and more.

Constantly giving back to the community, one of Smith’s current projects is Rocketown – a nightclub for teens in his hometown of Nashville, Tenn. – which serves as a safe place for young people to enjoy music and for artists to be discovered. He and wife of 30 years, Debbie, are the proud parents of five children.

Source: CMSpin

 

Atlantic recording group Skillet wrapped up an extraordinary year by being named among 2011’s biggest mainstream rock acts according to year-end charts published by Billboard and Mediabase.
 
The two-time Grammy-nominated band were among the highest ranking artists featured in Billboard’s annual “The Year In Music” issue, with their RIAA gold- certified album Awake approaching 900,000 in sales and included among the year’s Top 20 “Rock Albums,” Top 15 “Alternative Albums,” as well as the overall “Top Billboard 200.”  The album’s chart-topping single, “Awake and Alive,” came in at No. 3 on the “Active Rock Songs” tally, with Skillet also named among the Top 10 “Active Rock Artists.” The band was also listed in the upper half of the total “Billboard 200 Artists” ranking, having spent 120 weeks on the Billboard Top 200 chart with only a handful of other acts. In addition, Awake claimed the No. 4 spot in the tally for “Billboard Christian Albums,” while Skillet was came in at No. 3 among “Billboard Christian Artists.” Mediabase, which monitors radio activity in the U.S. and Canada, declared Skillet to be the past year’s eighth “Most Played Artist” at Active Rock outlets nationwide, with “Awake and Alive” coming in as the format’s No. 3 biggest hit.
 
Awake has proven a true sensation, with digital single sales from the album now exceeding 2.4 million. Produced by Howard Benson (Three Days Grace, Daughtry, Flyleaf), the collection reached the No. 1 spot on the iTunes “Top Albums” chart within 24 hours of its August 2009 release, while simultaneously exploding into the No. 2 spot on the SoundScan/Billboard 200 chart.  Fueled by three RIAA gold certified and four top 10 Active Rock hits in “Awake and Alive,” “It’s Not Me It’s You,” “Hero,” and “Monster,” Awake was among the top 10 on Billboard’s 2010 “Top Alternative Albums” chart, with Skillet coming in at the year’s No. 7 “Top Alternative Album Artist.” “Hero” has also been used by the NFL in their Sunday Night Football and NFL Weekend Kickoff promos, and a remix of the band’s No. 1 Active Rock hit “Awake & Alive," was featured on the TRANSFORMERS: Dark of the Moon soundtrack.
 
One of America’s hardest working live acts, Skillet has consistently been ranked among Pollstar’s Concert Pulse “Top 50 Tours.”  The band spent much of the past two years on the road, touring alongside Atlantic labelmates Shinedown, as well as headlining their own sold-out “Alive & Awake Tour.” Having recently returned from a major European tour (including dates in Russia, Germany, Finland, Norway and the Ukraine), Skillet is now back on tour in the U.S.
 
In addition to cumulative album sales in excess of 2 million, Skillet has racked up a wide range of honors throughout their extraordinary career. Frontman John Cooper and producer Brian Howes received two BMI Music Awards for “The Last Night” and “The Older I Get,” both featured on 2006’s Grammy Award-nominated Comatose. That album proved Skillet’s popular breakthrough, achieving RIAA gold certification. Comatose followed the band’s 2003 label debut, Collide, which launched Skillet into the mainstream while also garnering their first Grammy Award nomination.

Source: CMSpin

 

Multi-platinum selling, GRAMMY®, AMA and 2010 Dove Award-winning Artist of the Year Casting Crowns will extend its massive “Come To The Well” tour into the spring by adding an additional 44 dates across the U.S., this time featuring special guests, singer/songwriter Matthew West, pop-rockers Royal Tailor (both GRAMMY-nominated) and Christian music newcomer Lindsay McCaul who was also on the 2011 fall tour lineup.  Following a hugely successful fall run, which included a string of more than15 sell-out performances, playing before more than 155,000 people, the spring leg of the “Come To The Well” tour kicks off Feb. 9, in Florence, S.C.  Among its scheduled 44 shows, the tour will hit arenas in major markets like Grand Rapids, Orlando, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Birmingham, Oklahoma City, Minneapolis, Houston and many more. 

The tour takes its name from the Casting Crowns’ newest studio project, Come To The Well, (released October 18, its first new studio album in two years), featuring the hit single “Courageous,” which was showcased in the recent Sherwood Pictures film by the same title.  The project is filled with songs that both challenge and encourage believers in their walk, including, “Just Another Birthday” which goes for radio adds today.  Frontman Mark Hall collaborated on several of the tracks with top songwriters including Steven Curtis Chapman, Matthew West and award-winning country songwriter Tom Douglas.

The week of its release, Come to the Well sold 99,138 copies, making it the highest debut on Billboard’s Top 200 at No. 2.  The album additionally topped the Billboard Contemporary Christian Overall chart, while also claiming No. 1 on the iTunes Christian Albums chart and No. 3 on its Overall Albums chart.  Lead radio single “Courageous” landed at No. 1 on the iTunes Christian Songs chart and peaked at a No. 1 on the Billboard National Christian Audience
chart in just 10 weeks.  In addition, the band celebrated its second career American Music Award win, from six career AMA nominations, on Nov. 20.

The “Come To The Well” tour is partnering with Christian humanitarian organization World Vision ( www.worldvision.org).  World Vision provides assistance to approximately 100 million people in nearly 100 countries by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.  Casting Crowns has helped to generate a total of 52,000 child sponsorships for World Vision to date.
 
About Casting Crowns:
All of Casting Crowns’ projects are RIAA certified, with a tally of three RIAA Platinum Albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, two RIAA Gold Albums, two Gold DVDs and two Gold digital singles, holding position as Billboard’s top-selling act in Christian music since 2007.
The group also claims two American Music Awards, with six total nominations, three GRAMMY Awards and 14 GMA Dove Awards.
 
Despite an unprecedented eight-year career with Casting Crowns, the seven band members remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta area and tour part-time around their local church duties.  Serving his 18th year in youth ministry, lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall is the student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta.  As a testament to the band’s impact, Casting Crowns performed for a second time in North Korea in April 2009, in partnership with Global Resource Services, as the band continues to forge invaluable relationships with the people in the D.P.R.K.  For more information on Casting Crowns and Come to the Well, visit: www.castingcrowns.com or follow Mark Hall’s Twitter at twitter.com/markhallCC.
 
About Matthew West
Lauded by The New York Times as “a vivid and compelling songwriter with impressive approaches to the familiar,” two-time GRAMMY ® nominee Matthew West’s discography includes acclaimed releases Happy (2003), History (2005) and Something to Say (2008).  His latest studio album, The Story of Your Life, was inspired by 10,000 stories from every state in the U.S. and 20 countries.  The album released on October 5, 2010, and garnered attention from CNN Online, FOX News, Billboard Magazine, Country Weekly, American Songwriter and more.  The Story of Your Life gave West the largest street-week debut of his career, selling over 10,000 units the first week, landing at No. 3 on Christian Soundscan, and No. 41 on the Billboard Top 200.  In conjunction with Harvest House Publishers, West teamed up with bestselling author Angela Thomas for “The Story of Your Life” book.  The Heart of Christmas marks West’s first full-length Christmas project which also boasts the top 15 mainstream AC radio hit “The Heart of Christmas.”  A multiple ASCAP “Song of the Year” winner, West has had four No. 1 radio hits including his latest GRAMMY-nominated tune “Strong Enough.”  His songwriting credits include Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus, Diamond Rio and more.  For more information, visit www.MatthewWest.com.

CASTING CROWNS “COME TO THE WELL” SPRING TOUR 2012
*Dates, markets and venues subject to change without notice

FEBRUARY
2/9 (Thursday) - Florence, S.C. - Florence Civic Center
2/10 (Friday) - Virginia Beach, Va. - Rock Church
2/11 (Saturday) - Woodbridge, Va. - Hylton Memorial Chapel
2/16 (Thursday) - Grand Rapids, Mich. - Van Andel Arena
2/17 (Friday) - Troy, Ohio - Hobart Arena
2/18 (Saturday) - Lynchburg, Va. - Vines Center – Liberty University
2/23 (Thursday) - Coral Gables, Fla. - BankUnited Center
2/24 (Friday) - Orlando, Fla. - UCF Arena
2/25 (Saturday) - Tallahassee, Fla. - Leon County Civic Center
2/26 (Sunday) - Pensacola, Fla. - Pensacola Civic Center

MARCH
3/1 (Thursday) - Ft. Wayne, Ind. - Memorial Coliseum
3/2 (Friday) - Brookfield, Wis. - Elmbrook Church
3/3 (Saturday) - Toledo, Ohio - Huntington Center
3/8 (Thursday) - Johnson City, Tenn. - Freedom Hall
3/9 (Friday) - Raleigh, N.C. - RBC Center
3/10 (Saturday) - Charlotte, N.C. - Bojangles Coliseum
3/11 (Sunday) - Greenville, S.C. - Bi-Lo Center
3/15 (Thursday) - Lowell, Mass. - Lowell Memorial Auditorium
3/16 (Friday) - Newark, N.J. - Prudential Center
3/17 (Saturday) - Getzville, N.Y. - The Chapel at Crosspoint
3/18 (Sunday) - Baltimore, Md. - 1st Mariner Arena
3/22 (Thursday) - Independence, Mo. - Independence Event Center
3/23 (Friday) - Moline, Ill. - iWireless Center
3/24 (Saturday) - St. Charles, Md. - Family Arena
3/29 (Thursday) - Philadelphia, Pa. - The Liacouras Center
3/30 (Friday) - Hershey, Pa. - Giant Center
3/31 (Saturday) - Pittsburgh, Pa. - Console Energy Center

APRIL
4/5 (Thursday) - Bowling Green, Ky. - E.A. Diddle Arena
4/6 (Friday) - Chattanooga, Tenn. - UTC MacKenzie Arena
4/7 (Saturday) - Birmingham, Ala. - BJCC Arena
4/12 (Thursday) - Austin, Texas - Shoreline Church
4/13 (Friday) - Odessa, Texas - Ector County Coliseum
4/14 (Saturday) - Oklahoma City, Okla. - State Fair Arena (Private)
4/19 (Thursday) - Cedar Falls, Iowa - McLeod Center
4/20 (Friday) - Sioux Falls, S.D. - Sioux Falls Arena
4/21 (Saturday) - Minneapolis, Minn. - Target Center
4/22 (Sunday) - Fargo, N.D. - Fargo Dome
4/24 (Tuesday) - Springfield, Mo. - JQH Arena
4/26 (Thursday) - Louisville, Ky. - Broadbent Arena
4/27 (Friday) - Woodstock, Ga. - First Baptist Church
4/28 (Saturday) - Charleston, W.V. - Charleston Civic Center
 
MAY
5/3 (Thursday) - Tulsa, Okla. - Spirit Bank Event Center
5/4 (Friday) - Lubbock, Texas - United Spirit Arena
5/5 (Saturday) - The Woodlands, Texas - The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Source: CMSpin

 

After twelve years of making music, including six studio projects, participation in over 21 compilations and additional recordings, two books and over 1.6 million albums sold, the GRAMMY ® recognized David Crowder*Band will unveil their seventh and last record, Give Us Rest or (a requiem mass in c [the happiest of all keys]) on January 10, 2012 (sixstepsrecords).
 
Announced initially to their fans, the celebrated band revealed their final plans earlier this year before their highly successful “The 7 Tour.” To read the original statement, click
here. Named among the “most thoughtful, progressive and exciting acts in contemporary Christian music” by The New
York Times, the popular yet unconventional David Crowder*Band finishes their career with an epic, triumphant collection of 34 songs that poetically illustrate that in death something new is reborn. The album showcases the band’s unique music style and touches on worship, pop, rock, bluegrass and electronic genres.
 
“Let Me Feel You Shine” is the first single from the Give Us Rest recording, and was the most added at AC Radio upon its release. About the track, Crowder remarks, “I don’t think I have written as personal of a song as this one (‘Let Me Feel You Shine’).  For me, all of the experience of closing this chapter, of looking ahead and trusting, is in this song. I know all of us are in these moments where life twists and turns, and you don’t see what’s coming, but you feel God’s leading and you have to jump out and take the risk and see what it means to be a person of faith.” To hear the full story behind “Let Me Feel You Shine,” click here.
 
David Crowder*Band’s final “The 7 Tour” was an overwhelming success this past fall with nearly 100% of the concerts selling out.  The GRAMMY ® nominees garnered a tremendous response in major markets including Dallas, New York City, Portland, Seattle, Atlanta and Philadelphia. The band will play their final show at the Passion 2012 Conference in January 2012 at the Georgia Dome.
 
www.davidcrowderband.com
www.facebook.com/davidcrowderband
www.twitter.com/crowderband

About David Crowder*Band:
Named among the “most thoughtful, progressive and exciting acts in contemporary Christian music” by The New York Times, the popular yet unconventional David Crowder*Band will unveil their final collection of new music on January 10 with the release of Give Us Rest or (a requiem mass in c [the happiest of all keys]). Give Us Rest follows their last GRAMMY ® nominated studio project Church Music which debuted at No. 1 on the Christian retail chart scanning over 35,000 units. This gave David Crowder*Band their largest street week to date ranking in at No. 11 on the Billboard Top 200. David Crowder*Band’s latest music video for “SMS (Shine)” nabbed coverage on NBC’s The Today Show, Fox & Friends, USA Today, Billboard and Paste Magazine online as well as a GMA Dove Award win for “Short Form Video of the Year.” The video was also recognized at the LA Film Festival in 2011. Along with the group’s 9 GMA Dove Awards and 22 nominations, the band was the first Christian artist to be named MSN.com’s Artist of the Year in 2006. The band is part of the Passion Movement, participating in university student gatherings in the US and around the world. The group’s leader David Crowder is further an acclaimed author, having penned two books, including his acclaimed, highly personal, Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, But Nobody Wants to Die: Or (The Eschatology of Bluegrass). David Crowder*Band debuted their first Christmas album, Oh For Joy, in October of this year.

Source: CMSpin

 

On the heels of releasing their highly acclaimed rock worship project, God’s Not Dead (Nov. 15 on Inpop Records), Newsboys have announced they will embark this spring on their biggest tour yet, the “God’s Not Dead Tour.” Kicking off Jan 12th and running through May 5th, the tour will run in over 60 markets across the U.S. The tour is presented by Compassion International, continuing their partnership with Newsboys to raise awareness for child sponsorships. Additionally, a special VIP Pre-Show Meet & Greet Experience will be held nightly with a portion of its proceeds going to support Compassion International's child trafficking initiatives. Other major sponsors supporting the tour are I Am Second and Interstate Batteries.
 
Joining Newsboys on the tour will be special guests The City Harmonic (winners of GMA Canada's New Artist of the Year award), the high-energy pop foursome Anthem Lights, and the rock-driven group Abandon. A special emphasis has been placed on outreach and evangelism, with youth evangelist Bob Lenz joining the tour to share a message of hope. Lenz's non-profit organization, Life Promotions, will be building a network of supporting churches throughout the tour to facilitate the post-concert evangelistic efforts of the tour, with additional support from I Am Second. I Am Second, a movement meant to inspire all people to live for God and for others, is designed to help people discover their purpose in life.
 
The “God’s Not Dead Tour” follows Newsboys’ current appearance on “The Story Tour” running through December 18th. Just last month the band wrapped up their west coast leg of the Winter Jam Tour.

Tour dates for the "God's Not Dead Tour" are listed below, with more dates being added daily. Be sure to visit Newsboys.com and the tour's official webpage at www.GodsNotDeadTour.com for the most updated schedule, as well as all the information about the tour sponsors and supporting acts. 
 
Newsboys' God's Not Dead Tour Dates:*
January 12 - Holland, MI
January 13 - Anderson, IN
January 19 - Sheboygan, WI
January 20 - Port Huron, MI
January 21 - Menominee, MI
February 02 - Amarillo, TX
February 03 - Longview, TX
February 04 - Abilene, TX
February 09 - Temple, TX
February 10 - Carlsbad, NM
February 11 - Phoenix, AZ
February 12 - Tuscon, AZ
February 17 - Oceanside, CA
February 18 - Brentwood, CA
Feburary 19 - Sacramento, CA
February 21 - Layton, UT
February 23 - Anaheim, CA
February 24 - Redlands, CA
February 25 - Fresco, CA
February 26 - Bakersfield, CA
March 02 - Farmington, NM
March 03 - Lubbock, TX
March 09 - New Bern, NC
March 16 - St. Charles, IL
March 17 - Quincy, IL
March 22 - Barre, VT
March 24 - Lynchburg, VA
March 28 - Yankton, SD
March 29 - Indianola, IA
March 31 - Spencer, IA
April 05 - Edna, TX
April 06 - McAllen, TX
April 14 - Valdosta, GA
April 21 - Springfield, OH
April 22 - Wabash, IN
April 26 - Knoxville, TN
April 27 - Evansville, IN
May 03 - Menasha, WI
May 04 - Oak Creek, WI
May 05 - Flint, MI

Source: CMSpin

 

Gotee newcomer Jamie Grace has earned her first GRAMMY ® nomination for “Best Contemporary Christian Music Song.” Her  nominated No. 1 hit “Hold Me” garnered the top spot across an unprecedented three different radio charts earlier this year. The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place live from Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
 
“Just two years ago I was sitting on the floor in my dorm room with a pen and paper writing the lines 'I love the way you hold me...' When I found out that those lyrics and that melody were nominated for a GRAMMY ®, I absolutely couldn't believe it,” explains the first time nominee. “Even so, knowing that God has surrounded me with such an amazing team (TobyMac, Gotee Records, Know Good Company, producer Chris Stevens), and a family who inspires and supports my music more everyday, I believe this is another way that God is holding me - and I am loving it."
 
Jamie Grace’s latest single “You Lead” has garnered the No. 2 spot on the CHR radio chart. Jamie Grace performed her GRAMMY ® nominated song “Hold Me” on The 700 Club earlier this week. To view the performance in support of her latest album One Song At A Time, click here.
 
Coinciding with the digital release of her Christmas Together e.p., Jamie Grace’s official music video for “Christmas Together” is being unveiled. Just two months after the release of her successful, first album One Song At A Time, Jamie Grace’s Christmas Together (e.p.) includes the original “Christmas Together,” “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” and “What Child Is This?” "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" will be a featured AmazonMp3.com during the month of December where the song will be only $0.69.
 
Up next for Jamie Grace will be Newsong’s “Very Merry Christmas Tour” with Newsong, Chris August and Kutless.  Stay tuned to www.JamieGrace.com for the latest tour information.

Source: CMSpin

 

Wednesday night, the already five-time GRAMMY ® award-winning multi-platinum selling artist Steven Curtis Chapman garnered the 16th GRAMMY ® nomination of his prolific 20+ year career. His 46th No. 1 hit “Do Everything” is being recognized in the category for "Best Gospel/Christian Performance." Fans can watch the 54th Annual GRAMMY ® Awards LIVE February 12 on CBS at 8pm/7pm CST.

The chart-topping single is featured on Chapman’s latest Sparrow Records release re:creation. Chapman performed the GRAMMY ® nominated song in front of sold out crowds on his popular “Songs & Stories” tour this fall with critically acclaimed artists Andrew Peterson and Josh Wilson, and will continue to entertain audiences on the spring leg in 2012. Ticket buyers can grab these great Christmas gifts before December 25 and pay no ticketing fees. For a full list of tour dates, see below.

Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman also had much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. They are proud new grandparents! Join us in congratulating their daughter Emily and her husband Tanner on the arrival of the beautiful Eiley Eliza Richards.

"We're so thankful and thrilled to welcome Eiley!" exclaims Chapman. He jokes, "We are pretty sure we are the world's youngest grandparents."

Chapman is currently on "The Story Tour," which began last night with friends Max Lucado, Randy Frazee, Newsboys, Francesca Battistelli, Natalie Grant, Selah and Anthem Lights. This Christmas extravaganza is supporting The Story album project.

For more information on Chapman and to see a list of current tour dates, please visit www.stevencurtischapman.com.
 
###
 
“Songs & Stories” Tour Dates-more dates to be announced shortly
 (*Dates subject to change)
Feb. 2 Tulsa, OK
Feb. 3 Little Rock, AR
Feb. 4 Tupelo, MS
Feb. 7 Lexington, KY
Feb. 16 Nashville, TN
Feb. 17 Columbus, OH
Feb. 19 Cleveland, OH
Feb. 22 Paducah, KY
Feb. 23 Jackson, MS
Feb. 24 Huntsville, AL
March 1 Baton Rouge, LA
March 2 Dallas, TX
March 3 Jonesboro, AR
March 8 Aiken, SC
March 9 Clearwater, FL
March 10 Lakeland, FL
March 11 Ocala, FL

Source: CMSpin

 

Christian music’s two-time GMA Male Vocalist of the Year and multiple GRAMMY Award® nominee Brandon Heath was honored again with an impressive three nominations from The Recording Academy® during last night’s hour-long special broadcast, “The GRAMMY® Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's
Biggest Night®,” which aired live on CBS from Nokia Theatre at L.A. LIVE.

Heath’s nominations were earned across three categories.  His eight-week No. 1 radio hit, “Your Love” (from his 1/18/2011 project, Leaving Eden) was honored in both Best Gospel / Contemporary Christian Music Performance and Best Contemporary Christian Music Song, an honor he shares with co-writer Jason Ingram.  Leaving Eden was recognized in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category.

The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards® ceremony will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sunday, February 12, 2012.

The acclaimed singer/songwriter will soon wrap a very successful touring year in support of the Leaving Eden.  Fans actively supported tour dates in 96 cities, including 45 headlining concerts with opener, Britt Nicole.  

A draw for Heath’s fans is his ability to connect on a personal level with his audience.  His album’s title track “Leaving Eden” developed into a campaign that’s taken on a life of its own.  Based on the “Leaving Eden” theme, Brandon has challenged himself, and those around him, to reflect on three questions: 1) What Is Your Eden? 2) What Is Your Apple? 3) What Is Your Heart?  Visit BrandonHeath.net to watch videos and read Brandon's thoughts on each topic.  Brandon also invites people to join him in the conversations on his site, where many have already shared their personal "Edens," "apples," and "hearts."

About Brandon Heath

Since Brandon Heath debuted on Reunion Records with Don’t Get Comfortable (2006) he has become one of Christian music’s most beloved and respected artists and songwriters having been twice honored with the GMA Male Vocalist of the Year (2009 and 2010), an Emmy Award, five GRAMMY nominations, an American Music Award nomination and has garnered multiple GMA Dove Awards and songwriting honors.  His award winning songs paired with his signature vocals reflect a soaring radio career that includes four No. 1 hits: “I’m Not Who I Was,” “Wait and See,” the 2009 GMA Dove Award winning Song of the Year, “Give Me Your Eyes,” and the eight-week chart topper, “Your Love.”

Heath, a Nashville native, first began writing at age 13 and credits his hometown’s legendary hotspot for songwriters, the Bluebird Café, as the place he first experienced music that moved him.  His artistry and ability to connect with audiences have compelled countless media outlets across the nation to platform his story and music.  Coverage includes Billboard magazine,
“CBS Evening News with Katie Couric,” Relevant magazine and a 2011 feature by the Wall Street Journal.

Other key spotlights include Heath’s “Give Me Your Eyes” (What If We 8/19/2008) which was selected for The Discovery Channel’s “On The Case With Paula Zahn,” as well as a feature by the Sunday edition of The New York Times as a GRAMMY-nominated newcomer “that shouldn't be allowed to slip through the cracks.”

Heath’s third album, Leaving Eden (1/18/2011) debuted No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Sales chart and is supported by non-stop direct-support and headlining tours.  The hit maker’s most recent single “The Light In Me” released to radio on 4/29 and set in motion momentum driving his 45-city “Leaving Eden Fall Tour,” with special guest, Britt Nicole.

Source: CMSpin

 

GRAMMY-winning rock band SWITCHFOOT will perform their new hit single, “Dark Horses,” on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” tonight.  The song, which is from the group’s new album, Vice Verses (Credential Recordings/lowercase people and Atlantic Records), is currently No. 6 on the Modern Rock chart.

Fresh off a successful European run that included stops in the UK, Holland, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and sold-out shows in London, Birmingham, Amsterdam and Mannheim, SWITCHFOOT will resume their North American tour this Wednesday, November 30.  In addition to headline dates, the band will play numerous holiday radio shows in the next month, performing alongside such artists as Blink 182 and Social Distortion. (See below for itinerary.)

Living Social and SWITCHFOOT are teaming up to present two special shows at the intimate Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles on December 14. Each show will kick off with an hour-long Q&A with SWITCHFOOT, followed by an acoustic performance featuring songs from Vice Verses. Fans can choose from a 6:30 PM or 9:00 PM show. Tickets are available today and tomorrow exclusively through www.livingsocial.com. For further details, visit http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/4/deals/186614-one-general-admission-ticket-and-hour-long-q-a.

The following evening, December 15, vocalist/guitarist Jon Foreman will perform at the first of the two-night Invisible Children Holiday Benefit at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, CA. The first evening will be curated by Pete Wentz and Alternative Press, and will also feature Matt Pryor (The Get Up Kids), Aaron Gillespie (The Almost), Aaron Weiss (mewithoutYou) and Ryan O'Neal (Sleeping At Last). Additional information about the benefit shows and Invisible Children, which is working to end the use of child soldiers in Joseph Kony's rebel war and restore LRA-affected communities in central Africa to peace and prosperity, is available at www.invisiblechildren.com/music.

SWITCHFOOT’S cross-country trek with Anberlin this past fall drew sold-out crowds and rave reviews in virtually every market. Local chapters of StandUp for Kids (www.standupforkids.org), a national nonprofit volunteer outreach organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk, homeless and street kids, collected backpacks at the shows. The backpacks will be used to distribute food and essentials to kids served by the organization.

In celebration of their ongoing partnership with StandUp For Kids, SWITCHFOOT invites fans to submit their most creative hoodie designs – inspired by Vice Verses – for the chance to have it printed and distributed by Jedidiah Clothing, with proceeds benefiting StandUp For Kids. For further details, visit http://www.talenthouse.com/switchfoot-jedidiah-clothing-design-a-hoodie-inspired-by-vice-versus.

Each year the band hosts the Switchfoot Bro-Am Presented By Hurley (http://www.switchfoot.com/c/bro-am), an annual concert/surf contest/silent auction. The event has raised more than $500,000 to date for San Diego-based children’s charities, including StandUp for Kids.
 
A vinyl edition of Vice Verses – limited to 1,000 copies – is available now for pre-order at http://www.switchfoot.com. Billboard praised Vice Verses’ “powerful, anthemic rockers” and Relevant Magazine called it SWITCHFOOT’S “most unique” album yet. “[The] gorgeous, swelling ‘Restless’ sounds plucked from U2’s Achtung Baby,” said Alternative Press. “But the real standout is ‘Souvenirs,’ a stunning ballad that, if there’s any justice, will go down as one of the band’s biggest hits to date.”

SWITCHFOOT – comprising Jon Foreman (vocals/guitar), Tim Foreman (bass), Chad Butler (drums), Jerome Fontamillas (keys/guitar) and Drew Shirley (guitar) – recorded most of Vice Verses in the band’s San Diego, CA home studio, working with producer Neal Avron (Sara Bareilles, Weezer). Mike Elizondo (Eminem, Dr. Dre, Pink) who produced 2009’s Hello Hurricane, served as executive producer.

SWITCHFOOT - UPCOMING U.S. TOUR DATES

11/30   Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
12/1     Richmond, VA @ The National
12/2     Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater (SOLD OUT)
12/3     Charleston, SC @ The Music Farm
12/4     Jacksonville, FL @ Met Park
12/6     St. Louis, MO  @ The Pageant
12/7     Nashville, TN   @ Cannery Ballroom
12/11   San Diego, CA @ Valley View Casino Center
12/16   Pharr, TX @ Pharr Events Center

Source: CMSpin

No strangers to television exposure, The Afters’ latest songs from their album Light Up the Sky have received placement on a slew of TV promotions including NBC’s popular “The Biggest Loser” and ABC’s new philanthropic “You Deserve It”.
 
“Light Up the Sky” will be played in the Dec. 6 finale of NBC’s mega hit “The Biggest Loser.” ABC’s new show “You Deserve It” has also been supportive of The Afters’ music using “Lift Me Up” in promotion for the program.
 
In addition to No. 1’s at both AC and CHR radio, both “Light Up the Sky” and “Lift Me Up” have been constant mainstays in the top 5 on the iTunes ® Christian and Gospel Songs Chart. “Lift Me Up” is still Top 10 at AC Indicator.
 
Texas-based band The Afters were propelled into the national spotlight with their INO/Sony Music Label Group debut I Wish We All Could Win. The project spawned the swirling, melodic hit “Beautiful Love,” earning the band an enthusiastic following when the song was selected as the theme track for MTV’s “8th and Ocean.”  “Beautiful Love” was also the most downloaded track of 2006 on the iTunes ® Inspirational charts and garnered the band an mtvU award as well. The Afters’ sophomore release Never Going Back To OK (INO/Columbia Records) debuted in the Top 50 on the Billboard Top 200, and proved to be sensation on the silver screen with “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC), “Dr. Phil,” “Army Wives” (Lifetime) and “Rachael Ray.” The band’s third record Light Up the Sky has bolstered two No. 1 radio hits, as well as placement in “The Biggest Loser” (NBC) and “You Deserve It” (ABC). A slew of media including Rolling Stone, Seventeen.com, E! News Live, TV Guide, Premiere Radio and more also picked up on covering The Afters.

Source: CMSpin

 

GRAMMY ® recognized artists Matthew West and Mandisa will ring in the holiday season with a special evening of Christmas music as part of “The Heart of Christmas Tour.” The shows will hit around 12 markets in the month of December, a full list of events are listed below. The evening of music will include Christmas songs from both artists, including a duet of “Christmas Makes Me Cry,” found on both of their holiday projects.
 
GRAMMY ® nominee Matthew West debuted his first, full-length holiday project on, October 4, titled The Heart of Christmas. The 12 song record features an equal mix of Christmas classics and original holiday tunes penned by West. In addition to Mandisa, fellow GRAMMY ® winners and nominees join West on the album including Vince Gill in “Leaving Heaven” and Amy Grant on “Give This Christmas Away.”
 
The Heart of Christmas movie will premiere on gmc Sunday, December 4 at 7 p.m. ET. Inspired by the true story of the Locke family and West's hit song "One Last Christmas," THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS tells the story of one family's quest for their seriously ill son to experience an early and magical Christmas and how an entire community came together to make it possible.  The Locke family's journey and desire to cherish every moment would change their lives as well as millions around the world forever.
 
Mandisa debuted her own full-length Christmas record in 2008 titled, It’s Christmas. The album features such Christmas classics as “It’s Christmas,” “Joy to the World” and “Little Drummer Boy,” along with special duets with West and Michael W. Smith. 
 
World Vision will also serve as a sponsor for “The Heart of Christmas Tour.” World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. For more on World Vision, go to www.worldvision.org.

Source: CMSpin

 

It’s big news for Newsboys! God’s Not Dead, their brand new CD, just released yesterday November 15th and is receiving huge accolades from the fans and critics alike.
 
God’s Not Dead showcases the best music yet from front man Michael Tait and band mates Jeff Frankenstein (keys), Duncan Phillips (drums), and Jody Davis (guitars), as the project offers today’s most embraced modern worship anthems. Putting that special Newsboys touch on seven tunes that have recently topped the Church Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) chart, such as the first radio single “God’s Not Dead (Like A Lion)” along with “Forever Reign” and “Revelation Song,” five originals round out the project (“The King is Coming,” "I Am Second," “Here We Stand").
 
Not skipping a beat since their critically acclaimed 2010 release, Born Again, the band continues to receive tremendous support for God's Not Dead from retail, radio stations, media outlets, and dedicated fans across the nation and world.
 
RADIO -
The lead single from the project, title track "God's Not Dead," is gathering momentum at CHR radio and is poised to be the first major hit of 2012. The single will release to the AC format in January. Early markets on the song include Grand Rapids, MI; Tampa, FL; Green Bay, WI; Spartanburg, SC; Farmington, NM; Anchorage, AK; Ponca City, OK; San Luis Obispo, CA; Wausaw, WI; and Jackson, MS. Numerous radio stations love the single, and a couple of them are sharing these words:
 
"The Newsboys have been 'reborn' for our audience and they are loving the new music. God's Not Dead is a hit! Great to hear Kevin Max again!"
- Brian McIntyre, PD at WONU FM in Bourbonnais, IL

"Why on earth does one need to come up with a clever quote for a song so strong in message, and quality, that it would blow me away to think a station would have to even think twice about playing it? ‘God’s Not Dead’ is GREAT!" 
-Jim "The Kid" Raider of WORQ in Green Bay

MEDIA -
What does the media think about God's Not Dead? Popular outlets such as HearItFirst.com, NewReleaseTuesday.com, JesusFreakHideout.com, Rhapsody,  gmc, CCM, to name just a few and so many more have heavily promoted God’s Not Dead. Here's what some of them are saying:
 
“The group has come together to create what is their finest worship record to date, and quite possibly, one of the best Newsboys albums ever….There is no doubt about it, if you’re going to walk away with one message from this album, it’s this: God is alive… and He is absolutely worthy to be praised.”
- NewReleaseTuesday.com
 
“There is a liveliness to God's Not Dead that puts pep in your step and joy in your heart...Bottom Line - seven covers and five original songs add up to almost 50 minutes of amazing music that will lift your spirit while lifting the name of our Lord.” - About.com

“…the best product from the latest incarnation of the Newsboys…” and from an early JFH review, “God’s Not Dead is looking to be the accomplished worship album this November, as well as a record Newsboys fans will be pleased to sink their teeth into…”
- JesusFreakHideout.com
 
This new album from the Newsboys is definitely ear catching and worship ready...very impressive and won’t let you leave without feeling inspired..."
- Breathecast.com

“There’s a decidedly global rock sound on Newsboys’ latest worship release. The collection…should appeal to longtime Newsboys fans as well as those looking for an up-tempo worship release.”
- CCM digital magazine
 
“Newsboys at their best.” - The Front Row Report
 
ABOUT GOD'S NOT DEAD:
At the album’s core, God’s Not Dead sings of victory over a century’s worth of philosophers who thought otherwise. Friedrich Nietzsche once proclaimed, “God is dead.” But as Newsboys’ friend and pastor Rice Broocks likes to say, “A funny thing happened on the way to the funeral.” The belief that God is indeed alive is the truth Newsboys are amplifying. “God’s not dead, let’s worship Him,” says Michael Tait. “We serve a living God!”
 
Tait’s outspoken message is carried by Newsboys’ signature sound that Frankenstein, Phillips, and Davis have shaped together for nearly two decades now. The band is currently on tour headlining the west coast leg of the Winter Jam tour, then joining The Story tour next month, which runs through December 18th. At the start of 2012, Newsboys will embark on their “God’s Not Dead Tour.” A press announcement about the tour will be distributed soon.

Source: CMSpin

 

Grammy®-nominated Christian music mainstay NewSong is slated to bring their annual “Very Merry Christmas Tour” to 14 cities next month.  A holiday highlight for fans and artists alike, this year’s tour will also feature top rock/worship band Kutless, reigning GMA Male Vocalist of the Year Chris August, and breakout singer/songwriter Jamie Grace.   
 
Kicking-off December 1 in Marietta, Georgia, “NewSong’s Very Merry Christmas Tour” will stop in Cincinnati; Charlotte, North Carolina; Beckley, West Virginia; Marion, Illinois; and Pascagoula, Mississippi, among other cities, before concluding December 19 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
 
NewSong will perform selections from their best-selling recordings The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Hope, including the group’s emotion-packed #1 mainstream radio hit, “The Christmas Shoes,” which has become the biggest song of their career and one of America’s most beloved Christmas standards. “The Christmas Shoes” also spawned a series of New York Times best-selling novels by Donna VanLiere and two top-rated CBS television movies based on the books and featuring music from NewSong (CBS’ “The Christmas Blessing” was television’s most-watched movie in 2005).
 
Celebrating 30 years in Christian music, NewSong has recorded 17 albums, garnering 20 #1 Christian radio singles and a Grammy® Award nomination, in addition to being inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, among numerous other achievements.  Founders of The Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, Christian music's largest annual tour and Pollstar’s #1 tour in attendance for the first quarter of this year, NewSong has hosted many of the genre’s top artists on the tour since its inception in 1995. One True God, the latest recording from NewSong, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Christian/Gospel Albums chart earlier this year and features the new single, “The Same God.” 
 
Portland, Oregon-based Kutless has emerged as one of the premiere rock, worship bands. The band has been awarded RIAA Gold Certification for their worship-based album Strong Tower in addition to Gold Certification for Long-Form video Live From Portland. Since the 2009 release of their hit worship album, It Is Well, BEC Recordings’ Kutless has catapulted to the top of the charts with their mega-hit song “What Faith Can Do.”  Already a hit single in 2009, the success carried into 2010 as this single topped the 2010 Mediabase Christian AC Song of the Year.  In addition to Mediabase, “What Faith Can Do” was the No. 2 Billboard Hot Christian Song of the Year.  Kutless was also named the No. 7 Billboard Christian Artist of the Year, and It Is Well was the No. 10 Billboard Christian Album of the Year.  Kutless has just finished recording their new studio album that will be releasing in early 2012.
 
Fervent Records’ Chris August is quickly becoming a favorite in the CCM genre making a mark with his debut single, “Starry Night” which claimed the No. 1 spot for five consecutive weeks on the chart and landed at No. 15 on the Billboard year end chart for “Hot Christian Songs” of 2010. With an impressive sweep at this year’s 42nd Annual Dove Awards, August earned awards for “New Artist of the Year” and “Male Vocalist of the Year.” He also claimed the nod for "Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year” for his debut album No Far Away that he co-produced with acclaimed producer Ed Cash. No Far Away was the best-selling New Artist project released in 2010. August is a self-taught pianist, guitarist, and producer who previously worked with artists such as Ashlee Simpson, Ryan Cabrera, Brian McKnight and Jessica Simpson before shifting his focus to a solo career.

Hailing from Lithonia, Georgia, Jamie Grace is a 19-year-old-college student who aside from her career and touring as a singer-songwriter, is also studying children’s ministry. At age 11, Jamie Grace was diagnosed with Tourettes Syndrome, and has since traveled the country sharing her story and faith through music and speaking.  Though just releasing her first, full length record, One Song At A Time, Jamie Grace has been a part of the well-known Revolve tour, had a No. 1 radio hit and a highly successful EP. Her holiday EP, Christmas Together, will debut digitally November 29.

Source: CMSpin

 

The 21st Anniversary Covenant House Candlelight Vigil in Times Square, sponsored by Aviva USA life and annuity company, also will feature the first-ever Covenant House CEO Solidarity Sleepout. Following the Nov. 17 vigil in Times Square, more than 40 influential leaders will be sleeping out in the shadow of the Covenant House New York Crisis Shelter in solidarity with homeless youth.

“On Nov. 17 and 18, we are going to transform Times Square and our crisis shelter into centers of hope and solidarity for homeless youth,” said Covenant House President Kevin Ryan. “Natalie Grant will light up Times Square with an inspirational performance. After the vigil, we will march back to our crisis shelter with 300 of our homeless kids and a generous group of CEOs and business leaders will sleep in cardboard boxes outside our crisis shelter.

“These leaders have selflessly decided they want to walk in our kids’ shoes and experience, if only for one night, some of what our kids go through,” said Ryan. “We will sleep out to show our support and to raise awareness that thousands of young people are struggling to survive every night on our streets.”

The vigil in Times Square begins at 6 p.m. and will feature Grant, Gospel Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year for four consecutive years (2006-2009) and the top-selling adult contemporary female solo artist in 2005, 2006 and 2008. Grant is also an outspoken advocate for victims of human trafficking. Abolition International, which Grant created in 2005, has raised a significant amount of funds and awareness to fight the trafficking of women and children for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

“We are honored to have Natalie share her incredible talent with us in Times Square,” said Ryan. “Her songs are inspirational, and she has dedicated her life to raising money and awareness for child victims of trafficking around the world.” The vigil also will feature homeless youth from Covenant House, who will share stories of their journey through homelessness to independence.

Following the vigil, Covenant House will host the CEO Solidarity Sleepout on the concrete near the shelter at 460 West 41st St. with high-ranking executives hoping to improve this corner of the world. Among those planning to sleep out are: Philip Andryc of Berens Capital Management; Brian Cashman of the New York Yankees; Bill Donahoe of Allegiance Retail Services/Foodtown; Gary Dubois of Crum & Forster/Seneca; Dave Eklund of Aeolus Reinsurance; Tom Glocer of Thomson Reuters; Jeff Kaplan of Deerfield Management; Geraldine Laybourne, co-founder of the Oxygen Network and chairman of Alloy Entertainment; Julio Alfonso Portalatin of Chartis Growth Economies; George P. Reeth of Companion Property and Casualty; Adam Silver of the NBA; and Strauss Zelnick of Zelnick Media.

“No one can do this work alone, so we appreciate Aviva USA sponsoring this vigil, which will help thousands of kids in the years to come,” said Ryan. “Our friends at ABC, NASDAQ, Reuters, and Toshiba are donating their screens for the evening in Times Square to shine a light on the problems our kids face. And, of course, the business leaders who are leaving their homes to sleep in solidarity with our kids are showing a commitment and love for our kids that will make a tremendous impact. It is all of us working together that will save more lives and give a voice to the thousands of homeless kids who are alone on the streets.”
Covenant House provides 24/7 crisis care and on-going support for homeless young people in need of a safe haven.

Source: CMSpin

 

The first holiday music from Jamie Grace will debut digitally November 29. Just two months after the release of her successful, first album One Song At A Time, Jamie Grace will include four holiday songs in Christmas Together (e.p.): the original “Christmas Together,” “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” and “What Child Is This?” The EP finds Jamie Grace working with a mix of talent, under the creative direction of tobyMac, including fellow Gotee Records’ act Abandon Kansas, producer David Garcia (Mandisa, Group 1 Crew) and even co-writing with producer Jamie Moore (tobyMac, Nicole C. Mullen).
 
"O Come, O Come Emmanuel" will be a featured AmazonMp3.com during the month of December where the song will be only $0.69
 
After wrapping up dates with multiple GRAMMY ® winner tobyMac, Jamie Grace will join Newsong’s “Very Merry Christmas Tour” with Newsong, Chris August and Kutless.  Stay tuned to www.JamieGrace.com for the latest tour information. Christmas Together (e.p.) will be bundled with One Song At A Time on the “Very Merry Christmas Tour.”
 
Jamie Grace's current radio single "You Lead" cracked the Top 10 this week at No. 8 on the Christian CHR chart. The song is also on sale at iTunes  for only $0.69.

Source: CMSpin

 

GRAMMY Award-winning, Multi-Platinum-selling band Jars of Clay re-joins MercyMe, Matt Maher, Disciple, Group 1 Crew and others on the fall leg of “The Rock & Worship Roadshow” this month.  In keeping with tour tradition, Jars of Clay is offering fans an exclusive “Sing & Tell” VIP event prior to each show.

Kicking off last Thursday, Nov. 3, in Saginaw, Mich., the tour reconvenes after a successful initial run last spring.  This month it will visit 12 additional markets, including major cities Cleveland, Atlanta and Oklahoma City before wrapping Nov. 20 in Memphis, Tenn.  Admission prices will be $10 at-the-door, making it an affordable event for the whole family.  Compassion International, a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty, will once again serve as a tour sponsor.

Jars of Clay will reprise its “Sing & Tell” pre-show gathering, a time for fans to interact face-to-face with the band.  Those who purchase VIP tickets will have access to a private meet and greet, which includes an acoustic set and a Question & Answers session with the group.  Participants are invited to request songs ahead of time when they purchase VIP tickets.  This special offer additionally includes admission to the Roadshow as well as a VIP laminate and signed copy of Jars of Clay’s new acoustic EP, Reinvent, Remember, Replay, only available on the tour.
 
VIP tickets are limited.  To reserve your ticket, visit www.JarsofClay.com/tour.  For additional information on the "Rock & Worship Roadshow" tour and a current list of tour dates, visit: www.rockandworshiproadshow.com.

About Jars of Clay

Jars of Clay, made up of members Dan Haseltine (vocals), Charlie Lowell (keyboards), Steve Mason (guitars), and Matt Odmark (guitars), launched its career with the multi-format hit “Flood” in 1995.  Since then, it has amassed more than six million in career sales (five Gold, two Platinum and one Multi-Platinum certification), three GRAMMY Awards (from eight nominations), an American Music Award nod, three GMA Dove Awards (12 GMA Dove Award
Nominations), and BMI honors for songwriting as well as performing.  The group also claims 17 No. 1 radio hits, numerous film credits, and has headlined thousands of sold-out shows and
festivals.  The band’s GRAMMY-nominated tenth album, The Long Fall Back to Earth, was recently followed by its compelling, community-minded project, Jars of Clay Presents
The Shelter.

While celebrated for its music and writing, Jars of Clay is most concerned with the needs in Africa.  Compelled to make a difference, the group successfully launched the Blood: Water
Mission, a non-profit organization promoting clean blood and water in Africa.  Since the band’s debut, Jars of Clay has built an extraordinary career based on the uncompromising integrity of its music, worldview and humanitarianism.

For more information on Jars of Clay and The Shelter, please visit: www.jarsofclay.com, www.facebook.com/jarsofclay or www.providentpress.com.

Source: CMSpin

 

On the heels of its recent American Music Award® nomination, multi-platinum, award-winning artist Casting Crowns is this week’s highest debut on the Billboard’s Top 200 at No. 2.

Come to the Well additionally topped the Billboard Contemporary Christian Overall
chart, while also claiming No. 1 on the iTunes Christian Albums chart and No. 3 on its Overall Albums chart.  Lead single “Courageous,” landed at No. 1 on the iTunes Christian Songs chart as well.

Casting Crowns’ fourth studio release, Come to the Well sold an extraordinary 99,138 copies this week.  Such a showing earned Come to the Well the highest charting position for a debut album on the Billboard Top 200.  Furthermore, the project dominated the Billboard Contemporary Christian Overall chart, where Casting Crowns’ Nov. 3, 2009 release, Until the Whole World Hears, also charted at No. 4.

In addition, Casting Crowns celebrates a No. 1 on the Billboard National Christian Audience
chart with hit radio single “Courageous,” added only 10 weeks ago.  The occasion marks Casting Crowns’ second No. 1 song in six months, following “Glorious Day” which was No. 1 at AC in April 2011.

Other factors driving Casting Crowns’ momentum are multiple sold out tour dates, Mark Hall’s recent book release, high profile media coverage including a lead feature in Billboard Magazine, an American Music Award® nomination – the band’s sixth - and the support of its more than TWO MILLION Facebook fans.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was impressed by early buzz anticipating the album’s strong debut.  In his Oct. 20 blog post he singled out the band saying, “Congrats guys! You’re
quite blessed!” Read the post in its entirety here: http://perezhilton.com/2011-10-20-christian-rockers-casting-crowns-billboard.

Produced by Mark A. Miller, Come to the Well is Casting Crowns’ first new studio album in two years.  As with previous records this one draws inspiration from the band’s ministry efforts at
its home church, Eagles Landing Baptist Church, outside of Atlanta, where frontman
Mark Hall serves as youth pastor.  The project is filled with songs that both challenge and encourage believers in their walk. Hall collaborated on several of the tracks with top songwriters including Steven Curtis Chapman, Matthew West and award-winning country songwriter
Tom Douglas.

About Casting Crowns

Atlanta-based Casting Crowns released its fourth studio album, Come To The Well, on Oct. 18, 2011.  The album sold 99,138 copies its first week making it the highest charting debut on the Billboard Top 200, with an overall chart position of No. 2. It also garnered the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Contemporary Christian Overall chart, followed closely by its November 2009 release, Until The Whole World Hears, at No. 4.

Come To The Well additionally climbed to No. 1 on iTunes Christian Albums chart and No. 3 on its Overall Albums chart.  The record’s lead single, “Courageous,” was the No. 1 Christian single on iTunes while hitting No. 1 on the Billboard National Audience Chart after just 10 weeks.  All of Casting Crowns’ projects are RIAA certified, with a tally of three RIAA Platinum Albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, two RIAA Gold Albums, two Gold DVDs and two Gold digital singles. The group also claims an American Music Award®, with six total nominations, three GRAMMY Awards, and 14 GMA Dove Awards.

Despite an unprecedented eight-year career with Casting Crowns, the seven band members remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta area and tour part-time around their local church duties.  Serving his 18th year in youth ministry, lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall is the student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta.  As a testament to the band’s impact, Casting Crowns performed for a second time in North Korea in April 2009, in partnership with Global Resource Services, as the band continues to forge invaluable relationships with the people in the D.P.R.K.

For more information on Casting Crowns and Come to the Well, visit: www.castingcrowns.com or follow Mark Hall’s  Twitter at twitter.com/markhallCC.

Source: CMSpin

 

Joined by Andrew Peterson & Josh Wilson
 
Tonight wraps up the multi-platinum selling and GRAMMY ® award winning artist Steven Curtis Chapman's first "Songs & Stories" tour with friends Andrew Peterson and Josh Wilson. After performing in front of sold out crowds across the country, the Show HOPE sponsored tour continues to be in high demand and as a result Chapman will launch a spring leg of the intimate tour.
 
During this unique writer’s night, Chapman performs songs from his latest album re:creation and more, including his most recent No. 1 hit “Do Everything.” Chapman also opens up about the stories that inspired him to write the songs that have impacted lives around the world.
 
“What a night!  Having been in the business for 18 years, I’ve come to appreciate a well-crafted evening of music,” exclaims CAA Agent Bryan Myers. “Hit songs, superb musicianship, tasteful instrumentation (not to mention instruments you’ve never seen before), and artist collaboration from beginning to end.  This is what music, community, and storytelling is all about.  Would see it again in a heartbeat!” 
 
“Steven’s show was one of the most creative and fun evenings of worship I have experienced in a long time,” says Lowell MacGregor from the Lowell MacGregor Group. “This show combined an amazing musical history of one of the most prolific musicians in CCM with a healthy helping of his new material interspersed with fun forays into up and coming musical talents and fresh musical perspectives.”
 
Dan Fife with Awakening Events agrees, “Watching these world class musicians collaborate from the first note to the last has been an incredible treat. Steven, Andrew and Josh come at you right away to let you know it's going to be a special and unique evening. With the guys playing for each other all night long and the ‘music store’ of instruments up on stage, the band trades off on ukuleles, banjos, guitars, pump organ, hammer dulcimer, upright bass and others constantly.  It's such a fun night and really captures the audience.”
 
Additionally, Chapman, Peterson and Wilson showcase their diverse musical talents by playing an extensive variety of instruments (over 47 on stage) making it a night of nonstop musicianship and entertainment.
 
Fans are also invited to a special pre-show event, “Soundcheck and Stories.” Two hours prior to each show, Chapman connects with his fans in a personal Q&A, performs an exclusive acoustic song or two and gives each fan a collector's edition autographed poster.
 
For more date and ticket information about Steven Curtis Chapman and the upcoming “Songs & Stories” tour, please visit http://stevencurtischapman.com/.

Source: CMSpin

Source: CMSpin

Earlier this week, Fair Trade Services' critically acclaimed artist Sara Groves released her 10th album Invisible Empires. Produced by Steve Hindalong (Sixpence None The Richer, Leeland, The Choir, City On A Hill) the landmark album is following in the acclaimed footsteps of her nine previous recordings, receiving stunning reviews from Christianity Today, Rhapsody.com, NewReleaseTuesday and more:
 
“Groves gives voice to both the struggle of living as a Christian and the unshakeable peace that comes from surrender and trust. In Sara Groves' capable hands, they expand and fill to take in all our lives, and Invisible Empires is another musical triumph.”
-Christianity Today
 
“On her 10th album, Invisible Empires, Sara Groves continues her habit of laying bare her most intimate feelings and fears in hopes that her warts-and-all truth will inspire the rest of us to live more examined, thoughtful lives…this underrated singer/songwriter sifts through the layers of life that pile up on us all to get to what’s really important.” –Rhapsody.com
 
“A collection of songs this deep and resonant are rare in any genre, and are truly ‘art’ in the truest sense of the word. Invisible Empires attempts to speak to that place in the heart that so rarely gets spoken to. Sara Groves has opened up yet another great conversation with the world." -JesusFreakhideout.com
 
“Sara’s excellent songwriting and captivating piano-based singer-songwriter style have made her my favorite female artist in any genre of music. Sara has now once again released her ‘best’ album topping all of her previous excellent work.  Invisible Empires by Sara Groves is the top album of 2011.” -NewReleaseTuesday.com
 
 "Each track on Invisible Empires has a quiet power and conviction.  Sara Groves’ amazing ministry is packed within her exceptional songwriting.  With her smooth folksy voice and warm piano, she proceeds to sweetly convict and convert listeners with each song." -The Fish
  
Featured on what-already-appears to be another hit project for the gifted artist is the first single “Eyes on the Prize,” which was originally adapted during the Civil Rights Movement and also features the young voices of a youth choir based in Jersey City, NJ: the New City Kids. While the message is universal, Groves had International Justice Mission (IJM) specifically in mind when recording this song, knowing that this social-justice organization, like many do, has reached its point of the “long haul.” IJM is currently featuring a unique video of Groves sharing her message behind the song on their website.  Please click here to view. The powerful anthem is being played on major radio networks such as WBSN/New Orleans, WCIE/Tampa, Family Life Network, American Family Radio, and KNLB/Phoenix among others.
 
Additionally, in-depth interviews with Groves can be found on Beliefnet.com  and the November issue of CCM as well as upcoming interviews with USA Radio, American Family Radio, Campus Crusade for Christ Radio and more. Always eloquent and honest, Groves recently took time to film a video where she shares what the album means to her and more here.
 
Groves is currently on the “Reason to Gather” Tour with this year’s GMA Dove Award “Female Vocalist” and “Best New Artist” nominee Audrey Assad and indie singer/songwriter duo Jenny & Tyler.
 
For more information on Sara Groves and Invisible Empires, please visit www.saragroves.com.

Source: CMSpin

 

Legendary Christian recording artist and world-renowned guitar maestro Phil Keaggy is set to release Live From Kegworth Studio through Strobie Records on October 18. The new CD features his most popular live arrangements, including "Salvation Army Band," "The True Believers" and "Here Comes the Sun."

The latest project from the Gospel Music Hall of Famer is in response to fan requests through the years following Keaggy's concerts.

"When I finish a show, people are always asking me if I have a CD with all the songs I played live at the concert. Regrettably, I didn't have one CD with many of the songs I played on a given night. So I took it upon myself to record live in my home studio many of the songs I do in concert," says Keaggy.

"With an audience of one," Keaggy says, "I played and sang my heart out and chose the best takes of each song presented in the collection."

In true Keaggy fashion, the new project features the musician's amazing vocals coupled with his brilliant guitar playing and looping magic, using no overdubs.
Live From Kegworth Studio includes elements of all the musical stylings for which Keaggy is famous. He cuts loose with a wailing rendition of the classic "Salvation Army Band," allows the mood and tempo to take center stage on the Keith Green-penned "Your Love Broke Through," pays homage to George Harrison with a spot-on rendition of the Beatles' hit "Here Comes the Sun," and settles into some intricate and reflective acoustic guitar strumming on the contemplative instrumental "Chalice."

Live From Kegworth Studio is available to pre-order through October 15 at philkeaggy.com. On October 18, the CD will be available to purchase at Keaggy's website, with digital downloads at iTunes and Amazon coming later in October.

About Phil Keaggy:
One of the world's most beloved musicians, Keaggy's solo career has spanned 40+ years and has included more than 50 solo albums, both vocal and instrumental, as well as eight releases with his band, Glass Harp.
Widely recognized for his phenomenal guitar playing as well as his vocal and songwriting prowess, he has received numerous accolades and awards for his music, including seven Dove Awards and a Grammy nomination. Keaggy was inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2007, and was named one of the Top 10 best rock singers in Christian music history by GospelMusicChannel.com in 2009. He has been named one of the "25 Most Underrated Guitarists" by Rolling Stone Magazine alongside Prince, The Beatles' George Harrison, Kurt Cobain, Neil Young and Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham.
An accomplished record producer and one of the most sought-after studio guitarists on the planet, Keaggy also continues to sell out concerts all over the United States with his ever-changing style, ranging from rock & roll to fully-orchestrated instrumental compositions.

The Phil Keaggy Trio's current release, Inter-Dimensional Traveler, is available from Strobie Records. Also available is Numen, Keaggy's new CD with Kyle Jones, a creative collaboration of exotic guitars and percussion. For more information on Keaggy, Inter-Dimensional Traveler, Numen and Live From Kegworth Studio, visit philkeaggy.com.

Source: CMSpin

 

Also Features Building 429 And Levi McGrath

Centricity Music’s high energy pop-rock band, Me In Motion, will be heading to Canada in December to join Peter Furler’s 2011 Christmas Tour.  The 10-day tour launches December 1st and features Building 429 and Levi McGrath along with Me In Motion. 

“I'm really honored for the opportunity to join Peter on the road this December,” says Me In Motion’s frontman, Seth Mosley.  “It’s been a big blessing to get to know him, as the band worked on Peter’s debut solo record.  And now to get the opportunity to share the stage with such an iconic figure in Christian music, who had a big impact on me growing up, is a dream come true.  Peter is 100% genuine and lives what he sings. It's gonna be a good one."

Me In Motion just released their new single to radio, Yes We Can, and already the upbeat, catchy song has received eight radio adds out of the box.  The song’s lyrics are based on the message from Phillipians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  As Mosley describes the single, “It’s difficult to live our faith in this world but when the world says we can’t make it we shout back….yes we can!”

Source: CMSpin

 

Known for such worldwide worship anthems as “Mighty To Save,” “From the Inside Out,” “My Hope,” “Shout To The Lord,” “Hosanna,” “The Stand” and many more, Hillsong returns to the US to launch its “God Is Able” tour November 18 in Minneapolis, MN.  The tour travels to 13 cities for worship nights in churches, theaters and arenas before wrapping up December 6 in San Diego, CA (full tour schedule is listed below).

In addition to its worship favorites, Hillsong will debut songs from God Is Able that were birthed out of a year that has received its fair share of turmoil, both in Australia and around the world, with tsunamis, earthquakes, nuclear disasters, tornadoes and war. The songs are about seeing people connect in a real and personal way with the Living God in control of the universe, encouraging hope, even in the midst of our present circumstances.

“We are continually reminded just how true those words are: God is able - able to save, able to heal, able to rescue from the fiercest storms and highest floods,” says Hillsong’s Reuben Morgan, co-writer of the song “Mighty To Save,” sung by an estimated 40 million people in church each week.  “There are so many times when we are in situations beyond our control, and there’s something revolutionary about being able to say or sing, our God is able, In His name we overcome, for the Lord our God is able.”

Recorded with thousands of worshippers gathered together at Sydney Entertainment Centre in Australia, God Is Able is a global expression of praise and worship from Hillsong Church.  The acclaimed album, which released in July, shares the simple, yet profound message that God’s ability is infinite in capacity and yet entirely intimate in focus.

While on tour in the US, Hillsong will also share new music from its Christmas EP, Born Is The King, releasing November 8.  This studio recording includes two new songs, “Born Is The King (It’s Christmas),” written by Matt Crocker and Scott Ligertwood, and “Emmanuel,” written by Reuben Morgan.  The full track listing follows:
 
1.  The Westward Procession
2. Joy To The World
3. Born Is The King (It’s Christmas)
4.  Emmanuel
5.  We Three Kings
6.  Come Let Us Adore Him
7.  Holy Night
8.  Silent Night

About Hillsong Church:
Based in Sydney, Australia, Hillsong Church is one of the world’s fastest-growing ministries, with a 25,000-plus strong congregation in Australia, as well as one of the largest evangelical churches in London, Cape Town and Kiev. Hillsong also has churches in Stockholm and Paris, and is establishing a new church in New York City.

Hillsong 2011 “God Is Able” US Tour:

NOVEMBER   
 18 Minneapolis, MN
Grace Church
 19 Chicago, IL
Rosemont Theatre
 20 Springfield, MO
James River Assembly
 21 Louisville, KY
Southeast Christian Church
 22 Little Rock, AR
Church at Rock Creek
  26 Orlando, FL
University of Central Florida Arena
 28 Jackson, MS
Pinelake Church - Reservoir Campus
 29 Houston, TX
Berry Center
DECEMBER   
 1 Dallas, TX
Verizon Theatre
 2 El Paso, TX
Abundant Living Faith Center
 3 Tucson, AZ
Casas Church
 5 Los Angeles, CA
Nokia Theatre
 6 San Diego, CA
The Rock
* Dates subject to change

For all the latest information on the tour, and Hillsong, please visit: http://live.hillsong.com/, http://www.facebook.com/HillsongLive, http://twitter.com/hillsonglive.

Source: CMSpin

 

Vice Verses (Credential Recordings/lowercase people and Atlantic Records), the new album from GRAMMY-winning rock band SWITCHFOOT, debuts at No.8 on The Billboard 200.  It also debuted at No.5 at iTunes Album chart and No.3 on iTunes Alternative chart. The band will perform “Dark Horses,” their new Top 15 Modern Rock hit, on “Conan” on October 25th. The track was just added by Clear Channel Alternative Premium Choice, WTCL (Denver), WRFF (Philadelphia), KNDD (Seattle), WRXL (Richmond) and 98.7 (Los Angeles).

SWITCHFOOT’s co-headlining tour with ANBERLIN is currently underway. (See below for itinerary.) After performing for a packed house at New York City’s Best Buy Theatre last week, lead singer/guitarist Jon Foreman took the show outside, performing atop a newspaper stand for thousands of people in Times Square. Along the tour route, local chapters of StandUp for Kids (www.standupforkids.org), a national nonprofit volunteer outreach organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk, homeless and street kids, will be collecting new and used backpacks at the concerts. The backpacks will be used to distribute food and essentials to kids served by the organization.

“The War Inside,” another track from Vice Verses, can be heard in the trailer for In Time, an upcoming 20th Century Fox film starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried. SWITCHFOOT has contributed an exclusive new song, “Out of Control,” to the just-released Hawaii Five-0 soundtrack. The track was heard in this week’s episode of the hit CBS show. You can also check out SWITCHFOOT’S recent performance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” at:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/280337/jimmy-kimmel-live-switchfoot-dark-horses

SWITCHFOOT waged a Game Day takeover of ABC, with Vice Verses tapped as the exclusive music for the Oklahoma vs. Florida State football game. ESPN hosted an exclusive stream of Vice Verses and partnered with the band to give away a trip for two to the 2012 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. Hurley selected SWITCHFOOT as the exclusive music for the Hurley Pro, held last month in Trestles, CA and the band performed at a recent San Diego Padres game.
 
Vice Verses, the eighth studio record from the multi-platinum rock band, explores the polarity of what it means to be human. “Between the dialectic of life and death we are pulled tight, stretched out like the strings of my guitar,” Jon Foreman explains in his latest Huffington Post piece, which you can read at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-foreman/vice-verses-making-art-ou_b_974302.html. “We are the notes dancing from the strings of time, held firm between life and death. This is the polarity of our existence, pulled tight between despair and hope, belief and doubt. We are strung tight between our birth and the grave. Humanity is dancing on the fretboard in-between. Death will one day cut the string. Until then, we live in the tension.”

It’s an adventurous collection that builds on the harder-edged sound of 2009’s Hello Hurricane and puts the rhythm section upfront, with hip-hop influenced tracks like  “Selling the News,” “The Original” and “Blinding Light.”

“[The] gorgeous, swelling ‘Restless’ sounds plucked from U2’s Achtung Baby,” said Alternative Press. “But the real standout is ‘Souvenirs,’ a stunning ballad that, if there’s any justice, will go down as one of the band’s biggest hits to date.” Billboard praised Vice Verses’ “powerful, anthemic rockers” and Relevant Magazine called it SWITCHFOOT’S “most unique” album yet.

SWITCHFOOT – comprising Jon Foreman (vocals/guitar), Tim Foreman (bass), Chad Butler (drums), Jerome Fontamillas (keys/guitar) and Drew Shirley (guitar) – recorded most of Vice Verses in the band’s San Diego, CA home studio, working with producer Neal Avron (Sara Bareilles, Weezer). Mike Elizondo (Eminem, Dr. Dre, Pink) who produced 2009’s Hello Hurricane, served as executive producer. Hello Hurricane entered The Billboard 200 at No. 13 and contained the Modern Rock hits “The Sound (John M. Perkins’ Blues)” and “Mess of Me.”

The band took home “Artist of the Year” honors at the San Diego Music Awards earlier this year and remains very connected to their hometown. Each year they host the Switchfoot Bro-Am Presented By Hurley (http://www.switchfoot.com/c/bro-am), an annual concert/surf contest/silent auction. The event has raised more than $500,000 to date for San Diego-based children’s charities, including StandUp for Kids.

SWITCHFOOT/ANBERLIN FALL 2011 U.S. TOUR

10/5 Bowling Green, OH Bowling Green State University - Stroh Center
10/7 Boulder, CO  Boulder Theatre
10/8 Salt Lake City, UT Gallivan Center – X96 concert
10/10 San Francisco, CA The Warfield Theatre
10/11 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
10/13 Amarillo, TX  Azteca Music Hall
10/14 Siloam Springs, AR John Brown University – Bill George Arena
10/15 Longview, TX  Le Tourneau University – Belcher Center
10/17 Dallas, TX  House of Blues
10/18 Austin, TX  Stubbs Waller Creek
10/20 Albuquerque, NM Kiva Auditorium
10/21 Phoenix, AZ  Grand Canyon University Arena     (SWITCHFOOT ONLY)

More Switchfoot information can be found at www.switchfoot.com, www.facebook.com/switchfoot and  www.twitter.com/switchfoot.

Source: CMSpin

 

Casting Crowns has been nominated for a 2011 American Music Award®, as announced today at the J.W. Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. The nod sets up a busy season for the best-selling group, who will release its latest studio project, Come to Well, next week, and whose current radio single, “Courageous” is on its way to topping the Christian AC radio charts.
 
Casting Crowns’ sixth career AMA nomination, winning in 2007, the band receives recognition as “Favorite Artist” in the Contemporary Inspirational category. Winners will be determined by online voting from now through Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. Fans can vote at the Coca-Cola AMA voting website, amavote.com, as well as http://is.gd/U2P4uY.  The live broadcast of the 39th annual AMAs will take place at the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on Sunday, Nov. 20 (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on ABC.
 
Also forthcoming for Casting Crowns is the release of its first new studio album in two years.  Come to the Well, available Oct. 18, draws inspiration from the band’s ministry efforts at its home church, Eagles Landing Baptist Church outside of Atlanta, where frontman Mark Hall
serves as youth pastor.  The band is currently touring new music from Come to the Well on a fall tour visiting 40 cities through early December. Visit www.castingcrowns.com for a list of tour dates.
 
Adding to Casting Crowns’ momentum moving toward street week, the debut single from Come to the Well, “Courageous,” climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard National Christian Audience chart and No. 2 on the AC Indicator chart this week. Featured in the current Sherwood Pictures film Courageous, the song has seen close to 40,000,000 audience impressions to date.
 
For more information on Casting Crowns and Come to the Well, visit: www.castingcrowns.com
or follow Mark Hall’s Twitter at twitter.com/markhallCC.
 
About Casting Crowns:
All of Atlanta-based Casting Crowns’ projects are RIAA certified, with a tally of three RIAA Platinum Albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, two RIAA Gold Albums, two Gold DVDs and two Gold singles, holding position as Billboard’s top-selling act in Christian music since 2007. Despite an unprecedented eight-year career with Casting Crowns, the seven band members remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta area and tour part-time around their local church duties. Serving his 18th year in youth ministry, lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall is the student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta. As a testament to the band’s impact, Casting Crowns performed for a second time in North Korea in April 2009, in partnership with Global Resource Services, as the band continues to forge invaluable relationships with the people in the D.P.R.K.
 
For more information on Casting Crowns and Come to the Well, visit: www.castingcrowns.com
or follow Mark Hall’s  Twitter at twitter.com/markhallCC.

Source: CMSpin

 

Rush Of Fools released their highly anticipated record, We Once Were on September 27th and the project has been embraced by radio, media and retail.  The album debuted at #6 on iTunes Christian/Gospel Chart and #24 on the Christian AC Sales Chart.  The first single from the record, Grace Found Me, is New & Active on the Single Charts.  The project, produced by Dennis Herring (Mute Math, Modest Mouse, Jars of Clay) has delivered what everyone has known all along: that Rush Of Fools is an extremely gifted group whose talent keeps growing and expanding. 

“We’re very excited for Rush Of Fools, as the band has put their heart and soul into this record and it’s a tremendous step for their career,” says Bob Morrison, Vice President, eOne Christian Music.  “This album will become a landmark project for them.”

"We’re so happy that our friends and the music industry are connecting with the self-penned songs that have helped to sustain us over the last three years,” explains Rush Of Fools.  “A lot of energy and effort have gone into the making of this project, and our goal was to present music that delivers God’s truth with lyrics that inspire and move people.  We remain humble and thankful for this wonderful opportunity for our music ministry and look forward to all of the upcoming opportunities to perform the new music live for our fans.”

This long-awaited third studio project reflects the rocky three-year sojourn of the Alabama based band that included their label closing and a resulting lawsuit that Rush Of Fools won in 2010.  During this period, all of the band members continually wrote new songs about God’s grace, staying faithful in their Christian walk no matter what the circumstances, and a message of hope with a restoring of faith.

The songs have resonated with fans and media has hailed We Once Were as Rush Of Fools strongest release to date.  Outstanding reviews have been placed with such outlets as; CCM, On Course Magazine, Cross Point Magazine, and features in Billboard Magazine, Essential Connection and All Access. 

NewReleaseTuesday.com - This is the best overall album by Rush of Fools and is one of my top albums of the year.

JesusFreakHideout.com  - A new sound, new label, good production, and solid lyrical content all spell out a solid third release for this group from Alabama.

CMAddict.com - Their third album is a hit from the get go with driving rhythms and heavy guitars.

Christian Music Review - How can you possibly pick a favorite from a rocking heart-felt album that hits home, addressing the topic of trusting in God and having faith in Him despite feeling like you’re in your lowest valley?

The band is launching We Once Were with an aggressive touring schedule including the recently completed college FreeFall Tour, sold out street week concerts with Christian radio, and upcoming select tour dates on the Rock & Worship Roadshow 2011 and will share the stage with such high-profile artists as MercyMe, Jars of Clay, Hawk Nelson and Matt Maher. 

For updates on Rush Of Fools please visit www.rushoffools.com. 

Source: CMSpin

 

Her Powerful Debut Album, You Got My Attention is Available Everywhere Now

Fervent Records’ soulful new artist Dara Maclean is gearing up for her first ever tour run with Newsong on their “One True God Tour” beginning this Friday, September 30. Dara will join the group along with Kutless and Anthem Lights on the entire tour which runs until the end of October. The new breakout artist will showcase her powerful new music, which includes her Top 20 hit debut “Suitcases,” an up-beat tune written by Dara and producer Ian Eskelin about the daily “baggage” that can easily weigh you down.

Dara grew up outside Fort Worth, Texas, in a family that encouraged her love for music and ministry from her earliest days. She began singing at age 8, then went on to lead worship and actively pursue youth ministry. Dara continues to serve with her family in their local church. Heavily influenced by Lauryn Hill and everything from the Motown era as well by contemporaries like Adele, Natasha Bedingfield, Marc Broussard and Ray LaMontagne, she incorporates the funk and soul she grew up loving into her music, bringing forth a uniquely fresh and pure new sound.

Dara’s Tour Dates on “One True God Tour”:
9/30  Adrian, MI
10/1  Clarks Summit, PA
10/6  McMurray, PA
10/7  Wabash, IN
10/9  Rainsville, AL
10/15  Decaturville, TN
10/16  Branson, MO
10/22  Tabor City, NC
10/23  Gaffney, SC
10/29  Whitesburg, KY
10/30  Port Huron, MI

For additional information on Dara Maclean, please visit DaraMaclean.com.

Facebook: Facebook.com/DaraMaclean
Twitter: Twitter.com/DaraMaclean
YouTube: YouTube.com/DaraMaclean

Source: CMSpin

 

ONE Campaign Announced as Partners of Band’s Final Tour

Highly anticipated, “The 7 Tour” will begin this evening in David Crowder*Band’s home state of Texas in front of a sold out crowd. Nearly half of the shows sold out months before the tour began. Spanning September through November, “The 7 Tour” will hit over 30 clubs and theaters across the U.S. including key markets such as: Dallas, Texas, Los Angeles, Calif., Portland, Ore., Seattle, Wash., Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y., Atlanta, Ga. and Orlando, Fla.  Joined by Gungor, Chris August and John Mark McMillan, “The 7 Tour” will mark the final nationwide tour for David Crowder*Band. Visit http://www.davidcrowderband.com for the most up to date information.
 
ONE, the anti-poverty advocacy group co-founded by U2’s Bono, will also be on the road with the David Crowder*Band to recruit fans to use their voices in the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease. Volunteers will be signing up ONE members and educating concert-goers about America’s vital work that has saved more than 15 million kids lives and put more than 46 million kids in school over the last decade.
 
David Crowder*Band has announced that they will release their first ever Christmas record on Oct. 4, just months before the GRAMMY ® nominated band will debut their final album. Oh For Joy will include eight Christmas classics such as “Joy To The World,” “O Holy Night,” “Silent Night” and more, presented with the band’s distinct sound and a unique, nutcracker-themed album cover.

www.davidcrowderband.com
www.myspace.com/davidcrowderband
www.twitter.com/crowderband

Source: CMSpin

 

Full Length Debut Sparks Critical Support as “Hold Me” Continues its Reign at No. 1 on the iTunes ®
Christian & Gospel Song Chart
 
Jamie Grace to Tour with Multiple GRAMMY ® Winner tobyMac this Fall
 
The newest signee to Gotee Records, Jamie Grace, is releasing her first, full-length debut today titled One Song At A Time. Critics are praising the unique sound found on the new record.
 
“The production is cutting edge and the songwriting sunny. Overall, Grace has the stuff of stardom, and a compelling back story adds to her appeal.”
– Christianity Today
 
"One of 'Fall's Best & Brightest New Music' releases"
– gmc  
 
"Her musical and lyrical combination is a pleasing one, and one in which many listeners will have little problem engaging.” – Jesus Freak Hideout
 
“One Song At a Time is one of the strongest debut albums of the year and one to which men and women alike will be able to listen and relate. Jamie Grace has a VERY bright career ahead of her in this industry, and it will not only be a treat to watch her grow as a musician and songwriter, but also as someone who has made herself a confidant to her listeners. There is no doubt about it: this album is beautiful start to a very beautiful future. “
– New Release Tuesday
 
“Jamie-Grace’s debut full-length on Gotee Records is certainly a good one! She isn’t afraid to use her creativity on average acoustic pop to turn it into a catchy track with a positive message, all the while making for tracks that will be hard to get out of your head!”
– Christian Music Review
 
 
“Hold Me” has garnered Jamie Grace her first radio and digital mega-hit as the track reached No. 1 across three radio formats, and continues its No. 1 reign on the iTunes ® Christian & Gospel Song chart. Upon its release, One Song At A Time was already ranked in the top 5 on the iTunes ® Christian and Gospel Albums chart.
 
In support of One Song At A Time, Jamie Grace will hit the road this fall with tobyMac in October while he tours Canada, and in November as a special guest on the “tobyMac Unplugged: A Night of Stories & Songs” tour hitting the U.S. Jamie Grace will also take part in “Newsong's Very Merry Christmas Tour” featuring NewSong, Kutless and Chris August. Dates for the tour will be announced soon and available here. Additionally, Jamie Grace has been announced as a performer on the Revolve 2012 tour.
 
About Jamie Grace:
Hailing from outside of Atlanta in Lithonia, Georgia, Jamie Grace is a 19-year-old-college student who aside from her career and touring as a singer-songwriter, is also studying children’s ministry. At age 11, Jamie Grace was diagnosed with Tourettes Syndrome, and has since traveled the country sharing her story and faith through music and speaking. Upon signing Jamie Grace, multiple GRAMMY ® winner tobyMac remarked “I have not been this excited to work with an artist in a long, long time.” Though just releasing her first, full length record, Jamie Grace has been a part of the well-known Revolve tour, had a No. 1 radio hit and a highly successful EP.
 
http://www.jamiegrace.com/          
http://www.twitter.com/jamiegraceh/
http://www.gotee.com

Source: CMSpin

Multiple GRAMMY-nominated, Dove Award winning Sanctus Real lead vocalist Matt Hammitt released his first solo album, Every Falling Tear, this week amidst wide acclaim.  This week only, the lead track from the album, “All of Me,” is offered as a free download from iTunes® at http://bit.ly/kkqQrG.  The song was initially heard on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer – see the story at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoeGKOXeO-s. 

This week also coincidentally marked the year anniversary of Matt Hammitt’s son Bowen’s first open heart surgery.  Bowen, “small victorious one,” was born with a severe congenital heart defect, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, and has now gone through two heart surgeries, an infection and other complications since being born.

Bowen, who turned one last Friday, first heard his dad sing “All of Me” in concert at a sold out Sanctus Real event last month at Bowling Green State University’s new Stroh Center.  Matt will continue to sing the song with Sanctus Real on the major market tour with Casting Crowns that begins next week.

Organically sparked by the rich joy and pain of life over the last year that strengthened Hammitt’s faith and solidified his resolve to lead his family well, these new songs on Every Falling Tear are his most deeply personal to date.  Born out of the heart of a father, Hammitt's main impetus for writing the songs on Every Falling Tear was to play them at Bowen’s bedside in the hospital, with the hope that they would be a source of comfort for his family, as well as a reminder of God’s faithfulness in the midst of their uncertainty.  A link to a video of Hammitt reflecting on the journey to Every Falling Tear can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCl9DSgw-JI. 

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Every Falling Tear benefits a new non-profit Matt and Sarah Hammitt set up to help families going through similar challenges as themselves; providing assistance for families of children affected by congenital heart defects. The album can be purchased through iTunes (http://bit.ly/pdjJ8u), Amazon.com (http://amzn.to/pd1X6z) and other digital and physical retail stores.

For all the latest information on Bowen and Every Falling Tear, go to www.bowensheart.com.  For the latest Sanctus Real news and tour dates, go to www.sanctusreal.com, www.myspace.com/sanctusreal, and www.emicmg.com.

Source: CMSpin

Eight-time GMA Dove Award nominee Matt Maher heads out on a coast-to-coast fall headlining tour, visiting more than 25 cities through late October. “The Love In Between” tour is named after Maher’s forthcoming Sept. 20 studio release, whose debut single, “Turn Around,” is currently impacting Christian radio.

Kicking off Sept. 15 in Longview, Texas, the first half of Maher’s tour will be sponsored by his own non-profit, Comm+Unity, and feature guest artists Essential Worship’s One Sonic Society as well as recent Integrity Music signing All Sons & Daughters.  Compassion International will present the remaining tour dates, joined by award-winning singer/songwriter Laura Story and new Essential Records artist, labelmate Andy Cherry.  Information about the tour can be found at http://mattmahermusic.com/tour/.

Among the tour’s key dates are a The Love In Between CD release show in Phoenix on Sept. 20 and a concert at The City National Grove of Anaheim (Anaheim, Calif.), host to several sell-out concerts including Ray Charles, Morrissey, Jill Scott, Cyndi Lauper, George Lopez, Merle Haggard, Jamie Foxx, Dropkick Murphys and Seal, among others, on Sept. 22.

Maher comments, “My hope for this tour is to bring together believers of all ages and denominations and provide a night where we can reconnect with God and each other; that we’d leave with a greater desire to see, in concrete ways, how connected we are meant to be.”

Interconnectedness is also a theme on Maher’s new album, along with the ideas of suffering, grace, redemption and hope.  These concepts are neatly swaddled in a new folk-Americana “blue collar gospel’ sound, fusing rootsy, hook-laden tracks with compelling stories and undeniable truths.  The project’s debut radio single “Turn Around,” is already connecting with listeners nationwide, climbing its way to No. 11 this week on the National Billboard Christian Audience chart and No. 10 on the Billboard AC Indicator chart.  WONU-FM radio listener Jen comments, “The song is awesome.  I think it has potential to reach non-Christians because it is realistic in its lyrics. Definitely play this one on the air.”

Greg Cassidy, JOY-FM music director and morning show host, also comments, “St. Louis is lovin’ the new Matt Maher tune!  It’s hitting real people where they really are.  From the 51-year-old woman in her seventh day of sobriety to the couple that have been pondering divorce...that simple reminder to 'turn around" has made its point! Home run for Matt!”

To sample an audio stream of “Turn Around” and for an up-to-date tour itinerary visit www.mattmahermusic.com.  Also follow Matt on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mattmahermusic.

ESPN and multiplatinum rock band Switchfoot have teamed up to celebrate with millions of college football fans for the debut of five songs from Switchfoot’s new album, Vice Verses.  ESPN will debut the songs from new album during this Saturday’s Oklahoma at Florida State game on ABC’s Saturday Night Football at 8 p.m. ET.  The telecast will also feature Switchfoot’s new video of the first single “Dark Horses.”

In conjunction with the premiere, ESPN will host an exclusive stream for fans to be the first to hear the entire Vice Verses album on ESPN.com, which includes a link to a contest for winners to attend the Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena to watch the game with Switchfoot on January 2, 2012. Check out the stream at the link below:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/thelife/music/news/story?id=6944961

“To have our new album debuted during college football is something we never thought possible.  There’s no greater thrill than to watch a college football game with one of our songs supporting the action.  We’re all honored to partner with the great people at ESPN sharing our combined passion for sports and music,” says Jon Foreman, Switchfoot.

Billboard Magazine Heralds Williams As A “Best Bet of 2011”

Fair Trade Services’ songstress Heather Williams will debut her first, full-length studio album on September 27 titled This Time Around. Early acclaim has followed Williams since the release of her debut EP last fall. In addition to the radio success of "Hallelujah," Williams was named amongst the "Best Bets of 2011" by Billboard Magazine, one of only two Christian artists to receive this title.  

Her songs and her character speak of the strength of a woman well beyond her years. Williams grew up in extreme poverty with her mom and stepfather. Throughout her early childhood, she suffered intense abuse. Her mother gave her away at age 11, and Williams went to live with her grandfather in Michigan and later with her aunt and uncle who eventually adopted her and are now her legal parents. Living with little guidance and the pain of past abuse and rejection, Williams turned to drugs and alcohol as a way to numb the realities of life. As things began to spiral out of control, the young teenager began to have thoughts of suicide and was even homeless at one point. At age 18, however, the dangerous road Williams was on took a U-turn when she gave her life to Christ.

“When I was 18, I was going through a whole series of events where I was really rejecting God and blaming Him for everything that had taken place in my childhood,” says Williams. “I came to this place where it was either, OK, I’m going to give my life to God, or I just don’t know if I’m going to live. So, I walked up that aisle at that church, and I gave my life to God.” Having grown up with a love of music, after becoming a Christian, Williams says she began to write songs from a “perspective of radical change.”Another wave of tragedy struck the budding singer/songwriter when her first child passed away shortly after he was born. This tragedy led to William’s Top 10 AC  and Top 5 INSPO  debut, “Hallelujah.” To hear more of Williams’ story visit, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7cnMDwdm3k.

“God Is Still God” is the second song from Williams to hit radio. “It’s a song that speaks so clearly into an insecurity that we can get when life just comes at us  at full speed,” admits Williams. To hear more about “God Is Still God” from Williams, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLgjuMxV4qk&feature=related. 

For Williams, she describes her songs as “conversations,” sometimes joyful, sometimes angry, sometimes a mix of both. “This album is you getting to peek in on me sometimes having it out with God, sometimes crying to God, sometimes laughing,” she says. “But it’s always going to be a transparent look at what’s going on in my heart, because that’s who I want to be before Him. If I want Him to use me, then I have to be willing to share everything.” 

http://heatherwilliamsmusic.com/
http://www.facebook.com/heatherwilliamsmusic    
http://twitter.com/#!/HWmusictweets

Newsboys' Michael Tait Teams Up With Music Executives Wes Campbell and Bernard Porter for New Venture

Music industry veterans Michael Tait, Wes Campbell and Bernard Porter have formed Contemporary Christian Music Development Institute (CCMDi), an innovative program dedicated to assisting Christian music artists in achieving success in their careers.

"It is no secret that the music industry is a highly competitive market laced with tremendous highs and cavernous lows. The only guarantee that can be made is that it will take hard work and unwavering passion to obtain success in this industry," says Tait, a multi-Grammy winner and lead singer for Newsboys. "However, with the establishment of CCMDi, today's Christian artist will now have a tremendous advantage."

CCMDi's mission is to customize comprehensive plans and a competitive marketing strategy for creative and personal growth in both seasoned performers and beginning artists alike. The program is based on an education curriculum that includes A&R, performance coaching, personal style and media training, as well as a writing mentorship program.

CCMDi was created to provide experienced guidance to today's Christian artists with the goal of helping them become the best they can be at their craft while avoiding common pitfalls, both personally and professionally.

Tait, Campbell and Porter, collectively, have succeeded in every facet of the music industry, including entertainer, manager, producer, A&R executive and booking agent. Musicians who aspire to a career in the Christian music field are encouraged to schedule a consultation to determine if they qualify for CCMDi by contacting the office at 615-815-1414 or via the website at ccmdi.com.

For more information on CCMDi, visit ccmdi.com.

Source: CMspin

 

Matthew West's hit song "More" was played as part of a wake up call for the Atlantis space shuttle crew on the 5th day of their mission. The song was played for Mission Specialist Rex Walheim from NASA’s Mission Control Center who said “(‘More’) is a great description of the beauty of this earth, and a wonderful reminder of God’s love for us." To view the wake up call, visit http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=100925731. Atlantis marks the final mission of America’s 30-year shuttle program.

"I was honored to hear that 'More' was played on space shuttle Atlantis," comments West. "Of all the places my music has traveled in my career, this is both the farthest, AND the coolest!"

West's latest single "Strong Enough" is continuing to do well at radio placing in the top 10 on both the AC-Indicator and National Christian Audience charts as well No. 15 on AC-Monitored.

Up next for West will be a headlining jaunt on "The Story of Your Life" tour this fall along with the release of The Story of Your Life, Inspiring Stories of God at Work in People Just Like You book with Angela Thomas and Harvest House Publishers this September. He is also in the studio working on his first, full length Christmas project due out later this year with Sparrow.

www.matthewwest.com
www.myspace.com/matthewwest
www.facebook.com/matthewwest
www.twitter.com/matthew_west

Source: Cmspin

 

Award-winning singer/songwriter Jeremy Camp’s story has inspired thousands since his debut in 2002. He has now penned this story along with co-writer Phil Newman and will release the book to retail in September 2011. Camp’s book, I Still Believe: Discovering Hope and Healing in the Midst of Life’s Deepest Valleys, is a personal reflection on his story of the passing of his first wife, Melissa, to cancer just months after marrying, and how he has grown in his relationship with God through the past ten years. This touching book portrays a full-circle account of Camp’s story that has impacted his music.

“I’ve wanted to put this story in book form for many years, but it just hasn't been the right time until now,” states Jeremy Camp about the timing of the book. “God was and is still working in my life, but this book is a result of the last ten years of pain, healing, restoration and new beginnings.”

Within each page of I Still Believe, Camp opens his heart and soul as he shares with the reader about responding to life’s most difficult hardships. He tackles how to turn earthly sorrow straight to God when faced with the passing of a loved one.

“As clear as things are now compared to the way I felt during Melissa’s illness and after her passing, I still see only partially, imperfectly, and incompletely,” shares Camp in the book. “I have tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord in the form of one life after another life changed because of the testimony of God’s faithfulness, even in the midst of pain and sadness. There will be a day, however, when everything truly becomes crystal clear.”

Fans have heard Jeremy share his story on stage and in interviews.  Many do not know and will no doubt be touched by the complete story and details of his testimony and his heartbreaking story about his first wife, Melissa.  Readers will also learn more about Jeremy’s modest life growing up in Indiana, his struggles growing into adolescence and how the start of his music ministry began to open more doors than he ever thought possible. The book also shares of his unexpected friendship with Adrienne Liesching, which eventually brought about healing and restoration as well as a new life together.

Camp’s deep heart for ministry and his desire to see the next generation become truly alive is so vivid within the pages of I Still Believe. Here are what others are saying about I Still Believe:

“We have choices when life hits us with tragedy or despair, crisis or loss. That’s the message of Jeremy Camp’s books, and it’s the reason you will find hope and healing by journeying through the pages of his story.”
- Karen Kingsbury, Bestselling author

“Jeremy Camp is an extremely talented artist. But what many do not know is that he has suffered greatly in life.  Out of this suffering many of the songs we have come to love have been born and have brought encouragement and comfort to untold thousands around the world.  Now, for the first time, Jeremy Camp tells his whole story.  I heartily endorse it.” 
- Greg Laurie, Senior Pastor, Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California

“Jeremy’s music has always had a powerful impact on me, and now I know why.  Behind his voice is a heart that’s uniquely connected with God.  Through his pain, grief, sorrow, and loss, his life has become a crucible where the Lord’s love and mercy are real revelations.  Reading Jeremy’s story has reinforced my faith in He who is able and alive!”
– Bob Coy, Senior Pastor, Calvary Chapel in Ft. Lauderdale

JEREMY CAMP: GRAMMY® and two-time American Music Award nominated artist Jeremy Camp marks his inspirational return to worship with the release of his sixth studio project on BEC Recordings, We Cry Out: The Worship Project.  Over his stellar 9 year career, Camp has established himself with these landmark accolades: Four RIAA Gold-selling studio albums including his debut album; One RIAA Multi-Platinum long-form video; 22 No. 1 Radio Hits across all formats; GRAMMY® nominated project for his last studio album Speaking Louder Than Before; Billboard’s No. 3 Christian Artist of the Decade including five songs in the Top 50 Billboard Christian Songs of the Decade; Four ASCAP Songwriter of the Year awards; ASCAP Song of the Year award; Five Dove awards including two-time Male Vocalist of the Year. Jeremy is a Compassion International artist. Jeremy and his wife Adie reside in Franklin, TN with their two daughters and a soon-to-be-born son.  Additional information available at http://www.jeremycamp.com

Source: Cmpin

It’s not unusual for the lead singer in a successful rock band to step outside the group and record a solo album, usually as a way to satisfy a creative impulse not possible within the confines of a band.  For Sanctus Real frontman Matt Hammitt, writing and recording his solo debut, Every Falling Tear, wasn’t an exercise in artistic freedom, it was a process that helped the young father deal with every parent’s worst nightmare.

Encouraged by his Sanctus Real band mates to release these songs and to share his story through the songs that are meant to provide hope for people that are in crisis, Hammitt’s journey to the new album started with the prophetic glimpse offered by the current, best-selling Sanctus Real album, Pieces of a Real Heart.  “The bridge lyric in ‘The Redeemer’ says, I don’t have every answer in life / But I’m trusting You one day at a time / ‘Cause You can make a weak heart stay alive forever,” reflects Hammitt regarding the hit radio single from Pieces of a Real Heart.  “Those lyrics, along with songs like ‘Keep My Heart Alive,’ ‘Dear Heart,’ and then the album with a broken heart on the cover, came out on March 9 of 2010.”

One month later, on April 12, 2010, Matt and his wife, Sarah, took their four-year-old daughter with them to a doctor’s appointment where they were looking forward to an ultrasound that would reveal if she would be getting a baby brother or sister. “We found out it was a boy and we were all celebrating,” Matt recalls, “but the ultrasound tech isn’t allowed to tell you if something is wrong, so the doctor came in and told our family that things weren’t right, that half of his heart wasn’t developed. It was pretty grim news.  They didn’t even think he would survive.”

Diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Little Bowen, whose name means “Small Victorious One,” defied the odds and survived, but it hasn’t been an easy road for Matt and his family. “When we found out that Bowen was going to be born with half a heart, it started stirring up a lot of questions in me,” Matt admits. “I know there are some mysteries and questions that aren’t even meant for our minds to comprehend, but I just really started praying more, reading more and honestly seeking God for comfort in that time - and for as many answers as I could get.  I started expressing all my questions, emotions and feelings through song almost right away.” 

Those songs became the poignant, compelling collection heard on Every Falling Tear, set to release on September 13, exactly one year after Bowen had his first heart surgery.  Matt poured everything into his music--all the questions, fear and frustration along with a greater understanding of God’s comfort, grace and love.  Though he originally recorded the songs as a cathartic experience and a tool to encourage himself and his family, Matt soon began to feel they had a broader purpose. “From April on through September when Bowen was born, I had been pouring myself into communicating and releasing all these feelings and emotions through song,” Matt says. “The more I began writing, the more I began realizing that these weren’t songs just for us or Bowen. I really started to feel like I was supposed to make an album and share them with other people.”

The songs reflect the heartbreaking challenges the Hammitt family has faced as Bowen endured two surgeries and prepares for a third. Yet though the songs were written in response to his circumstance, they are universal in their ability to uplift, heal and encourage all those who hear them. “Let it Bring You Praise” is a beautiful worship song.  “Let Go” and “Holding You” are songs about surrender. The latter tune reminds the listener “It’s not in what you hold on to. It’s in the One who’s holding you tonight.”

Matt says “All of Me” was probably the hardest to write. “At that point I didn’t know what was going to happen. Bowen wasn’t born yet,” he says of writing the tune with Bernie Herms. “It’s about recklessly loving in spite of our fears, even if it means we’re going to bleed or we’re going to be broken.”

“Trust” is a song that captures this whirlwind of emotion. “I was struggling to believe that any good could come from that painful moment when I handed my son over for that first surgery,” he says.  Matt remembers thinking: “ ‘If things don’t work out the way that I pray they are going to work out, no matter what we go through, I still know and trust that God is faithful.’ That was really the cry of my heart--to be so invested in the truth that my emotions don’t steal me away from standing on the truth that He’s faithful. ‘I will trust you Lord with all my heart and I won’t forget how good you are.’ I just think that was pretty much the guttural cry of my heart throughout that whole time on September 13th.”

Matt co-wrote “Trust,” along with “You are My Treasure,” “This is Grace” and “Let it Bring You Praise,” with friend and frequent collaborator Jason Ingram. He and Joy Williams of the Civil Wars co-wrote “Let Go,” and he co-wrote “Without You” with Audrey Assad. “I just wanted them to be everything they could be,” he says of the songs, giving props to his co-writers.

Matt has already been sharing this new music with others going through difficult circumstances, including Russell, who has been awaiting a heart transplant.  “He told me that those songs had meant a lot to him and that they were comforting to him,” says Matt, who understands first hand the power music can have to soothe and encourage. Matt and his family felt it that terrible day they left the doctor’s office after first hearing news of Bowen’s condition. “We tried to turn a CD on and--this actually never happened to us before--our CD player wouldn’t work. The CD kept spinning and skipping, so we turned off the CD player and turned on the radio.  Right as we turned it on, the first song that we heard on the KLOVE Christian radio network was ‘Hold My Heart’ by Tenth Avenue North. That was a huge comfort to us. If you listen to that song, you’d be blown away by the lyrics of that song and how it pertained to us that day.”

Hearing that song at that moment not only provided comfort, but also somewhat of an epiphany.  “We’ve always heard the stories about how our songs affect people, and that day, I was on the other side at the moment that I needed it,” says Matt.  “This is what inspired me to begin writing more music out of this circumstance.”

In addition to providing spiritual and emotional support, the music on Every Falling Tear will have further impact on families as Matt and his wife have started the Whole Hearts Foundation, a non profit organization dedicated to helping families of children dealing with illness. “In addition to retail sales, we are selling the album at our [Sanctus Real] concerts and 100% of everything we make off that album is going to go directly to help families with children with life-threatening heart defects and disease,” Matt says. “We have this huge vision for the foundation.”

Though Bowen is doing well now, and Matt has met young people in their 20s who have had surgeries, survived and are leading normal lives, he is still fragile and anything could happen. That knowledge, and the experiences of the past year, has paradoxically strengthened Matt’s faith and given him a zeal for all of life.  “The biggest change in my life is just my ability now to be grateful for every day that God has given us,” he says. “All of those experiences kind of burnt away my reliance on anything but Christ.  I no longer put my faith in what I see here, but in what’s to come.  If things don’t go well for us in this life, if we lose Bowen. . .if we don’t have Christ or the hope of what’s to come, then it’s a sad story. If we have that hope of what’s to come, it’s not so sad at all, it’s actually really incredible.” 

Source: Cmspin

The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards Garnered Unprecedented Viewers On gmc television network And Quickly Sold Out The Fabulous Fox Theatre As Atlanta Welcomed This Year’s Honors To The City

THE GMA Dove Awards offer recognition in a variety of genres making it the most comprehensive awards show celebrating Christian music will again air on gmc 

THE GMA Board of Directors and the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau announced today that the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards will again take place in Atlanta, Georgia in 2012 and will be aired on gmc.  The awards, slated to take place in April 2012 offer the most comprehensive platform of music celebrating Christian and Gospel music. 

The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards quickly sold out this past April at Atlanta’s Fabulous Fox Theatre garnered its highest ratings on gmc.  With over 1.5 million viewers turning in to catch host Sherri Shepherd and such artists as Female Vocalist of the Year Francesca Battistelli, Male Vocalist of the Year Chris August and other superstars Third Day,  Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant , Chris Tomlin, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, Kenny Rogers and many others perform unique collaborations and take home honors at the annual awards show.

“We’re excited for the Dove Awards to return to Atlanta,” says William Pete, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO.  “There was a buzz throughout the city surrounding the show and the excitement was contagious.  We look forward to making the 43rd Annual Dove Awards another success.” 

This year’s awards marked many firsts for the iconic awards.  With its move to the culturally diverse city of Atlanta, the gmc airing, numerous promotions with radio, TV and area churches, coupled with the location being home to so many of the genres artists and the international TV star and comedian Sherri Shepherd bringing her uniquely apropos hosting duties to the show made for a complete facelift for “Gospel Music’s Biggest Night.”

Mitchell Solarek, chairman of the GMA board states, “Our experience this past year in Atlanta exceeded our expectations. How exciting to have the Governor of Georgia personally there to welcome our artists, and guests of the show. The City of Atlanta made us feel so welcomed from the city and state leaders to the multitude of local and international media that covered the awards.  We are thrilled with the results of the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards and are looking forward to another amazing outcome in 2012.”

Charley Humbard, gmc CEO adds, “The GMA Dove Awards is one of the preeminent events in the world of Christian, Gospel and Inspirational music.  Our relationship with the GMA and the Dove Awards is an important part of our strategy.  We are pleased with the increasing numbers we are garnering with awards show.  And, having the awards in Atlanta, the home of gmc, makes it doubly sweet.”

About GMA:
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Gospel/Christian music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the Gospel through music of all styles including Pop, Rock, Praise & Worship, Urban Gospel, R&B, Hip Hop, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, Country and more. The GMA community consists of membe


rs including agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards, GMA Dove Week and IMMERSE. For more on supporting the GMA or becoming a member, please visit www.gospelmusic.org or contact the GMA directly at 615.277.1376.

About gmc:
gmc ( www.watchgmctv.com) is America’s favorite channel for uplifting music and family entertainment. In 2010, The Parents Television Council™ awarded its Entertainment Seal of Approval™ to gmc for being “an authentic family-friendly cable network.” gmc was the only television network to receive the highly coveted honor last year.

gmc can be seen in nearly 48 million homes on various cable systems around the country, on DIRECTV on channel 338 and on Verizon FiOS on channel 224.

Source: Cmspin

After releasing his acclaimed worship album, We Cry Out: The Worship Project, GRAMMY®-nominated artist Jeremy Camp announces his fall headlining “We Cry Out Tour” beginning September 29th in Georgia and concluding on November 20th in Texas.  The 29-city tour will feature reigning GMA Artist of the Year Francesca Battistelli as well as special guest Adam Cappa.  Tour dates are below and ticket information can be found online at http://jeremycamp.com/tour.

“The past year has been an incredible journey sharing the worship project as well as the international tour dates we’ve been blessed to do recently," shares Jeremy Camp. "I’m so excited to bring this tour to our fans and share the stage with the amazing artists Francesca Battistelli and newcomer and my friend Adam Cappa. It is going to be a great night of music and worship.”

The “We Cry Out Tour” will also feature a limited number of VIP tickets at select dates. The VIP package includes a Q&A with the artists, a signed tour poster and early entry into the show. Information on all tickets is available at JeremyCamp.com

This tour announcement follows the exciting news of Jeremy Camp’s latest radio single, “The Way,” hitting No. 1 at AC Indicator for the second week in a row.  This marks his 22nd No. 1 radio single across all formats, currently climbing at AC Monitored and CHR in the Top 5 and Top 20 respectively. The official music video for “The Way” can be viewed here.

JEREMY CAMP: GRAMMY® and two-time American Music Award nominated artist Jeremy Camp marks his inspirational return to worship with the release of his sixth studio project on BEC Recordings, We Cry Out: The Worship Project.  Over his stellar 9 year career, Camp has established himself with these landmark accolades: Four RIAA Gold-selling studio albums including his debut album; One RIAA Multi-Platinum long-form video; 22 No. 1 Radio Hits across all formats; GRAMMY® nominated project for his last studio album Speaking Louder Than Before; Billboard’s No. 3 Christian Artist of the Decade including five songs in the Top 50 Billboard Christian Songs of the Decade; Four ASCAP Songwriter of the Year awards; ASCAP Song of the Year award; Five Dove awards including two-time Male Vocalist of the Year. Jeremy is a Compassion International artist. Additional information available at http://www.jeremycamp.com.

FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI: Fervent Records’ Francesca Battistelli is the Dove Award reigning “Artist Of The Year” and “Female Vocalist Of The Year.” These accolades come on the heels of the successful release of Battistelli’s sophomore album Hundred More Years, which debuted at No. 1 on the Christian Album Chart and No. 16 on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart. Hundred More Years released to rave reviews and is the follow-up to her debut My Paper Heart, which delivered the smash No. 1 single “Free To Be Me” and hit singles “It’s Your Life,” “I’m Letting Go” and “Beautiful, Beautiful.” With over 430,000 albums sold to date, Battistelli has become the best-selling new artist in the genre in the past eight years. To date Battist


elli has earned a GRAMMY® nomination ("Best Gospel Song Performance"), five Dove Awards and 15 Dove Award nominations. For additional information on Francesca Battistelli, please visit http://www.FrancescaMusic.com.

ADAM CAPPA: A vocalist, guitarist, performer, young songwriter and communicator through and through, Adam Cappa - a 25-year-old young man who has just finished his third album along with mentor and labelmate Jeremy Camp - is ready to share his story. It all started when Adam, reared Catholic with no knowledge of Christian music, got involved with Young Life after accepting Christ as a sophomore in high school. Fast-forward a few years and two independent records, Cappa has now teamed up with BEC Recordings to release his label debut. His fall release is a full-on Christian pop album with  a "Top 40" feel complete with loops and back tracking, which was produced by Camp and Andy Dodd. For more information, please visit http://www.facebook.com/Adamcappa.

“WE CRY OUT TOUR” Dates (all dates subject to change)

09/29/11 Dalton, GA
09/30/11 Nashville, TN
10/01/11 Meridian, MS
10/02/11 Niceville, FL
10/06/11 Morgantown, WV
10/07/11 Lynchburg, VA
10/08/11 Greensburg, PA
10/09/11 Reading, PA
10/13/11 Lansing, MI
10/14/11 Ft. Wayne, IN
10/15/11 Elida, OH
10/16/11 Grove City, OH
10/27/11 Salina, KS
10/28/11 Rapid City, SD
10/29/11 Billings, MT
10/30/11 Idaho Falls, ID
11/03/11 Tri Cities (Kennewick), WA
11/04/11 Tualatin (Portland), OR
11/05/11 Redmond, WA
11/06/11 Abbotsford, BC
11/08/11 Spokane, WA
11/10/11 Salt Lake City, UT
11/11/11 Albuquerque, NM
11/12/11 Roswell, NM
11/16/11 Abilene, TX
11/17/11 McAllen, TX
11/18/11 Austin, TX
11/19/11 Houston, TX
11/20/11 Lufkin, TX

Source: Cmspin

 

GRAMMY ® nominee Matthew West along with best selling author Angela Thomas (Do You Think I’m Beautiful, My Single Mom Life and more) are uniting to release The Story of Your Life, Inspiring Stories of God at Work in People Just Like You with Harvest House Publishers this September.

The book from West comes as a follow-up to his best-selling, latest CD The Story of Your Life where he received 10,000 personal stories from individuals in every state in the U.S. and 20 countries. Upon its release, The Story of Your Life garnered attention from CNN, Fox News, Billboard Magazine, Country Weekly, AOL’s TheBoot.com and more.

West received such an overwhelming response that he could not include all of the stories in the album, and the idea of a book was born to create an opportunity to expose even more meaningful stories. The letters covering topics such as bullying, divorce and adoption have now been turned into redemptive and hopeful devotions in this latest book. This devotional journey inspires readers to discover God as the author of their unique lives and to share the power of their story.

“As stories began to pour in by the thousands, I quickly sensed that not only was something special taking place, but that my life was about to change,” explains West. “During those months, my eyes were opened to see the world outside my door like I had never witnessed before.”

Also following in January 2012 will be What’s Your Story? book and companion DVD.  The book, and interactive standalone guide, allows readers to personalize and explore more deeply the messages of God’s hope and redemption in their stories.

West will headline “The Story of Your Life” tour with Jonny Diaz this fall, and release his first, full-length Christmas album, The Heart of Christmas, this October with Sparrow Records/EMI CMG.

Full information on The Story of Your Life, including pricing and ISBN visit http://harvesthousepublishers.com/book/the-story-of-your-life-2011/.

Source: CMSpin

 

Sparrow Records’ critically acclaimed artist Josh Wilson has a history of penning riveting songs that tug at the heartstrings of listeners. As with his captivating chart topper “Before the Morning” (Life is Not a Snapshot, 2009) and now his latest single “Fall Apart” (See You, 2011) testimonials from fans are pouring in explaining how the song has touched their lives and how God has pulled them through when they too had “fallen apart.”  Due to the influx of responses, Wilson has launched http://www.whenifallapart.com/, where listeners can watch a touching video from Wilson and hear personal accounts of how their faith pulled them through tough times. Wilson’s hope is that the website can serve as an outlet and resource for those who want to share their story or be encouraged.

Wilson was moved to write “Fall Apart” after he witnessed a friend endure a difficult divorce. 

 “Right in the middle of it, we had this really amazing conversation, and he said that even though everything was falling apart, he felt God’s presence more than he ever had,” says Wilson.  “He saw how much he needed God. Hard times are a magnifying glass on how much we need him. That’s when we feel God’s presence the most.”

After just being release to radio “Fall Apart” is off to a strong start as it was the most added song at AC out of the gate and made its debut to the National Audience Chart just two weeks after its launch.  “Fall Apart” is also the follow-up to two consecutive Top 5 AC singles including his debut hit from See You, “I Refuse.” The song continues to hold its place on the charts, currently placing in the Top 3 at AC and the National Audience Chart.

This fall, Wilson will continue to perform the single in addition to other songs from See You, as he shares the stage with GRAMMY ® award winning artist Steven Curtis Chapman and Andrew Peterson. For a full list of tour dates please visit www.joshwilsonmusic.com.

Source: CMSpin

GRAMMY®, AMA and 2010 Dove Award-winning Artist of the Year Casting Crowns is announcing plans for a massive 40-city fall concert tour, titled the “Come To The Well” Tour, taking its name from the bands highly-anticipated new studio project, Come To The Well, releasing Oct. 18. The tour kicks off Sept. 22, in El Paso, Texas, featuring premier modern rock bands Sanctus Real and The Afters, and introducing Christian music newcomer Lindsay McCaul.

The tour will coincide with the release of Come To The Well (the band’s first new studio album in two years), featuring the hit single “Courageous,” which will also be showcased in the upcoming Sherwood Pictures film by the same title, in theaters on Sept. 30. The “Come To The Well” Tour also follows the band’s recent Dove Award win in the Long Form Music Video category for the hugely successful Until The Whole World Hears Live DVD/CD release, which captured the unforgettable 2009/2010 “Until The Whole World Hears” national concert tour, which saw more than 350,000 fans in 82 cities.

The “Come To The Well” Tour is partnering with Christian humanitarian organization World Vision ( www.worldvision.org). World Vision provides assistance to approximately 100 million people in nearly 100 countries by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Casting Crowns has helped to generate a total of 52,000 child sponsorships for World Vision to date.

About Casting Crowns
All of Atlanta-based Casting Crowns’ projects are RIAA certified, with a tally of three RIAA Platinum Albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, two RIAA Gold Albums and a Gold DVD, holding position as Billboard’s top-selling act in Christian music since 2007. Despite an unprecedented six-year career with Casting Crowns, the seven band members remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta area and tour part-time around their local church duties. Serving his 18th year in youth ministry, lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall is the student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta. As a testament to the band’s impact, Casting Crowns performed for a second time in North Korea in April 2009, in partnership with Global Resource Services, as the band continues to forge invaluable relationships with the people in the D.P.R.K.

For more information, visit www.castingcrowns.com or follow the band on Mark Hall’s Twitter at http://twitter.com/markhallCC. 

About Sanctus Real
Sanctus Real’s fastest-selling GRAMMY and Dove-nominated, fifth studio album Pieces Of A Real Heart continues to sell over 130% ahead of the band’s last GRAMMY-nominated album.  The album has also sparked two No. 1 songs, “Forgiven” and “Lead Me,” the latter having been heard by well over 100,000,000 people at radio and receiving the first-ever song endorsements from Focus on the Family and FamilyLife, as well as gathering two “Song of the Year” Dove nominations.  The success of the singles helped pave the way for the band to become Billboard’s No. 4 most played Christian band of 2010 at radio. In all, Sanctus Real has gathered 14 No. 1 and


Top 5 radio hits so far. For more information, visitwww.sanctusreal.com.

About The Afters
Texas-based band The Afters were propelled into the national spotlight with their INO/Sony Music Label Group debut I Wish We All Could Win. The project spawned the swirling, melodic hit “Beautiful Love,” earning the band an enthusiastic following when the song was selected as the theme track for MTV’s “8th and Ocean.”  “Beautiful Love” was also the most downloaded track of 2006 on the iTunes® Inspirational charts and garnered the band an mtvU award as well. The Afters’ sophomore release Never Going Back To OK (INO/Columbia Records) debuted in the Top 50 on the Billboard Top 200, and proved to be sensation on the silver screen with “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC), “Dr. Phil,” “Army Wives” (Lifetime) and “Rachael Ray.” The band’s third record Light Up the Sky bolstered the No. 1 hit “Light Up the Sky.” A slew of media including Rolling Stone, Seventeen.com, E! News Live, TV Guide, Premiere Radio and more also picked up on covering The Afters. For more information, visit www.theafters.com.

CASTING CROWNS “COME TO THE WELL” FALL TOUR 2011
*Dates, markets and venues subject to change without notice

SEPTEMBER
9/22 (Thursday) - El Paso, TX - Abundant Living Faith Center
9/23 (Friday) - Phoenix, AZ - Grand Canyon University
9/24 (Saturday) - Corona, CA - Crossroads Christian Church
9/25 (Sunday) - Henderson, NV - Henderson Pavilion
9/27 (Tuesday) - Universal City, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre
9/29 (Thursday) - Roseville, CA - Adventure Christian Church
9/30 (Friday) - Salem, OR - OSF Pavilion

OCTOBER
10/1 (Saturday) - Redmond, WA - Overlake Christian Church
10/2 (Sunday) - Langley, BC - Langley Events Centre
10/4 (Tuesday) - Kennewick, WA - Toyota Center
10/6 (Thursday) - Salt Lake City, UT - Abravanel Hall
10/7 (Friday) - Rio Rancho, NM - Santa Ana Star Center
10/8 (Saturday) - Amarillo, TX - Amarillo Civic Center
10/13 (Thursday) - Cordova, TN - Bellevue Baptist Church
10/14 (Friday) - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
10/15 (Saturday) - Savannah, GA - Savannah Civic Center Arena
10/20 (Thursday) - Auburn, AL - Auburn University Arena
10/21 (Friday) - Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena
10/22 (Saturday) - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
10/23 (Sunday) - Macon, GA - Macon Coliseum
10/27 (Thursday) - Madison, WI - Alliant Energy Center
10/28 (Friday) - Hoffman Estates, IL - Life Changers International Church
10/29 (Saturday) - Peoria, IL - Peoria Civic Center

NOVEMBER
11/3 (Thursday) - Grove City, OH - Grove City Church of the Nazarene
11/4 (Friday) - Akron, OH - Akron Baptist Temple
11/5 (Saturday) - Highland Heights, KY - Bank of Kentucky Center
11/10 (Thursday) - Murray, KY - CFSB @ Murray State University
11/11 (Friday) - Tupelo, MS - BancorpSouth Arena
11/12 (Saturday) - Dothan, AL - Dothan Civic Center
11/15 (Tuesday) - Asheville, NC - Kimmel Center
11/17 (Thursday) - Jacksonville, FL - First Baptist Church
11/18 (Friday) - TBA - TBA
11/19 (Saturday) - West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheatre
11/20 (Sunday) - Estero, FL - Germain Arena
11/25 (Friday) - Aiken, SC - USC Aiken Convocation Center
11/26 (Saturday) - Knoxville, TN - Knoxville Coliseum

DECEMBER
12/1 (Thursday) - San Antonio, TX - Freeman Coliseum
12/2 (Friday) - Belton, TX - Bell County Expo
12/3 (Saturday) - Bossier City, LA - CenturyTel Center Arena
12/4 (Sunday) - Jackson, MS - Mississippi Coliseum

 

Fervent Records’ contemporary pop group, Sidewalk Prophets, will release a deluxe edition of their breakthrough debut album, These Simple Truths, on July 12. Originally released on August 25, 2009, These Simple Truths, features their current hit single “You Love Me Anyway” which landed in the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s AC/Indicator Chart this week. The deluxe edition features one new song, “Know That You Are Loved” and two acoustic versions of fan favorites, “You Love Me Anyway” and “The Words I Would Say.”

Written by Sidewalk Prophets’ Dave Frey and Ben McDonald with Mark DeLavergne, “You Love Me Anyway” is a song that embodies what the band is all about, loving God despite our fears and questions, and loving him because He first loved us. 

“We wrote this song in the basement of Ben’s house in the middle of a thunderstorm,” shares Sidewalk Prophets’ Dave Frey.  “I remember thinking how incredibly safe I felt. The storm raged all around and shook the walls, but safe inside we sat. That’s just like our God, a shelter in the storm. I then started to remember all the things I had done not to deserve such a shelter, such a loving God.” 

Sidewalk Prophets have made an impressive debut on the CCM scene, winning “New Artist of the Year” in 2010 and garnering four Dove Nominations to date, including “Pop Contemporary Song of the Year” and “Group of the Year.” Produced by Ian Eskelin (Francesca Battistelli), These Simple Truths has sold more than 100,000 units and 322,000 digital tracks making Sidewalk Prophets one of the top-selling new artists. The album delivered the smash No. 1 single “The Words I Would Say,” which topped Billboard’s AC/Indicator Chart for five consecutive weeks as well as the hit “You Can Have Me.” 

Sidewalk Prophets has toured with artists such as Francesca Battistelli, David Crowder Band, Fireflight, Kutless, Mercy Me, Newsboys, Red, Tenth Avenue North and Third Day and will be hitting the road this summer to play shows all across the country.

TRACK LISTING for These Simple Truths (Deluxe Edition):
1. Just Might Change Your Life
2. Show Me How To Love
3. You Can Have Me
4. The Words I Would Say
5. Moving All The While
6. For What It’s Worth
7. You Love Me Anyway
8. All Things New
9. You Will Never Leave Me
10. Give It All Away
11. Lay Down My Life
12. Know That You Are Loved (NEW Song)
13. You Love Me Anyway (Lealand House Sessions)
14. The Words I Would Say (Lealand House Sessions)

For more information about Sidewalk Prophets and upcoming tour dates, visit www.sidewalkprohets.com.

Source: CMSpin

 

Pop/rock band Royal Tailor (Essential Records) has been hard charging toward last week’s release of its national debut project, Black & White (5/31).  The band continues to promote the album by launching a music video for “Make A Move,” while the record itself is making an impact on multiple sales charts.

The “Make A Move” video, which debuted on www.RoyalTailor.com last week, was directed by Ry Cox along with director of photography Joseph Anthony Baker.  The video showcases Royal Tailor’s potent mix of music and message, featuring choreography by Nick Bass, whose credits include work with Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and Madonna.

Adding to the album’s momentum are early sales numbers, with Black & White debuting at No. 1 on the iTunes Christian & Gospel Albums chart.  The record also reached No. 21 on iTunes Top Albums chart, which includes projects of all genres.  Black & White landed at No. 6 on SoundScan’s Current Contemporary Christian Overall Chart as well.

The disc’s title track, “Black & White,” was selected as iTunes “Discovery Download” from May 31 to June 7, a coveted spot that highlights new music from up-and-coming artists by offering a free single to listeners.

Produced by Aaron Lindsey, Chuck Butler, and Daniel Kinner, Black & White showcases Royal Tailor’s distinctive musical blend, highlighting influences that range from Bruno Mars to Maroon 5 to Michael Jackson.  The result is 11 high-energy tracks that make audiences want to dance, pray, shout and sing along.  Royal Tailor is currently debuting new music from Black & White on the road, having just wrapped up the 20-city “The Overcome Tour,” which also featured Fireflight, After Edmund and Hyland.

About Royal Tailor
With a contagious blend of pop, R&B, hip hop and rock, Royal Tailor is a high-energy band and music ministry reaching out to a new generation of students suffering from symptoms of a visionless life.  The four-member band - made up of Tauren (lead singer), DJ (guitar), Blake (bass) and Jarrod (drums) -- met while in school in Indianapolis and began to hone its sound while playing for churches and youth groups around the country.  In just under two years, Royal Tailor has performed more than 300 shows, most recently playing at the Nashville GRAMMY Chapter’s Block Party stage alongside artists including Old Crow Medicine Show and The Civil Wars. 

For more information on the band and its forthcoming project, visit www.RoyalTailor.com, myspace.com/royaltailor.com or follow the band on Twitter at twitter.com/royaltailor.

Source: CMSpin

 

Four-time GRAMMY® Award-winning band Third Day will be joined by an all-star lineup of musicians and Alabama radio/TV personalities for the “Make Your Move Alabama Tornado Relief Benefit,” which will take place on Sunday, May 15, at Birmingham’s BJCC Arena, beginning at 6 pm CT (doors open at 5 pm). Spearheaded by Third Day, the concert will also feature performances by Tenth Avenue North, Trevor Morgan and Rush of Fools, along with appearances by special guest radio personalities Rick & Bubba, Alabama’s ABC-TV 33/40 meteorologist James Spann and author/speaker David Nasser. Additional performers will be announced in the coming days.
 
The “Make Your Move Alabama Tornado Relief Benefit” concert will aid Alabama victims of the devastating band of tornadoes that tore through the South on April 27. Proceeds will be distributed statewide through the Come Together Fund to several chosen relief agencies, including: The Birmingham Dream Center, Alabama Baptist Tornado Relief, Samaritan’s Purse and World Vision. All of these agencies are already on the ground working to meet the immediate needs of Alabama tornado victims.
 
“When we heard about the devastation caused by the storms and tornadoes in Alabama and our home state of Georgia, we, just like everyone else, wanted to do something to help,” said Third Day’s Mac Powell, an Alabama native.  “We are so excited that so many of our friends agreed to stand beside us as we attempt to have a night that will not only raise money and supplies for many people that so desperately need it, but raise hope and build faith through this great night of music and encouragement.”
 
“As a local pastor in Alabama, I have seen first-hand the devastation caused by these tornadoes,” said Nasser, whose Christ City Church and David Nasser Outreach ministry are both based in Birmingham. “This benefit will usher in great aid to those who need it most. This is more than a concert, this is ministry. Pure, raw, real ministry.”

General admission tickets will be $10 at the door. A limited number of $100 VIP packages are available, which include a premium concert seat, a Q&A session with all artists, an exclusive autographed VIP event poster, and an autographed copy of David Nasser’s book, Glory Revealed. VIP packages may be purchased via the event’s website: www.makeyourmovebenefit.com.
 
Third Day is in the midst of headlining the 35-city “Make Your Move” Tour across the U.S. with fellow tour mates Tenth Avenue North and Trevor Morgan. The tour’s spring leg, which wraps up May 21, in West Palm Beach, Fla., follows the successful release of multi-platinum Third Day’s 11th studio album, Move, which debuted inside the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart and at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Current Contemporary Christian chart. 
 
About Third Day:
Over the past decade, the Atlanta-based, multi-Platinum rock band Third Day (made up of members Mac Powell, Tai Anderson, David Carr and Mark Lee) has racked up 27 No. 1 radio singles and sold more than 7 million albums which reflect an impressive 2 RIAA Platinum and 8 Gold Certifications.
 
A Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee (2009), Third Day has garnered 27 career GMA Dove Awards from 47 nominations, 4 GRAMMY Awards (with 11 career nominations), an American Music Award (with 3 American Music Award nominations) and multiple ASCAP honors for songwriting including the coveted Vanguard Award.  As a credit to its songwriting, Third Day’s memorable “Call My Name,” off its Revelation (07/29/2008) project, was selected by country star Keith Urban as a bonus track on his Defying Gravity project.
 
As one of the highest-ranked touring bands in any market, according to Pollstar magazine, Third Day earned its reputation by performing before audiences into the millions. Third Day’s recent mega-tours include the 2010 Make A Difference Tour, one of that year’s highest selling Christian concert tours, co-headlining with fellow artists Michael W. Smith, TobyMac and author Max Lucado followed by its own 40-city “Make Your Move” tour which kicked off Feb. 18, 2011 in Mercedes, Texas and has seen nearly 75 percent of its dates sold out.
 
Due to its mass appeal on the road, on radio and at retail, Third Day has garnered coverage  by media outlets including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (NBC), “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” (CBS), “60 Minutes” (CBS), ABC’s “Nightline,” USA Today, The New York Times and even graced the cover of Billboard magazine, which called Third Day “one of the best rock bands.” For additional information about Third Day please visit www.ThirdDay.com.

Source: CMSpin

 

Chapman to give Commencement Speech on May 7
 
Tomorrow, music icon and five-time GRAMMY ® Award winner Steven Curtis Chapman will help close out the academic year for Anderson University’s Class of 2011 at their graduation ceremony held on campus in the Ward Fieldhouse of the Kardatzke Wellness Center.

Chapman will deliver his commencement speech during the afternoon engagement that is set to begin at 3PM EST. In addition, the multi-platinum selling artist and former student of the university, will also receive an honorary doctorate along with other speakers including Rev. Charles Myricks, chief operating development officer for the National Association of the Church of God, and Dr. Beverley Pitts, president of the University of Indianapolis. The event is free and open to the public. Anderson University will offer a live webcast during Commencement starting at 2:45 p.m. EDT. For more information on the graduation event please click here.

For more information on Steven Curtis Chapman, please visit http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/.
 
About Steven Curtis Chapman:
Steven Curtis Chapman has sold over ten million records including two RIAA certified platinum albums and eight RIAA certified gold albums. Along with his five GRAMMY awards, Chapman has won an American Music Award, has recorded 45 No. 1 US radio hits and been awarded 56 Dove Awards, more than any other artist to date. Since his recording career began in 1987, Chapman has recorded seventeen projects with Sparrow Records. He has performed at the White House and has appeared on multiple national programs via CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, CMT, FOX News, the Hallmark Channel and E!, including Good Morning America, Larry King Live, Fox&Friends, Huckabee, CBS Sunday Morning, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and more. Chapman and his wife Mary Beth created Show HOPE in 2001 after bringing their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, home from China. The ministry’s goal is to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption, and has provided grants to over 2,000 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world.

Source: CMSpin   

 

For the Dove Awards darling Francesca Battistelli, her fans are ‘the stuff.’ And to say thank you, Battistelli is unveiling a fan-directed music video for her smash No 1 hit “This Is The Stuff.” The video features a compilation of footage shot by fans during the Winter Jam tour. To see which fans’ films made the final cut, tune in to Francesca’s website – http://www.francescamusic.com/ or click here: http://www.francescamusic.com/news/stuff-live-music-video

“I have the best fans and feel so blessed,” shares Battistelli. “It was so fun to have them be my directors and stand right up on the stage with me every night of Winter Jam!”

“This Is The Stuff” is from her sophomore album Hundred More Years, which debuted at No. 1 on the Christian Album Chart and No. 16 on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart. The album is available everywhere now.

Battistelli recently made Dove Awards history when she won the award for “Artist of the Year” making her the first female vocalist in 19 years to claim the elite title and also took home the honors “Female Vocalist Of The Year” and “Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song Of The Year” for the smash hit "Beautiful Beautiful."

Hundred More Years released to rave reviews and is the follow-up to her debut My Paper Heart which delivered the smash No. 1 single “Free To Be Me” and hit singles “It’s Your Life,” “I’m Letting Go” and “Beautiful, Beautiful.” With over 430,000 albums sold and well over 900,000 downloads to date, Battistelli has become the best-selling new artist in the genre in the past eight years. Battistelli has earned a Grammy nomination (Best Gospel Song Performance), 5 Dove Awards and 15 Dove Award nominations and was recently featured in Associated Press, USA Today, M Magazine, and Atlanta Journal Constitution. Her music has also been featured on TLC’s Jon & Kate Plus 8, ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, NBC’s The Biggest Loser, FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance, and several other television and movie outlets.

For additional information on Francesca Battistelli, please visit www.FrancescaMusic.com.

About Word Entertainment
A leader in the music industry, Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, is a unique, comprehensive entertainment company comprised of multi-faceted artist service departments including publishing, merchandising, booking, and online initiatives. Word Entertainment represents some of the top names and brands in music, including Meredith Andrews, Chris August, BarlowGirl, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Group 1 Crew, Point Of Grace, Mark Schultz, Sidewalk Prophets and Chris Sligh and is home to 25 LIVE, Word Distribution (representing Curb Records and Big Idea/VeggieTales among others), Word Print, Word Music Publishing and Word Label Group’s Word Records and Fervent Records.

Source: CMSpin  

Taylor wins Scholarship from TWC and J103

Tennessee Wesleyan College and J103 announced Tina Taylor from Tellico Plains as the winner of the "What a College Education Means to Me" scholarship giveaway. TWC and J103 partnered to give one lucky listener a one-year, full tuition scholarship. The contest was open to any new student at TWC in either the day or evening program, Athens or Knoxville campus.

J103 listeners were invited to submit their essays from February 28 through March 23.  Essays were judged by a committee who reached a unanimous decision on Taylor's entry.  More than 50 entries were received.

"I am so excited to win," said Taylor.  "This is such a blessing from God to be given such a wonderful opportunity at a school with a great education department.  I had some wonderful teachers growing up and want to honor those individuals by following in their footsteps."

Taylor was awarded the scholarship at a J103 live remote on TWC's campus, where she was also surprised to learn the scholarship would be extended to her second year at TWC as well.  Taylor, a community college transfer, plans to major in education and teach grades K-6.

 "Tennessee Wesleyan's mission is to provide the highest quality educational experience and we are pleased to offer this experience to Tina while making her dream come true,"  said Stan Harrison, TWC interim president.  "We are certain she will be an inspiration to our students and many prospective students in our area as she pursues this dream."

In addition to attending community college, Taylor is employed at Insurance Incorporated of Athens.  She is also an active member of her church.

Tennessee Wesleyan College, founded in Athens, Tenn., in 1857, is a four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. The College's dedicated faculty and staff believe in providing the resources and support students need to become socially responsible, intellectually skilled and spiritually developed members of our community. For additional information about Tennessee Wesleyan College, visit www.twcnet.edu, become a TWC fan on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/TWCnews.

###

Tina Taylor's winning essay is included below.

What does a college education mean to me? For me, it is the chance to finish what I started. Life has a way of throwing you curve balls right when you least expect them. I was in college at Cleveland State Community College in 1998 and had to quit during the pregnancy of my daughter, Kaitlin. She was, and still is, the joy of mine and my husband's life, so when she began to have seizures at 21 months old, my plans to go back to college had to be put on hold. I felt that as a mother, I needed to make a sacrifice with my own personal goals in order to care for my daughter. Kaitlin had these seizures for a year, and by the grace of God, they finally stopped. However at that time I had already taken a job working as a teller at a bank and my dream of going to college had to be put on the back shelf so that I could work and help support my family. Growing up in a family of four children, I am familiar with the word sacrifice. I have a wonderfully loving and supportive family and while we may not have always had the newest things, we did have parents who were willing to take the steps necessary for us to succeed. My mother, a devout Christian, often quoted Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." That definitely has become a verse I live by. I know my own work ethic and drive comes directly from them. They taught me to go after what I want with reckless abandon and not to give up when times get hard. I am truly grateful for these lessons, especially now. I had been content with my career as an insurance agent, but recently I felt that God was leading me in a new direction--and to my surprise, it was back to college. I have been attending Cleveland State since 2010 and maintaining my job at Insurance Incorporated of Athens. While going to school and working is not the ideal situation, I knew it was necessary if I was going to have a chance to fulfill my dream. To me college is a second chance to renew my former goals and to have the career that I always desired. I truly believe that this is what I am supposed to do and even though the circumstances are not what I had planned, I know that it is the perfect time for me to get my degree. So to conclude, college is not just a way to fulfill my goals, but also a way to make a positive difference. Through my life I have learned to be a better daughter, coworker, wife, mother and person. Through my trials and tribulations in life I've learned to be a more understanding person, a more patient individual and a better friend and family member for those I surround myself with. I know that my education is far from over, but I also know that life and education are a journey. I am so excited to continue on my journey and see where this road takes me. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

For more on the book or to oder yours today click here.

 

Three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning band Jars of Clay will take the community-minded theme behind its latest album, Jars of Clay Presents The Shelter, on the road this spring with the launch of The Shelter Tour. Featuring award-winning songwriter/worship leader Matt Maher and special guests Derek Webb and Audrey Assad, the tour will kick off March 30, in Greensburg, Pa., and travel through nearly 20 cities before wrapping up in Jackson, Miss., on May 7.
 
The Shelter Tour comes on the heels of Jars of Clay’s top billing in the Rock and Worship Road Show, one of the winter’s largest multi-artist tours, and is an opportunity for the band to create a live extension of the collaborative moments offered on their Shelter album. For that critically-acclaimed project, Jars of Clay brought in a collection of both songwriting and vocal guests (including both Maher and Assad), creating a huge collaborative environment never before attempted on any of the band’s previous projects.
 
“We knew in the beginning that we wanted as many voices as possible in the record,” guitarist Matt Odmark explains. “We wanted to make a record about community, and we wanted the recorded process to be community. We wanted it to be an expression of what it was trying to articulate from a concept standpoint.”
 
In that same spirit, The Shelter Tour will offer these musical colleagues and co-creators an opportunity to form a true collaborative evening not to be missed. Multi-platinum-selling Jars of Clay will perform songs from the new release, including the album’s single “Out Of My Hands,” along with many of their numerous hits – “Flood,” “Two Hands,” “Dead Man (Carry Me),” “Worlds Apart,” “Love Song For A Savior,” to name a few – which have become concert favorites. 
 
The Shelter Tour will be sponsored by relief organization Blood:Water Mission and Azusa Pacific University.
 
Jars of Clay and Blood:Water Mission will celebrate the building of their 1000th clean water well in Sub-Saharan Africa during a May 10 event at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Tickets to the “Well:Done Celebration, Blood:Water Mission's Journey to 1000 Wells” are still available at http://www.bloodwatermission.com/welldone.php.
 
About Jars of Clay:
Jars of Clay, made up of members Dan Haseltine (vocals), Charlie Lowell (keyboards), Steve Mason (guitars), and Matt Odmark (guitars), launched its breakout career with the multi-format hit “Flood” in 1995. Since then, it has amassed more than 6 million in career sales (5 Gold, 2 Platinum and 1 Double Platinum certification), three GRAMMY Awards (from 8 nominations), an American Music Award nod, six GMA Dove Award nominations, 17 No. 1 radio hits, and numerous film credits and BMI honors for songwriting and performing. The band’s GRAMMY-nominated 10th album, The Long Fall Back to Earth, was followed by the recent release of the compelling and community-minded project, Jars of Clay Presents The Shelter.  Jars of Clay has headlined thousands of sold-out shows and festivals, and earlier this year led the successful Rock and Worship Road Show with MercyMe, which traveled to 27 cities across the country.
 
While celebrated for its music and writing, Jars of Clay is most concerned with the needs in Africa. Compelled to make a difference, the group successfully launched the Blood:Water Mission, a non-profit organization promoting clean blood and water in Africa. Since the band’s debut, Jars of Clay has built an extraordinary career based on the uncompromising integrity of its music, worldview, and humanitarianism. For more information, please go to www.jarsofclay.com.
 
About Matt Maher:
Matt Maher – worship leader, songwriter, singer and recording artist – has taken his calling as a “musical missionary” to create a substantial impact on a national and global stage. An award-winning songwriter, Maher first gained notice as the writer of the internationally renowned modern-worship song, “Your Grace Is Enough.” Highly sought after for his poignant yet poetic writing style, Maher has recently had songs recorded by such artists as Chris Tomlin; Bethany Dillon; Phillips, Craig & Dean; Brenton Brown and others. In addition, Maher’s songs have appeared in the top 10 ranked songs on the CCLI chart, marking their popularity in church worship services around the world.  Matt's sophomore Alive Again solidly captures the penetrating spirit and charisma Maher has become known for in a live setting. The 12-song studio project recently garnered him Dove Award nominations for both Worship Song of the Year and Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year (“Christ Is Risen”).
 
Amid busy touring and writing schedules, Maher finds it important to serve alongside ministries including Life Teen and Adore Ministries, while still playing an active role with Oregon Catholic Press’ spiritandsong.com. Further, he serves as a regular host for Worship Together’s “Newsong Café.” Maher, recently honored with a Praise Award as Worship Leader’s Breakout Artist of 2008, has been featured on the covers of Breakaway and Christian Single, performed live on “FOX & Friends,” written for Billboard and is an active, bylined contributor to OnFaith.com ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/2010/07/08/ABhGcoE_page.html), an interactive conversation on religion. For more information on Matt Maher, please visit www.mattmahermusic.com or follow him on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mattmahermusic.
 
About Derek Webb:
Ever the musical shapeshifter, Derek Webb has once again expanded his musical boundaries and redefined his artistic expectations to produce Feedback, arguably his most ambitious and most creative project to date. Described as “an instrumental electronic album based on The Lord’s Prayer”, the scope and impact of Feedback can hardly be summed up in a tagline. Derek has managed to supersede the main complaints of electronic music (artificial, plastic, cold, soulless, etc.) with enough creativity, emotion and live instrumentation to construct an electronic album with a beating heart. Sprawling, mysterious, weighty and layered, Derek uses organic and non-organic musical elements, along with accompanying abstract pictures and paintings, to express one of the most powerful and intimate moments of the Christian faith.
 
A founding member of the Houston, Texas-based Caedmon's Call, singer/songwriter Derek Webb has seen career sales approaching one million records, 10 Dove Award nominations, a Billboard Music Video Award nod and six No.1 radio hits. Webb’s innovative music marketing and distribution strategies have received national news coverage in USA Today and the LA Times. More information can be found at http://www.derekwebb.com/ and at http://twitter.com/derekwebb.
 
About Audrey Assad:
27 year-old, Arizona-based singer/songwriter Audrey Assad propelled to the forefront of Christian music with her debut album on Sparrow Records titled The House You’re Building. Produced by Marshall Altman (Brooke Fraser, Natasha Bedingfield, William Fitzsimmons, Marc Broussard), the record released in the summer of 2010 to much acclaim. An avid reader, poems from Gerard Manley Hopkins and books were amongst Assad’s inspirations in her songwriting. Her collaborations with everyone from Chris Tomlin to Jars of Clay have marked her songwriting and vocal talent. Assad’s fresh sound was named among the best of 2010 from Relevant Magazine, Rhapsody.com, Gospel Music Channel online and more and was even profiled on CNN Online. In addition, The House You’re Building was named Amazon.com’s “Best Christian Music of 2010” and iTunes ® Christian & Gospel “Breakthrough Album of the Year.” At the close of 2010, Assad collected the title of top selling new artist of the year in the Christian genre according to SoundsScan.  For more information, go to http://www.audreyassad.com/.
 
About Blood:WaterMission:
Founded and launched by Jars of Clay in early 2002, Blood:Water Mission is a non-profit organization promoting clean blood and water in Africa. It’s goal is to empower communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and water crisis. The first effort of this non-profit was the “1000 Wells Project” with a goal of raising funds to build, rebuild and repair 1,000 wells in urban and rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. This year Jars of Clay will celebrate the building of the 1,000th well which will bring clean water to more than 150,000 people. For more information, please visit www.bloodwatermission.com.
 
JARS OF CLAY - THE SHELTER TOUR – SPRING 2011
* All dates are subject to change without notice. 
MARCH
3/30           Greensburg, PA          Word of Life Ministries
3/31           Morgantown, WV       Chestnut Ridge Church
APRIL
4/1             Middletown, NJ          New Monmouth Baptist Church
4/2             Charleston, ME           Charleston Pentecostal Church
4/3             Quincy, MA                Eastern Nazarene College
4/4             Alexandria, VA           The Birchmere
4/8             Belleville, IL                St. Matthew United Methodist
4/10           Collegedale, TN          Collegedale Community Church
4/14           Due West, SC             Erskine College
4/15           Haw River, NC           Lamb’s Chapel
4/16           Shrewsbury, PA          Grace Fellowship Church
4/17           St. David’s PA            Eastern   University
4/29           Melbourne, FL            The King Center
4/30           Silver Springs, FL        Twin Oaks Amphitheater
MAY
5/1             Niceville, FL                Mattie Kelly Arts Center
5/5             Lake Charles, LA        Contraband Days Festival
5/6             Humboldt, TN             West Tennessee Strawberry Festival
5/7             Jackson, MS               Jackson Academy of Performing Arts                
 
For the most up-to-date tour information, please visit www.jarsofclay.com.

 

John Waller, the popular recording artist who touched the world with the extraordinary song "While I'm Waiting" from the motion picture "Fireproof," is back with a brand new collection of scripture-based songs and declaration-style anthems designed to inspire listeners to fight the good fight of faith. Waller's eagerly anticipated enhanced CD, As For Me and My House, is set for a May 3, 2011 release through Provident-Integrity Distribution. It is his first project since signing with Nashville-based City of Peace Media.

Waller first captured the attention of the Christian music community as frontman for the pop band, According to John. But the talented Georgia native laid down his aspirations for a career as a performing artist when he and his wife Josee felt led to move to Colorado to help establish a new church. Songs that were birthed in Waller during that time opened new doors for the worship leader, and his major label debut, The Blessing, introduced his music to a wider audience. His follow-up solo project included the powerful title track, "While I'm Waiting," which was the only song played in its entirety in "Fireproof," the No. 1 independent film of 2008.
John Waller has never been an artist who cranked out a new album every year simply to meet the demands of the marketplace. Instead, his songwriting is the natural result of spending time communing with God. "I don't think I could write a record in any less than a year or two," Waller muses, "because you really have to walk with the Lord, experiencing life and allowing Him to teach you something."

That time spent walking with God has caused Waller to perceive numerous parallels between the life journey of contemporary believers and those of the ancient Israelites, particularly in the areas of bondage and freedom, spiritual warfare and dominion.

"I suffered with depression for so many years," Waller confesses. "I was in bondage but the Lord set me free. He healed me and taught me a lot about blessing and speaking life. Many of the songs on my first solo album came out of that. The Lord has given all of us so many promises that are ours for the taking, yet there is a battle to lay hold of what God has promised us."

Waller has long been known for injecting heavy doses of scripture into his songs, and As For Me and My House is no exception. He boldly proclaims the Word of God to this generation through a rich variety of musical styles ranging from tender, heartfelt prayers like "Somebody Else's Story," to poignant ballads like "Man of the Valley," to his trademark declaration anthems such as the impassioned spiritual warfare battle cry "Our God Reigns Here" and "Bless Us and Keep Us," both of which express God's heart for Israel.

"Hiding God's Word in my heart has impacted every area of my life since I began memorizing scripture in my early college days. What has been stored away in my heart just comes out of me when I write," Waller declares. "When people memorize scripture and sing the truth of God's Word, it changes their lives forever."
The title track highlights the album's theme of declaring our allegiance to God. The music video version of "As For Me and My House" has already started to go viral, with more than 20,000 views on YouTube within a few weeks of its release. To view the video, visit www.johnwallermusic.com.

"Yes" continues Waller's assertion that God is good and His plans for His children are positive, yet he also addresses the seeming dichotomy of bad things happening to good people in "Because God is Good." Waller co-wrote the song with Third Day frontman Mac Powell and the album's producer, Jason Hoard.
"Every believer that I know can relate to the fact that life doesn't go the way we plan it all the time," Waller explains, "but the Bible promises that all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. It is because God is good that sometimes life doesn't go the way we want it to go!"

Although John Waller is frequently associated with declaration anthems, As For Me and My House offers plenty of opportunity for introspection and worship on such songs as "The Jesus I Need," "Fallen" and "Count it All." One of the album's highlights that holds particular significance to Waller is his sweetly sung duet, "The Marriage Prayer," which he sings with his wife, Josee.

More than just the title of an album, John Waller wants Joshua 24:15 — "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" — to become a heart's cry for individuals and families across the country and the world. In the hope that it will restore our focus back to family values, Waller is offering a free song download to those who sign the Joshua 24:15 Declaration on his website, www.johnwallermusic.com.

John Waller's As For Me and My House will release May 3, 2011 on City of Peace Media and will be distributed through Provident-Integrity Distribution. For more information on John Waller and As For Me and My House, visit johnwallermusic.com or cityofpeace.com.

 

Drawing on real-life experiences near to the hearts of its members and extended family of friends,  GRAMMY, AMA and Dove Award winning, Atlanta-based rock band Third Day uses the issue of adoption as a metaphor for God’s love in the video for its latest single, “Children of God.”
 
“Children of God” is the second single from the band’s 11th studio project, MOVE, and features footage of families with adopted children, denoted by t-shirts emblazoned with the word “adopted.” The families (including that of Third Day’s lead vocalist Mac Powell, who recently welcomed adopted son Emmanuel and daughter Birdie) eventually all don the signature white t-shirts, revealing the idea that we’re all adopted into the family of God.
 
“Children of God,” released to AC radio on December 31, 2010, has accumulated an impressive 58 million cumulative radio impressions. The video was directed by Ry Cox, and can be seen on Third Day’s channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/thirddaychannel#p/u/0/V6jO7xhU_Pw.
 
This new video release is merely the latest item in a very busy spring for Third Day. Long known as the premier live touring rock band in Christian music, Third Day is in the midst of a 40-city tour supporting its most recent full-length release MOVE. The “Make Your Move” tour runs through May 21 in West Palm Beach, Fla.
 
About Third Day
Over the past decade, the Atlanta-based, multi-Platinum rock band Third Day (made up of members Mac Powell, Tai Anderson, David Carr and Mark Lee) has racked up 27 No. 1 radio singles and sold more than 7 million albums which reflect an impressive 2 RIAA Platinum and 8 Gold Certifications. A recent Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee (2009), Third Day has garnered 24 career GMA Dove Awards from 47 nominations, 4 GRAMMY Awards (with 11 career nominations), an American Music Award (with 3 American Music Award nominations) and multiple ASCAP honors for songwriting.
 
Third Day has been featured by top media outlets including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (NBC), “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” (CBS), “60 Minutes” (CBS), ABC’s “Nightline,” USA Today, the New York Times, and even graced the cover of Billboard magazine, which called Third Day “one of the best rock bands.” As a top-ranked touring band, according to Pollstar magazine, Third Day has played for audiences reaching into the millions. For additional information about Third Day please visit www.ThirdDay.com.

Nashville, TN – (March 9, 2011) – Fervent Records and reigning Dove Awards “Female Vocalist Of The Year” Francesca Battistelli, proves that she’s got the stuff with her sophomore album Hundred More Years landing in the No. 1 spot on the Christian SoundScan Album Chart and No. 16 on the Billboard Top 200 chart today, making it her highest charting album debut to date. The album features her current No. 2 single “This Is The Stuff.” Battistelli’s impressive debut is right on the heels of scoring four nominations including the prestigious Artist Of The Year for the upcoming 42nd annual Dove Awards, making her the most nominated Female Artist this year.

“I do what I do every day in the hopes that my music will inspire and bring light to my fans. And to know that you’re on the right path is an incredible feeling!” shares Battistelli. “I feel so blessed and can’t thank Christian radio, my fans and my team at Fervent Records, Paradigm Agency and Proper Management enough for all of their support in this release.”

USA Today calls the release “eloquent long-range views on family and love” rounding out their 3 ½ star review. And the Gospel Music Channel says Hundred More Years is “a gorgeous meditation on life’s fleeting moments and our desire to see them last forever.”

The leadoff single “This Is The Stuff” is already a smash hit at radio and “full of the witticism and appeal you’d hope for” (Soul-Audio). It is the perfect introduction to an album that takes the treasures of her debut My Paper Heart one-step further. Working with producer Ian Eskelin, she has crafted a CD that is every bit as hooky and infectious as its predecessor but whose subject matter, as befitting a young woman whose life has changed so dramatically, addresses a wider spectrum of the human experience.

Since her debut in 2008, Battistelli has earned a Grammy nomination (Best Gospel Song Performance), 2 Dove Awards and 15 Dove Award nominations. Her debut album delivered the smash No. 1 single “Free To Be Me” and hit singles “It’s Your Life,” “I’m Letting Go” and “Beautiful, Beautiful.” With over 400,000 copies sold and well over 840,000 downloads to date, Battistelli has become the best-selling new artist in the genre in the past eight years. Her music has also been featured on TLC's Jon & Kate Plus 8, ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, NBC’s The Biggest Loser, Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance, and several other television and movie outlets.

Fans can vote for this talented songstress for The Dove Awards’ Artist Of The Year by visiting http://www.watchgmctv.com/fanvote. Voting is now open and will close on April 19th at midnight (EST), with the winner being announced at the 42nd Annual Dove Awards show taped live at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA, on April 20th and broadcast on The Gospel Music Channel (GMC) on Sunday, April 24th at 8:00 p.m. EST.

For additional information on Francesca Battistelli and her upcoming album release, tour and media appearances, please visit www.FrancescaMusic.com.

 

For Fervent Records and reigning Dove Awards Female Vocalist Of The Year Francesca Battistelli, March 1 is going to be a day that she remembers for at least a ‘hundred more years’ with the release of her sophomore album entitled Hundred More Years available everywhere beginning today. The release comes on the heels of Battistelli scoring four nominations including the prestigious Artist Of The Year for the upcoming 42nd annual Dove Awards, making her the most nominated Female Artist this year.

“This year has been such a blessed one so far,” said Battistelli. “I’m out on the Winter Jam Tour with David Crowder Band and Newsboys, just found out that I’ve broken the Top 5 with the new single "This Is The Stuff," and today I’m releasing my sophomore album across the country. To top it off, being nominated for the Dove Awards’ Artist Of The Year is an incredible honor and I feel deeply humbled to be in a category with so many amazing artists. I want to thank all of the Christian radio stations and fans that believe in me.”

The Dove Awards’ Artist Of The Year nod is fan-voted. Fans can vote for Battistelli by visiting http://www.watchgmctv.com/fanvote. Voting for the Artist Of The Year category is now open and will close on April 19th at midnight (EST), with the winner being announced at the 42nd Annual Dove Awards show taped live at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA, on April 20th and broadcast on The Gospel Music Channel (GMC) on Sunday, April 24th at 8:00 p.m. EST.

Battistelli’s new single “This Is The Stuff” is already a Top 5 smash at radio and is the perfect introduction to an album that takes the treasures of her debut My Paper Heart one-step further. Working with producer Ian Eskelin, she has crafted a CD that is every bit as hooky and infectious as its predecessor but whose subject matter, as befitting a young woman whose life has changed so dramatically, addresses a wider spectrum of the human experience.

My Paper Heart released to rave reviews and has since earned Battistelli a Grammy nomination (Best Gospel Song Performance), 2 Dove Awards and 15 Dove Award nominations in a two-year period. Her debut delivered the smash No. 1 single “Free To Be Me” and hit singles “It’s Your Life,” “I’m Letting Go” and “Beautiful, Beautiful.” With over 400,000 copies sold and well over 840,000 downloads to date, Battistelli has become the best-selling new artist in the genre in the past eight years. Her music has also been featured on TLC's Jon & Kate Plus 8, ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, NBC’s The Biggest Loser, Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance, and several other television and movie outlets.

For additional information on Francesca Battistelli and her upcoming album release, tour and media appearances, please visit www.FrancescaMusic.com.

Source: CMSpin

 

EMI Christian Music Group, Provident Music Group and Word Entertainment proudly announce their continued partnership in the WOW brand with the release of WOW #1’s available everywhere today March 1. With 30 smash hits that reigned in No. 1 at Christian Radio, WOW #1’s marks the 17th two-disc release and the second Deluxe Edition release of the platinum-selling series that compiles the best songs from Christian radio. The entire WOW branded series (Worship, Gospel, Hits and specialty releases) now tops 26 million units in sales with over half-a-million from the last WOW #1’s release.

Featuring 30 inspiring No. 1 hits on two-discs, the WOW #1’s is a must-have collection of Christian Radio chart-toppers from 2005-2010, including fan favorites like Francesca Battistelli’s “Free to be Me,” Brandon Heath’s “Give Me Your Eyes” and Matthew West’s “The Motions.”

Highlights on Disc 1 include monster hits such as Phillips, Craig & Dean’s “Revelation Song” which topped the charts for 16 weeks, Casting Crowns’ "Praise You In This Storm" and Chris Tomlin’s “How Great Is Our God.” Disc 2 includes more No. 1 songs like TobyMac’s “City on Our Knees,” Tenth Avenue North’s ”By Your Side” and NEEDTOBREATHE's "Washed By The Water."

The WOW #1’s Deluxe Edition features six bonus tracks of even more No. 1 favorites from top Christian Music performers including Krystal Meyers, Nichole Nordeman, Relient K, Remedy Drive, Rush Of Fools and Superchick.

WOW # 1’s Track Listing:
 
-Disc 1-
1. God With Us - MercyMe
2. Give Me Your Eyes – Brandon Heath
3. The Motions – Matthew West
4. Praise You In This Storm – Casting Crowns
5. Cry Out To Jesus – Third Day
6. The Words I Would Say – Sidewalk Prophets
7. There Will Be A Day – Jeremy Camp
8. Revelation Song – Phillips, Craig & Dean
9. Held – Natalie Grant
10. How Great Is Our God – Chris Tomlin
11. My Savior, My God – Aaron Shust
12. I Am – Mark Schultz
13. Cinderella – Steven Curtis Chapman
14. Here I Am To Worship – Michael W. Smith
15. What Faith Can Do – Kutless

Deluxe Edition
16. Brave – Nichole Nordeman
17. Undo – Rush Of Fools
18. Stand In The Rain – Superchick
 
-Disc 2-
1. Never Going Back to OK – The Afters
2. City on Our Knees - TobyMac
3. Free To Be Me – Francesca Battistelli
4. By Your Side – Tenth Avenue North
5. The Lost Get Found – Britt Nicole
6. Washed By The Water - NEEDTOBREATHE
7. The Last Night - Skillet
8. I’m Not Alright – Sanctus Real
9. I Need You To Love Me - BarlowGirl
10. This Is Your Life – Switchfoot
11. Me And Jesus – Stellar Kart
12. Every Time I Breathe – Big Daddy Weave
13. Hide – Joy Williams
14. Everlasting God – Lincoln Brewster
15. Everything You Ever Wanted – Hawk Nelson

Deluxe Edition
16. Forgiven – Relient K
17. All Along – Remedy Drive
18. The Way To Begin – Krystal Meyers

Source: CMSpin 

 

INO Records' singer/songwriter Jonny Diaz is an artist with a mission - to serve the Body of Christ. And from the very beginning of his music career, his desire has always been to write songs that encourage and entertain, yet challenge fellow believers. His latest CD release, titled simply Jonny Diaz, is a collection of songs that definitely accomplishes that mission.

“I attempted to break free from some of the traditional confines of Christian music, but I couldn’t get away from the fact that most of my songs revolve around my relationship with Christ," Diaz shares. "He is the focus of my life, and I find it impossible to honestly record my emotions and my journey without including Him. The people who truly understand my music share this same kind of relationship with God.”
 
The songs from Jonny Diaz encompass a full range of human emotions – from the heights of love to the depths of grief; from praising God to a cry for those whose lives are broken. Through his music, the Church receives challenging and encouraging reminders that every broken human life can find redemption in God’s love.

The anticipated project, releasing April 12th, was produced by a plethora of talent. Those lending their skills to Jonny Diaz are Ed Cash (Dave Barnes, Chris Tomlin), Chris Stevens (Toby Mac, Sanctus Real), Jeff Pardo (Josh Wilson, Denver and the Mile High Orchestra), and Steve Wilson (Josh Wilson, Leeland).

Diaz also collaborated with others in the songwriting process, such Audrey Assad, Mia Fieldes, Kate York (co-writer on “More Beautiful You”) and Chris Stevens. “It can be challenging coming up with new ways to express themes that are important to believers. Co-writing encourages and inspires me,” says Diaz. “My own personal growth and new insights gave me fresh perspectives on old material, and co-writing added exciting and alternative ways to express what I was learning.” 
 
Diaz also confronts timely issues in the Church with his writing. “These days we can become immune, and we need to be brokenhearted for the poor, to feel their pain the way that Christ feels it."

The project's first radio single, “Beauty of the Cross,” was especially important to Diaz. “This is the first song I’ve recorded that I haven’t written," he explains. "The first time I heard it, I was drawn straight to God’s throne in worship. I am not a ‘worship artist’ but there is something special about this song and I wanted to be a part of it. The great irony and beauty here is that we’re singing about one of the most awful torture devices ever conceived by man, and yet we are calling it ‘beautiful.’ Those of us whose lives have been changed by the sacrifice Jesus made for us at Calvary know exactly why the cross is so beautiful.” Click on the image below to watch his story behind the song, "Beauty of the Cross." 
 
Currently planning to share these new songs on the road, Diaz looks forward to sharing his music with audiences everywhere. “As an artist, I believe God gifted me with an ability to relate through the songs and stories I share. I like looking out at the crowd and seeing the smiles on faces or tears in the eyes and knowing straightaway that these songs are connecting.” Diaz told himself he would continue as long as people were interested – and he feels that it is clearer now more than ever that this is what God has for him.
 
“I love making music; it’s challenging and fun,” he says, “but my prayer is always: Whatever God wants me to do, that is where I want to be. It is a prayer of abandon to be used by God wherever and whenever.” And today that is sharing music that encourages, entertains, and, above all, challenges the body of Christ.

Source: CMSpin 

 

Following the biggest radio tour of their career promoting their current single "Say What You Believe," Echoing Angels, the soulful rock band hailing from Atlanta, is set to release their next project, Echoing Angels. This self-titled effort, available digitally and physically March 22nd courtesy of eOne Entertainment, was produced by Calvin Turner (Marc Broussard, Jimmy Needham).   
 
And even brighter news is the Echoing Angels family grew a member. Bassist Josh LeBlanc and his wife, Cami, a DJ for the Salem Network in Atlanta, welcomed the birth of their first baby. Daughter Lacey Elisabeth was born January 4th, weighing 6 lbs and 15 oz. and measuring 19 in. long. Mom, dad and baby are all doing great! Welcome to the world, Lacey!

About Echoing Angels  
Growing up in the south with a wide range of influences, Echoing Angels has embraced their roots to create their own distinctive sound of southern rock, pop, and worship from the likes of James Taylor to Kenny Loggins, from Train to Third Day. The band continues their musical offerings from their 2006 debut project, You Alone, to their 2011 self-titled release. For upcoming tour dates, videos and more information about the band, visit EchoingAngels.com.

Source: CMSpin 

 

Salvation Road Records has announced that iconic pop-rock band Blessid Union of Souls will release their latest album, The Mission Field, on March 1st, with distribution through SONY and Provident-Integrity Distribution. Blessid Union of Souls exploded onto the music scene in 1995 with the smash hit "I Believe," which hit #1 in the UK, Asia and the USA, where it became the 4th most played song of the year. The band's hits play like a soundtrack of the last two decades, thanks to numerous hit singles including "Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me for Me)," "Let Me Be the One," and "Oh Virginia" to name a few. With a new album and a renewed focus, the band is ready to add more to the list.

Thanks to the seamless merger of contagious pop, rock and soul from founder and lead singer Eliot Sloan, coupled with his ability to continuously write socially conscious and spiritually inspiring songs, it’s no surprise that Blessid Union of Souls has become one of this generation's most beloved and consistent pop-rock groups. With gold and platinum records and chart topping singles, the band has toured the world sharing stages and busses with the likes of Goo Goo Dolls, Bon Jovi, Third Eye Blind, Sister Hazel, Vertical Horizon, Edwin McCain and more, while making appearances on such top-rated television programs as “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Live with Regis & Kelly," “Good Morning America,” “Top of the Pops" and VH1 to name a few.

“You don’t have time to really prepare for it because all of a sudden your songs are being played on the radio, you’re getting video play and landing on TV shows all around the world,” says Sloan. “But I try not to think about it too much and never let myself get a big head. I just live a regular life with my wife and two kids at the house, drive to the studio for recordings and then hit the road when it’s time to tour.”

Sloan’s remarkably humble demeanor stems from a lifelong Christian faith that’s repeatedly made its way into Blessid Union of Souls’ songwriting. With The Mission Field, the band takes a spiritually overt direction while retaining the signature qualities that have literally attracted millions of fans over the years.

“I’ve always sung about wanting to live right, and with The Mission Field, it’s just a matter of taking things one step further and doing in my heart what I’m called to do,” explains Sloan. “The songs we wrote for our first album Home were particularly strong in that direction, and though there was more of a light-hearted direction in some of the later tracks, the underlying spiritual tone was always there. All of the pondering and articulating matters of faith on The Mission Field are basically an extension of the ideas I first started exploring on Home, which makes the two records seem like bookends with one another."

Though a longtime staple of EMI Records (David Bowie, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Roxette) and V2 Records (The White Stripes, Moby), The Mission Field was recorded entirely on Sloan’s terms, but will pop up in all the usual physical and digital retail outlets thanks to a new deal with Salvation Road Records. With dual footing in the general and faith-based marketplace, the collection is sure to expand Blessid Union of Souls’ audience even further.

“A lot of fans have said this is the perfect transition and I also hope to inspire new listeners as well, but I don’t really think about marketplaces or numbers when I’m writing,” says Sloan. “I always just want to make them sound as good as possible while singing something of substance, which on this record says 'let's strap in and really make a daily, conscious effort to follow in Christ's footsteps.’ I’m always under construction, but at the same time, if I wait until I’m perfect before taking a step, then it’s never going to happen. I don’t know of any perfect people except one and they hung Him on the cross! I think the songs speak about looking at ourselves a little closer, paying more attention to what we say and do, and knowing that overall world change is possible, but it starts with one person at a time.”

For more information on Blessid Union of Souls, visit http://www.blessidunionofsouls.net.

 

New Album Leaving Eden Releases Next Week, Jan. 18
 
On the heels of Brandon Heath’s highly-anticipated third album release, Leaving Eden, the project’s lead single “Your Love” hits No. 1 at radio this week atop Billboard’s National Christian Audience, and both AC Monitor and Indicator charts. This feat marks the Dove-winning Male Vocalist of the Year’s fourth career No. 1 radio single. Leaving Eden releases nationally on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
 
Scott Smith, Music Director for the KLOVE Network, celebrates the hit song saying, “Brandon paints a beautiful picture of Christ’s love and compassion that has captivated KLOVE listeners!”
 
Written by Heath and Jason Ingram, “Your Love” is the pair’s first collaboration since their previous No.1 radio hit, and 2009 Song of the Year success, “Give Me Your Eyes,” which continues to lead sales with 550,000 downloads to date, according to SoundScan.
 
Fans in Tulsa, Okla., and Wichita Kan., will hear Heath’s current No. 1 song and new music off Leaving Eden live this weekend as he kicks off the 17-city Winter Wonder Slam Tour with GRAMMY Award winning artist TobyMac, running Jan. 14 - Feb. 20, in markets including Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Phoenix and Denver.
 
Heath’s street week launches Monday, Jan. 17 in Minneapolis with a performance at the Mall of America in partnership with Best Buy and KTIS radio, followed by a show with JOY FM listeners in Tampa, Fl. on Tuesday at the local Family Christian Store and his free concert with Z88.3 in Orlando on Wednesday.
 
The first featured video piece of Brandon performing new music is now posted on his website as the premiere of “The Leaving Eden Sessions” releases online this week. The “Your Love” performance leads the video series with future installments to follow. To view, and for a list of tour dates, please visit www.brandonheath.net.

About Brandon Heath
Since his 2006 debut, Christian music’s beloved and twice honored Male Vocalist of the Year (2009 and 2010) Brandon Heath has won an Emmy Award, been nominated for two GRAMMYs, an American Music Award, and holds multiple GMA Dove Awards. The Nashville native was featured on the “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric,” while also spotlighted in the Sunday edition of The New York Times as a GRAMMY-nominated newcomer “that shouldn't be allowed to slip through the cracks.” His soaring radio career includes four No.1 hits, “Your Love,” “I’m Not Who I Was,” “Wait and See” and 2009’s GMA Dove-winning Song of the Year, “Give Me Your Eyes.”  Heath first began writing at age 13 and credits his hometown’s legendary hotspot for songwriters, the Bluebird Café, as the place he first experienced music that moved him.

Off stage, Heath seeks opportunities to merge his public platform with his heart for community, regularly working with Young Life, Blood:Water Mission, Restore International and unofficially volunteering for many other human rights agencies on a global scale. Heath also created the annual “Love Your Neighbor” benefit with songwriter Jason Ingram, in partnership with Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, Tennessee, for a night of music to raise funds and gather volunteers for a focused need in the Nashville community.

Source: CMSpin

 

With the November 9th holiday debut of Very Merry Christmas and April's release of What We Want, What We Get (Razor & Tie), topped off with the infectious hit single "God Gave Me You," a successful tour and a viral music video, this proves that 2010 was quite the year for songwriter and performer Dave Barnes.
 
Since he began his musical career, Barnes continues to showcase his quintessential style of classy and timeless music tied with a solid dose of his traditional Southern upbringing and humorous charm. In fact, his story of his rising musical career is currently being promoted on the homepage of Performing Songwriter magazine. Click here to read the full story as well as to view his music video catalog.
 
RADIO
To top off the year, his hit single "God Gave Me You" was one of the most played songs in 2010 and continues to be heard on radio stations across the nation. According to Billboard's year-end charts, it was the 15th most played song at CHR and the 24th most played at Christian AC. The next single from What We Want, What We Get slated for radio is "What I Need."

Barnes' Christmas singles have been making a huge mark at radio as well. "Christmas Tonight," his duet with Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott, is this season's 5th most played Christmas song, keeping chart company with such artists as Mariah Carey and the cast of Glee. Additionally, two weeks ago "Very Merry Christmas" was the free iTunes Discover Download single for the week and now through Christmas, Very Merry Christmas can be purchased for only $5 at Amazon.com.

TOUR & MOCHA CLUB
The Very Merry Neighborly Christmas Tour, performing to sell-out crowds during its 15-city run, wrapped up this weekend in Nashville where Barnes was joined by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Gabe Dixon, and other special guests to spread the holiday cheer. The tour partnered with the Mocha Club for their Clean Water project area, which helps fund the building of wells in the Sudan for refugess of the Darfur genocide. Barnes is a long-time supporter of Mocha Club, a generation of activists giving up the cost of two mochas, or $7 a month, to fund relief and development projects in Africa. To find out more to join Dave's Clean Water project, click here.
 
Touring will continue well into the new year for Barnes as he will continue to promote his current studio release What We Want, What We Get along with his previous recordings. Stay tuned to DaveBarnes.com for the most updated tour schedule.
 
VIDEO
A highlight of Very Merry Christmas was the music video for "Christmas Tonight," featuring Barnes alongside television actress Jennifer Love Hewitt. The video was directed by and also features Alex Beh. The video not only debuted on Perez Hilton, but it also was featured on US Magazine's site, Huffington Post's entertainment front page and OK! Magazine's website. 
 
DAVE BARNES LINKS
DaveBarnes.com
facebook.com/davebarnesmusic
twitter.com/davebarnesmusic
myspace.com/davebarnes
www.youtube.com/thedavebarnes

Source: CMSpin 

 

Since the 2009 release of their hit worship album, It Is Well, BEC Recordings’ Kutless has catapulted to the top of the charts with their mega-hit song “What Faith Can Do.”  Already a hit single in 2009, the success has carried into 2010 as this single topped the 2010 Mediabase Christian AC Song of the Year. 

In addition to Mediabase, “What Faith Can Do” was the No. 2 Billboard Hot Christian Song of the Year.  Kutless was also named the No. 7 Billboard Christian Artist of the Year, and It Is Well was the No. 10 Billboard Christian Album of the Year.

This year “What Faith Can Do” topped five radio formats --CHR, AC Mon, AC Indicator, Inspo as well as spent eight weeks at the top on the the National Christian Audience Chart. The single has also surpassed 220K in digital single sales.  It Is Well is also nearing 200k in album sales. Fans can now purchase the expanded edition of It Is Well, which features three live tracks and two new songs.

Kutless also has two singles currently moving up the charts from their worship project. “Everything I Need” is breaking into the Top 20 on AC Monitored and the National Christian Audience Chart, Top 10 on AC Indicator and Inspo. “Remember Me” is currently in the Top 5 on CHR.

This Christmas season, Kutless also released a new single “This Is Christmas,” which has been charting at AC Monitored, AC Indicator, Inspo and the National Christian Audience Chart.  The song is No. 1 at CMW.  This song is available on the BEC Recordings’ Christmas compilation O Come All Ye Faithful.

After the holidays, Kutless will be heading out on the 2011 Winter Jam Tour Spectacular with Newsboys, David Crowder Band, Francesca Battistelli, Red, Newsong, KJ-52, and more.  The all-star packed tour begins January 8th in Charleston, West Virginia and concludes on April 3rd in Illinois.  For the tour dates, visit here: http://www.hearitfirst.com/winterjam/default.aspx

For more information, go to www.kutless.com or the band’s official YouTube Page http://www.youtube.com/kutless.  Follow the band on Twitter @kutless and become their fan on Facebook: facebook.com/kutless.

Source: CMSpin

 

Spring 2011 Tour Features Special Guests
REVIVE (February), TENTH AVENUE NORTH (March-May) & TREVOR MORGAN
 
Tour Follows Release of Third Day’s New, Chart-Topping Studio Album MOVE
 
Four-time GRAMMY® Award-winning band Third Day will headline a massive 40-city tour across the U.S. this spring. The “Make Your Move” Tour will kick off Feb. 18, in Mercedes, Texas, with special guests Dove-nominated rock band Revive on dates in February, and progressive pop Dove Award winners Tenth Avenue North rounding out the remainder of the tour dates from March through May.  Acclaimed singer/songwriter/guitarist Trevor Morgan will also join the tour’s roster in all markets.
 
The Make Your Move Tour follows the successful release of multi-platinum rock band Third Day’s 11th studio album, Move (Oct. 19), which debuted inside the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart and at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Current Contemporary Christian chart.  The Atlanta-based band will perform selections from the new album which have already become concert highlights – including the hit radio single “Lift Up Your Face,” “Make Your Move,” “Gone” and “Children of God” – as well as long-time fan favorites that feature the group’s signature rock sound.
 
“The fan response to the new album Move has been better than we ever could have hoped,” says Third Day bassist Tai Anderson.  “We can't wait to play the new music live and take the songs to a whole other place on the Make Your Move Tour.  The show is going to be about the music and message that has given us the greatest and most supportive fans in the world, and we're going to deliver that music and message with renewed urgency and passion.”
 
As a unique price point option for concert attendees, all regular tickets for the Make Your Move Tour will be offered at $25 across the board. A special VIP ticket package will be available for purchase, including a prime-seating concert ticket, an exclusive Third Day poster, a Move CD and entry to a special VIP meet & greet. A group ticket package will be available, and Fan Club pre-sale dates will be announced soon.
 
The Make Your Move Tour is sponsored in part by Grand Canyon University ( www.gcu.edu) and Christian humanitarian organization World Vision ( www.worldvision.org).  World Vision provides assistance to approximately 100 million people in nearly 100 countries by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.
 
About Third Day:
Over the past decade, the Atlanta-based, multi-Platinum rock band Third Day (made up of members Mac Powell, Tai Anderson, David Carr and Mark Lee) has racked up 27 No. 1 radio singles and sold more than 7 million albums which reflect an impressive 2 RIAA Platinum and 8 Gold Certifications. A recent Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee (2009), Third Day has garnered 24 career GMA Dove Awards from 42 nominations, 4 GRAMMY Awards (with 11 career nominations), an American Music Award (with 3 American Music Award nominations) and multiple ASCAP honors for songwriting. As a credit to its songwriting, Third Day’s memorable “Call My Name,” off its Revelation project, was selected by country star Keith Urban as a bonus track on his Defying Gravity project.

As a top-ranked touring band, according to Pollstar magazine, Third Day has played for audiences reaching into the millions. The band recently wrapped up the 2010 Make A Difference Tour, one of the year’s largest Christian concert tours, co-headlining with fellow artists Michael W. Smith, TobyMac and author Max Lucado. Because of its mass appeal, Third Day has been featured by top media outlets including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (NBC), “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” (CBS), “60 Minutes” (CBS), ABC’s “Nightline,” USA Today, the New York Times, and even graced the cover of Billboard magazine, which called Third Day “one of the best rock bands.” For additional information about Third Day please visit www.ThirdDay.com.
 
THIRD DAY / MAKE YOUR MOVE TOUR – SPRING 2011
* More dates to be added.  All dates are subject to change without notice. 
FEBRUARY
2/18              Mercedes, TX                           RGV Livestock Show Grounds
2/19              Longview, TX                           S.E. Belcher Performance Hall
 
MARCH
3/10              Indianapolis, IN                        Northview Church
3/11              Brookfield, WI                         Elmbrook Church
3/12              Davenport, IA                          Adler Theater
3/13              Grand Rapids, MI                    Sunshine Community Church
3/18              Bossier City, LA                       First Baptist  Church
3/19              Grand Prairie, TX                     Verizon Theater
3/20              Joplin, MO                               Joplin Memorial Hall
3/24              Beaver Falls, PA                       Geneva College
3/25              Grove City, OH                        Grove City Church
3/26              Johnstown, PA                         War Memorial Arena
3/27              Charleston, WV                       Charleston Civic Center
3/31              Johnson City, TN                      Freedom Hall
 
APRIL
4/1                Fairfax, VA                               Patriot Center
4/14              Memphis, TN                            Hope Church
4/15              Knoxville, TN                            Knoxville Coliseum
4/16              Greenville, SC                           TBA
4/17              Macon, GA                               Centerplex
4/28              Valparaiso, IN                          Valparaiso Nazarene Church
4/29              Chicago, IL                               Life Changers
4/30              Greenville, IL                            Agape Festival
 
MAY
5/1                Kansas City, MO                    First Baptist Church
5/4                Salem, VA                              Salem Civic Center
5/5                Louisville, KY                         TBA
5/6                Cincinnati, OH                        Landmark Church
5/7                Akron, OH                             Akron Baptist Church
5/12              Chattanooga, TN                    Memorial Auditorium
5/13              Greensboro, NC                     Special Events Center
5/14              Nashville, TN                          Ryman Auditorium
5/19              Jacksonville, FL                      Veterans Memorial Arena
5/20              Ft. Myers, FL                         Germain Arena
5/21              West Palm Beach, FL             Cruzan Amphitheater
 
For the most up-to-date tour information, please visit www.ThirdDay.com.

Source: CMSpin

Dr. Butch Varner is pastor and his lovely wife, are passionate about service, and serving God.  As a J103 Church partner, you can hear their devotionals on the air.  You are encouraged to visit The Pointe, Sunday’s at 10am for coffee and worship at 10:30am and also on Wednesday’s at 7:00.  You can find out more about The Pointe at www.hamiltonpointechurch.com.

 

Stephanie Smith Releases Christmas Digital Single ‘I Celebrate The Day’ Thru Online Stores
 
Amazon.com is giving a special Christmas gift to music lovers everywhere.  To help celebrate the holiday season, as they have added Gotee Record’s holiday compilation ‘Tis the Season To Be Gotee’ to their music promotion, offering the project for the low price of $5 for the entire month of December.   
 
Gotee has long been known for their past Christmas projects for individual artists, however ‘Tis The Season To Be Gotee is the first full length holiday compilation that the label has created.  ‘Tis the Season To Be Gotee features artists such as Relient K, House of Heroes, Ayieshia Woods, Stephanie Smith and Abandon Kansas, each performing songs that have never before been available for purchase.
 
To coincide with this special pricing, Stephanie Smith released the single ‘I Celebrate the Day,’ yesterday on multiple digital music stores, as well as to all radio formats.  After it’s debut earlier this fall on the Gotee Records holiday compilation ‘Tis the Season to be Gotee, ‘I Celebrate the Day’ is available by itself, or in a Christmas EP that also features the young artist’s versions of the songs ‘O Holy Night’ and ‘Jingle Bell Rock.’  Originally penned and recorded by Relient K, ‘I Celebrate the Day’ truly encompasses the spirit of this most cherished of seasons.
 
Stephanie Smith began performing the song during TobyMac’s Winter Wonder Slam tour in 2009.  Due to the overwhelming response, Gotee Records quickly knew they needed to record the song and add it to this special Christmas project.  Mark Lee Townsend who produced the Relient K version of the song, was enlisted to be a part of the recording as well, so not only does the project keep the original spirit of the song, it takes on a whole new flavor with Stephanie’s unique approach and style.
 
The song “I Celebrate the Day” is currently being added to stations in multiple formats across the country, just as many stations turn primarily to Christmas music after the Thanksgiving holiday.
 
‘Tis The Season To Be Gotee
1. Relient K - Silver Bells
2. House of Heroes - All I Want For Christmas Is You
3. Ayiesha Woods - Jingle Bells
4. Abandon Kansas - O Come All Ye Faithful
5. House of Heroes - Silent Night
6. Stephanie Smith - I Celebrate the Day
7. Ayiesha Woods - Merry Christmas Baby
8. Stephanie Smith - Jingle Bell Rock
9. Relient K - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
10. House of Heroes - O Come, O Come Emmanuel
11. Relient K - O Holy Night
 
See the ‘Tis the Season To Be Gotee album cover here - http://media.gotee.com/%27TisTheSeason/TisTheSeason-Cover.jpeg
 
‘Tis the Season To Be Gotee, available at digital and Christian Retail Outlets exclusively.
 
The Amazon.com holiday music promotion can be found here: http://amzn.to/tisgotee
 
The link to purchase the project on iTunes can be found here: http://bit.ly/tisitunes
 
“I Celebrate the Day”, single and EP, available today at online digital outlets.
 
Gotee.com

Source: CMSpin

 

Five-time Grammy ® Award winner and multi-platinum selling artist TobyMac is embracing the holiday season with his first Christmas song in 8 years in the brand new track “Christmas This Year.”

Available now and exclusively at iTunes®, “Christmas This Year” features one of TobyMac’s favorite vocalists, Sixpence None The Richer’s Leigh Nash, and hit Christian AC and CHR radio this week with a phenomenal response:

Carmen Brown of Tampa’s JoyFM remarked, "Already a listener favorite, you don't lose new Toby when you play ‘Christmas This Year!’  It is the best of all worlds; Toby and a Toby-esque Christmas song."

Talking about the season and what it was like making the song, TobyMac said, "Christmas is the most celebrated time of the year for my family.   While we were recording the song , we had a week-long Christmas party at my house...in JULY!!!  I wanted to write a song that captured that pure delight without missing the spirit of the season... when love came down to let us live.”

 For more information on TobyMac please visit  http://www.tobymac.com/.

Source: CMSpin 

 

Randy Phillips of Phillips, Craig & Dean recently donated $15,000 from his Texas Ranger’s fan favorite tune, “The Claw,” to Col. Dave Jones of Ft. Hood’s Phantom Trackers unit. The full proceeds from the song will go to support the families of the 400 piece squadron while they are serving in the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan for a year, and ensure that their families experience memorable times during their deployment such as celebrating Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries.

“The Claw,” written by Phillips and gospel rap artist Canton Jones, grew to fame amongst the Dallas and Fort Worth area during the Texas Rangers baseball season. Outfielder Josh Hamilton also got behind the tune as well as local television and radio stations in the area as the Rangers made their way into the World Series. Radio stations such as KLTY had Phillips on the air every week to give updates on the total amount raised, and local ESPN networks, the CBS affiliate and more also had Phillips on for interviews to promote the song.
 
When launching the sale of the song on www.dotheclaw.com, Phillips always had the intention of donating the raised funds to the military, specifically the Ft. Hood army base in his home state of Texas. “I wanted to do something noble with the funds if God chose to bless this quirky song,” explains Phillips. “Those serving at Ft. Hood and their families have such a huge place in my heart.”  Phillips also wrote “Wishing On A Christmas Star” for the holiday season with proceeds from the song benefitting the USO Wounded Warrior Program. The song is written from the perspective of military personnel being deployed during Christmas, and missing loved ones. For more information and to hear the song, visit www.operationstar1.com.
 
www.phillipscraiganddean.com
www.myspace.com/phillipscraiganddean

Source: CMSpin   

 

Multi-platinum selling band MercyMe was named America’s Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist at last night’s 2010 American Music Awards. The ceremony aired on ABC and was held at the NOKIA Theater in Los Angeles.
 
Winning by fan vote for their latest album The Generous Mr. Lovewell (INO Records), the GRAMMY ® nominated band previously took home the title in 2004. Since then, they have sold nearly 6 million records with all of their albums being certified Gold or Platinum. MercyMe has also  made appearances on The Tonight Show, CNN, Fox New Channel’s Fox & Friends, ABC News, CBS’ The Early Show, and on the pages of Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, USA Today, Billboard, and more.
 
The band thanked their fans on their blog last night saying, “It makes sense that we’d win a ‘Fan Voted’ award because you guys are amazing. Seriously we couldn’t ask for a better community that surrounds us and our music.  Thank you so much for being involved in our ministry.  We can’t thank you enough.”
 
Currently, MercyMe is wrapping up their Lovewell Live tour performing songs off their latest project The Generous Mr. Lovewell (INO Records) where they have been singing songs off the new album including their recent single “Beautiful.” “Beautiful” has been heard on radio stations across the country and is continuing to climb the radio charts taking the No. 6 spot on AC Indicator and No. 10 on AC Monitored.
 
For more information on MercyMe please visit www.mercyme.org.

Source: CMSpin   

 

One year after the release of their critically acclaimed release “Welcome to the Masquerade,” Tooth & Nail Records’ Thousand Foot Krutch celebrates their third No. 1 Rock single from the album and their 10th career Rock single with “E For Extinction,” for the past two weeks. Their CHR single “Look Away” is already climbing the charts as their third Top 20 CHR single from this album.

As their singles continue to climb, TFK has also completed a full touring schedule this fall with their headline tour “Welcome to the Masquerade” presented by Creation Festival: The Tour. 

On the heels of their headline tour and their hot singles, TFK also announces their joining the 2011 “Rock & Worship Roadshow” with MercyMe, Jars of Clay, Matt Maher and The Afters.  This tour will begin January 28th and conclude April 9th.  For tour dates and cities, visit: http://therockandworshiproadshow.com.

The past year has been a whirlwind for TFK since the release of their fifth studio album, “Welcome to the Masquerade,” which has produced three No. 1 Christian Rock singles (“Fire It Up,” “Bring Me To Life,” “E For Extinction”), two top 10 Christian CHR singles (“Forward Motion, and “Already Home”), one top 15 Active Rock single (“Fire it Up”), as well as numerous TV, film (GI Joe), gaming and sport arena placements including being featured at the Super Bowl in February as well as ESPN’s use during recent NCAA basketball games. 
 
The album was touted by media as “their best,” the “best album of its genre to be released,” and one of the “very best albums of the year.”  Thousand Foot Krutch was also recently awarded three 2010 GMA Canada Covenant Awards: Rock Song Of The Year ("Forward Motion"), Rock Album Of The Year ("Welcome To The Masquerade", and Hard Music Song Of The Year ("Bring Me To Life").

For more information on TFK visit their website ( www.thousandfootkrutch.com) MySpace (www. myspace.com/thousandfootkrutch) Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/thousandfootkrutch) and Twitter - @officialTFK. 

Source: CMSpin

 

One of Christian music’s most acclaimed singer/songwriters and platinum-selling artist Mark Schultz is hitting the road this winter to headline a Christmas tour with featured artist DOWNHERE. The “How Many Kings” Christmas Tour is sponsored by World Vision and will also feature CCM artist Alli Rogers. The 16-city tour begins in Hastings, Nebraska on December 2, running through the 19th in Greenford, OH. 

“I'm looking forward to spending my favorite season with Downhere and Alli Rogers, a group of talented musicians and artists, as we celebrate the incredible gift of Christ's birth with our favorite Christmas songs, original music and great stories,” says Schultz. “It should be a wonderful time!”

Schultz has been playing dates all across the country in support of his latest release Come Alive that delivered the back-to-back Top 10 hit singles “He Is” and “Love Has Come,” as reported on the R&R Christian AC Chart. His forthcoming single "What It Means To Be Loved" will be released to Christian radio this spring.

Lauded at No. 1 on Billboard’s “Hot Christian Adult Contemporary Songwriters” list and with nine No. 1 radio hits to date, Schultz’s celebrated career highlights include being named Christian Music Today’s Male Vocalist in 2003, his song “Back in His Arms Again” being recognized as BMI’s Christian Song of the Year in 2003, his 2005 release, Mark Schultz Live…A Night of Stories & Songs, selling RIAA certified Platinum and garnering him his first GMA Dove Award, and being featured on the national TV programs 48 Hours, CNN, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and more.

Source: CMSpin 

 

In comments today from Los Angeles, Grammy Award winning Christian singer Rebecca St. James is speaking out strongly in support of Pope Benedict XVI’s unprecedented call late last week for worldwide prayer against abortion.

An outspoken voice for pro life, the Australian born singer, now living in the U.S, has dedicated a large portion of her time this year to a series of special appearances and support events for Crisis Pregnancy Centers throughout America.  St. James' 2009 starring role in the film, Sarah’s Choice, impacted audiences with her moving portrayal of a young career woman pregnant outside of marriage and faced with the decision of the life of her baby.  Since its release the movie has been used by CPC Center’s nationally in their pro life messaging to young women facing the real life issues presented in the film.

Of the Pope’s worldwide call to prayer for the unborn on November 27th, Ms. St. James believes it’s an urgent mandate for life that she hopes will cross all denominational lines.

“I applaud Pope Benedict for this call to pray for abortion to end,”  she notes, adding: “I applaud him  also for standing for life with strength, as he continually does, and I respect him and stand with him in this battle against abortion.  Abortion not only steals life from an innocent child, but it invariably wounds the mother.”

She urges those of all denominations to come together in support of the unborn.  Noted Ms. St. James, “I dearly hope and pray that Protestants and Catholics alike will draw together in unity, especially as it pertains to protecting life.  I, as a Protestant, have been able to partner with many Catholics to promote the pro life message together.  It’s a true joy for me to do this.”

With  international sales of her music and books taking her influence to audiences worldwide, Rebecca St. James performed for Pope John Paul II during his pastoral visit to America in1999. 

She will be in New York next week for a return guesting on the Fox News Network’s “Hannity.”

Resource Rebecca St. James online:

www.myspace.com/rebeccastjames

Source: CMSpin   

 

America has heard her on MTV’s The Hills and NBC’s The Biggest Loser, and this week Sparrow recording artist Britt Nicole is debuting her brand new music video, “Headphones” on iTunes ® http://is.gd/gS9B1. After just 24 hours of being release, it skyrocketed to No. 1 on the Christian & Gospel iTunes®“ video chart. Headphones” can be heard on her critically acclaimed sophomore album The Lost Get Found in addition to a new studio version on her latest project Acoustic, released this past summer.

Fans can also watch “Headphones,” directed by Wes Edwards and produced by Brittany Hailes with Ruckus Films, on Hearitfirst.com and CCM starting November 16, while Gospel Music Channel will host the television premiere of the video on November 19. In the song, Britt encourages boys and girls of all ages to not conform to what society tells them to be, but to be true to who they are. The song is a fun anthem for anyone who wants to escape reality for a few moments and be encouraged to know they are loved and in turn, share that love with others.
 
Britt’s “The Lost Get Found” video, directed by Steve Hoover and produced by Danny Yourd with Endeavor Media, has been nominated for Gospel Music Channel’s video of the year. Fans may vote for their favorite video once per day at http://www.gmclife.com/vote. The fans' votes will narrow down the list to the Top 10 Videos of 2010, which will be revealed in December on the Top Spin 10 Countdown special edition.
 
In other news, the singer/songwriter was recently honored with her first ASCAP award for the most played songs on The Lost Get Found. Produced by Robert Marvin (Mat Kearney, tobyMac) and Dan Muckala (Brandon Heath, Backstreet Boys), The Lost Get Found (2009) debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart, No. 62 on the Billboard 200, went straight to No. 1 on iTunes’ Christian/Gospel Top Albums chart, and peaked in the Top 10 on iTunes Top 100 albums chart. The album’s lead single, “The Lost Get Found,” rocketed to No. 1 on the Radio & Records CHR chart, spending eight consecutive weeks in the top position while climbing to No. 1 on iTunes’ Christian/Gospel Top Songs chart as well.
 
Britt is currently wrapping up the “Fly Me To The Show” tour with Hawk Nelson and will be and will be embarking on the 2011 Revolve tour entitled Dream On, accompanied by friends Group 1 Crew, Hawk Nelson, Jenna Lucado Bishop and more as they travel around the country performing for teens and encouraging them in their walk with Christ. For additional information please visit RevolveTour.com.
 
For more information on Britt Nicole and a full list of tour dates please go http://www.brittnicole.com .

Source: CMSpin

 

On the heels of releasing their third studio album, Today, 33Miles will be releasing their first, full-length Christmas record titled Believe. The Christmas CD will be sold separately at all digital retailers, and will also be available in stores with purchase of their latest recording Today.
 
"Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year,” explains 33Miles’ Jason Barton. “Chris and I have both wanted to make a Christmas record since childhood."
 
The ten track album features holiday classics such as “Joy to the World” and “O Holy Night” alongside original tunes including “Finally Christmas.” Believe was available last year exclusively at Family Christian Stores during the holiday season. “O Come All Ye Faithful (Sing to the King)” and “I Believe In Christmas” will be released to radio for the Christmas season.
 
“’O Come All Ye Faithful’ is such a glorious reminder to Christians that this season is a celebration of Christ.  It’s not about presents, music, holiday movies, or anything else,” says 33Miles’ Chris Lockwood. “It's about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  More than ever, Christians need to rally and show the true meaning of Christmas, which is the selfless love of our Savior.”
 
"'I Believe In Christmas' is a declaration/prayer for those who have lost hope due to the hard circumstances that life throws at us,” adds Barton. “Christmas is hope and that hope is Jesus Christ!”
 
33Miles will also be embarking on a tour throughout the holiday season. “The Believe Tour” will partner with local churches to allow choirs and worship teams to open the show. The tour is slated to visit 10-12 cities in December. Visit 33Milesonline.com for a full list of tour dates and details.
 
33Miles’ Today released on Oct. 5 and was produced by Ian Eskelin (Francesca Battistelli, Stellar Kart) and Nathan Nockels (Passion, Phillips, Craig & Dean). Today features 10 new songs with an overarching theme of encouraging listeners to make the most of their present time. The band is currently on the “Today Tour” through mid-November with JJ Heller.
 
33Miles is comprised of Jason Barton and Chris Lockwood.  The band has received multiple GMA Dove Award nominations, including one for “New Artist of the Year” for their self-titled debut.  They have released three albums with INO Records to date: a self-titled debut, One Life and their most recent, Today.  The band also unveiled a Christmas project which released nationally this fall. 33Miles’ aggressive touring schedule includes nearly 150 dates a year, many with long time sponsors and ministry partners Food for the Hungry.
 
www.33milesonline.com
www.myspace.com/33miles
www.facebook.com/33miles

 

Tooth & Nail Records / BEC Recordings’ Hawk Nelson has just finished their fifth studio release, “Crazy Love,” set to release on February 8, 2011. Produced with Ian Eskelin  (All Star United, Francesca Battistelli, Starfield), “Crazy Love” is already generating a buzz among fans. Last week, more than 20,000 fans downloaded a free new track, “Skeleton,” in just four days. Hawk Nelson promises fans that this new release will be a combination of punk rock and new styles.

“We’re very excited about our new record. It's got some old-school punk rock feel to it, as well as some songs my mom would appreciate,” shares frontman Jason Dunn. “Overall it is one of our most well rounded albums dealing with truth.”

Along with the “truth” theme, Hawk Nelson wants to encourage fans to love like crazy as stated in the debut radio single and title track. Similar to their last album’s plea to Live Life Loud, this band is about giving a call to action for their fans. 

“Part of this truth talk is us growing older and wanting to sing about what's real to us,” states bassist Daniel Biro. “The truth topics make ‘Crazy Love’ the most different from past records; we are definitely more overt about faith this time. We're not scared about the truth in our lives, and it's satisfying to be real like that.”

In addition to “Crazy Love,” Hawk Nelson will also be releasing “The Light Sides,” acoustic/stripped down versions of their hit songs from their four previous albums.  "The Light Sides" will not be available separately.  It will only be available with the purchase of "Crazy Love" as a 2 disc set. Fans can pre-order their copy of “Crazy Love” + "The Light Sides" online here:  here.

Hawk Nelson just finished their fall headline tour “Fly Me To The Show,” which was an overwhelming success.  JesusFreakHideout.com raved about the tour saying, “Fly Me To The Tour is definitely a highlight among the Fall 2010 tours, and one that fans of any of the acts on the billing shouldn't miss! And if you're unfamiliar with some or all of these acts, fans of pop rock and power pop would especially enjoy this fun evening of music, entertainment, and spiritual inspiration.” Stay tuned for Spring 2011 touring information for Hawk Nelson.

For more information on the band, visit www.hawknelson.com, follow the band on Twitter at @ HawkNelson and communicate with other fans on Twitter using the hashtag: #crazylove.

Crazy Love Track Listing:
1. Tally-Ho
2. Your Love Is A Mystery
3. Crazy Love
4. My Next Breath
5. We're Alright
6. Skeleton
7. We Can Change The World
8. One Shot
9. Fraud
10. Joanna
11. LAX
12. Done Holding On
13. Thanks For The Beautiful Memories

The Light Sides Track Listing:
1. California (Acoustic)
2. Friend Like That (Acoustic)
3. Zero (Acoustic)
4. Stagefright (Acoustic)
5. First Time (Acoustic)
6. You Have What I Need (Acoustic)
7. Everything You Ever Wanted (Acoustic)
8. Head On Collision (Acoustic)
9. Long Ago (Acoustic)
10. Take Me (Acoustic)
11. 36 Days (Acoustic)

Source: CMSpin   

 

August’s debut single tops both the Christian AC Monitored Chart and the National Christian Audience Chart this week
 
The stars are aligning for Fervent Records' hot debut artist Chris August whose smash single “Starry Night” secured the No. 1 spot on both the Christian AC Monitored Chart and the National Christian Audience Chart this week, making the song the most played single in the Christian format, reaching over 7.5 million fans. Not to mention, August is the first new artist to reach No. 1 at Christian AC Monitored with a debut single in over three years. "Starry Night" has been in the Top 10 for the past 13 consecutive weeks on the Christian Soundscan digital tracks, selling well over 70,000 digital singles to date. “Starry Night” is from August’s debut album No Far Away, which is proving to be one of the highest selling new artist releases this year in the genre.
 
With Christian radio and fans going starry-eyed over Chris August, the positive buzz keeps coming in.
 
“This is a new artist with intense staying power. Someday we’ll all be saying ‘remember when?’ ”
-Sarah Taylor, KCMS

“Chris August has the amazing ability to write songs that not only do you hum along to but impacts you in a deep and meaningful way. Starry Night has connected with our audience in this way from the very beginning.” -Ben Milton, WGTS

“Starry Night has been one of those special songs that come along seemingly out of nowhere and connect deeply with our target audience, the song has tested awesome from the first test and continues to do so.”
-Kris Love, WYLV and WDLF

"There are so many singer/songwriter out there.... here comes one that can finally deliver.”
-Corey Mann, LESEA Broadcasting
 
Currently, August is playing shows all across the country in support of the new album and is gearing up to join multi-platinum group Point Of Grace on their upcoming 2010 “Home For The Holidays” Christmas tour and then will join the highly anticipated Winter Jam 2011 Tour.

While he may be considered a "new" artist, Fervent Records' newly signed singer-songwriter Chris August is anything but a rookie in the music industry. The self-taught pianist, guitarist, and producer previously toured as the keyboard player and opening act for pop sensation Ashlee Simpson and worked with Ryan Cabrera, Brian McKnight and Jessica Simpson before shifting his focus to his solo career. Chris, a native of Dallas, Texas, put his refined skill set to work when he co-produced his debut record with acclaimed producer Ed Cash. While he is not one to shy away from writing about his faith, Chris isn't afraid to embrace relationships and heartache in his songwriting. Chris cites influences such as Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, and Gavin DeGraw who all contributed to the polished pop/rock sound that is sure to resonate with all who listen.

For additional information, please log on to: www.chrisaugustmusic.com, www.myspace.com/chrisaugustmusic or www.twitter.com/ChrisAugust
 
About Word Entertainment
A leader in the music industry for 59 years, Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, is a unique, comprehensive entertainment company comprised of multi-faceted artist service departments including publishing, merchandising, booking, and online initiatives. Word Entertainment represents some of the top names and brands in music, including Point Of Grace, BarlowGirl, Francesca Battistelli, Group 1 Crew, Sidewalk Prophets, Chris August, Mark Schultz and Big Daddy Weave and is home to Word Distribution, Word Print, The Breen Agency, Word Music Publishing and Word Label Group’s Word Records, Fervent Records and Myrrh Records.

Source: CMSpin 

 

With nine No. 1 radio singles, three GRAMMY nominations, 16 Dove Awards, a platinum and two gold albums to his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known and influential artists in contemporary Christian music. On November 16th, on the heels of celebrating the RIAA Gold Status of 2008s HELLO LOVE,  Tomlin will deliver his seventh recording for sixstepsrecords, "AND IF OUR GOD IS FOR US... ". The album's first single, "I Will Follow," is already Top 10 on Christian AC.

For the first time in his career, Tomlin recorded at his home base outside Atlanta, where he recently renovated a cabin into a studio next to his house.   This made the recording process much more personal for Tomlin as he created eleven worshipful and powerful tracks, once again partnering with the legendary Ed Cash (Matthew West, Bebo Norman, David Crowder*Band) as well as exploring new musical avenues with Dan Muckala (Amy Grant, MercyMe, The Afters).

As many will realize, the title comes from Tomlin's #1 song from the PASSION: AWAKENING live CD, "Our God," and as Tomlin explains, the title is one that wasn't his first choice, but kept coming back to him.  "For the longest time I had a different title for the album, but at the end of the day, I really came back to 'And if Our God is for Us.' I just love that statement. It's just so strong.  Every night in concert when we get to the part of the song where we sing 'if our God is for us,' it's amazing to see what happens, to see so many people rise up in that statement.  If you really believe in God, you know that everything is possible. Anything can happen. Miracles can happen. All things are available to you no matter what you're going through, no matter what you're facing, no matter what is coming against you. Life comes against all of us but you know God is for you. That's straight from the scripture. It's not just my thought. It's not just my idea or opinion. The scripture tell us 'if God is for you then who can be against you.' I love the hope that is in that statement. I think when people see that in the stores and they pick it up or they see it online, hopefully it just instantly takes them to that idea--'God is for me today!'"

sixstepsrecords, EMI Christian Music Group and EMI Christian Music Publishing recently  honored Tomlin for HELLO LOVE's Gold certification at his studio in Atlanta and treated select radio, retail and media VIPs to a sneak preview of "AND IF OUR GOD IS FOR US...".

Touring throughout the country this fall, Tomlin will hit numerous U.S. cities with fellow sixstepsrecords' NEW artist Kristian Stanfill and will also play in Vancouver for the Passion World Tour.  This Christmas season he will once again tour GLORY IN THE HIGHEST with Passion Movement and sixstepsrecords' founder Louie Giglio on several dates in December, and then in the spring will begin the nationwide "AND IF OUR GOD IS FOR US… Tour," featuring Louie Giglio, Christy Nockels and others.   For tour dates and more, please visit http://www.christomlin.com.

Source: CMSpin

 

Multi-platinum selling band MercyMe garners their third American Music Award nomination for Favorite Artist in Contemporary Inspirational Category. Previously winning the title in 2004, MercyMe is one of three nominees in the genre. Produced by dick clark productions, the live broadcast will take place at the NOKIA Theater L.A. on Sunday, November 21 at 8pm (EST/PST) on ABC.
 
For the fourth year, winners will be determined by online voting at the official Coca-Cola voting location www.amavote.com as well as ama.abc.com. Artists will be honored in the categories of Pop/Rock, Country, Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul/R&B, Alternative, Adult Contemporary, Latin, Soundtracks and Contemporary Inspirational.  Fans can go to the official homepage of the "2010 American Music Awards," ama.abc.com, to find performer and presenter announcements, artist information, and more. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com or fans can call 1-877-AEG-TICKETS.
 
MercyMe’s success continues to blossom as the band is performing to packed out houses on their Lovewell Live tour performing songs off their latest project The Generous Mr. Lovewell (INO Records) which debuted last spring at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top 200 selling over 80,000 units its first week. The project's debut single “All of Creation” held the No. 1 spot for multiple weeks after its launch, while their current single “Beautiful” is climbing several charts, presently at No. 17 on Billboard’s Christian AC Chart, after landing in the Top 10 at Soft AC/Inspo as well as the Top 10 on iTunes ® Christian Singles Sales Chart.
 
Additionally, the Grammy nominated band made history this year as their mega hit “I Can Only Imagine” surpassed 1 million digital downloads, making it the first song in Christian music to go platinum in the digital domain. They also have been seen on The Tonight Show, CNN, Fox New Channel’s Fox & Friends, ABC News, CBS’ The Early Show, and on the pages of Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, USA Today, Billboard, and more.
 
For more information on MercyMe please visit www.mercyme.org.

Source: CMSpin

 

Multi-Platinum, GRAMMY winning artist Casting Crowns is once again tapped as a “Favorite Artist” nominee for the 2010 American Music Awards® (AMAs) in the Contemporary Inspirational category, as announced this week during a press conference from the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE. Casting Crowns won the AMA Inspirational category in 2007. This is the band’s fifth career AMA nomination.
 
The live broadcast of the 38th annual AMAs will take place at the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21st (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on ABC. For the fourth year in a row, winners will be determined by fan online voting at amavote.com. Voting is now open and closes on Friday, November 12, 2010.

The 38th Annual American Music Awards will be hosted by N’Sync alum Lance Bass, and feature a star-studded lineup of music’s top artists and acts, including performances by Bon Jovi, P!nk and Usher. The 2010 American Music Awards, produced Larry Klein and executive-produced by Orly Adelson, will honor artists in the categories of Pop/Rock, Country, Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul/R&B, Alternative, Adult Contemporary, Latin and Contemporary Inspirational.
 
Christian music’s GRAMMY, AMA and Dove Award-winning Artist of the Year, Casting Crowns is headed by frontman/principal songwriter Mark Hall. The Platinum-selling band’s fourth album, Until the Whole World Hears, sold 167,000 copies first-week, setting a sales record as the highest debuting Christian music artist in SoundScan history (week ending 11/22/09). The album certified RIAA Gold in four weeks, with more than 600,000 sold to date. The band’s career sales exceed 5.2 million.
 
Casting Crowns recently released its newest project, Until the Whole World Hears LIVE, a DVD/CD combo package featuring live concert video, 80 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage, a Mark Hall-led teaching video series and more. The band continues to tour in support of Until the Whole World Hears, with dates in the US through fall 2010, and appearances “across the pond” in Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Norway and Germany scheduled for November. The band’s tours are responsible for uniting more than 50,000 children with sponsors through humanitarian outfit World Vision.
 
About Casting Crowns:
All of Atlanta-based Casting Crowns’ projects are RIAA certified, with a tally of three RIAA Platinum Albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, two RIAA Gold Albums and a Gold DVD, holding position as Billboard’s top-selling act in Christian music since 2007. Despite an unprecedented six-year career with Casting Crowns, the seven band members remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta area and tour part-time around their local church duties. Serving his 18th year in youth ministry, lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall is the student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta. As a testament to the band’s impact, Casting Crowns performed for a second time in North Korea in April 2009, in partnership with Global Resource Services, as the band continues to forge invaluable relationships with the people in the D.P.R.K.

For more information, visit www.providentpress.com, or www.castingcrowns.com.
Follow the band on Mark Hall’s Twitter at: http://twitter.com/markhallCC.

Source: CMSpin 

 

Breakout Urban sensation and Fervent Records’ Group 1 Crew’s (Blanca, Manwell and Pablo) new album Outta Space Love is proving to be an out-of-this-world-hit as it launches in at No. 1 on SoundScan’s Christian/Gospel Digital Album chart, No. 2 on the Christian Adult Contemporary Album chart and No. 4 overall on the Contemporary Christian Album chart. Last week, their song “Live It Up” was featured as iTunes’ “Single of the Week” and their album Outta Space Love was featured as AmazonMP3's Deal of the Day on release date. Group 1 Crew is currently on the road for a 28-city tour with Fireflight, wrapping-up on November 6 in Miami, FL. The band will re-join the Revolve Tour in January 2011.
 
“We're so thankful that we were able to hit No. 1 for the first week it was truly humbling,” Manwell said. “We only hope to remain a constant in people lives and a presence on iTunes for weeks to come!”
 
Produced by Andy Anderson, David Garcia and Chris Stevens, Outta Space Love is comprised of 12 infectious, fresh songs with unforgettable hooks that showcase the trio’s urban grooves and Hip-Hop sensibilities. The album includes the band’s current Top 5 single, “Walking On the Stars.” The band’s music has also received success through various television placements which include their songs, “Live It Up,” which was featured by the Studio One Young Beast Society dance group on the hit show America’s Got Talent and “Breakdown,” which was featured in promotional spots for E! Television Network’s Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami all summer.
 
Group 1 Crew has become one of the leading Hip-Hop focused acts in the Christian music scene, having several hit singles, such as “Movin’” and “Keys To The Kingdom,” both of which broke into the Top 5 on Billboard’s Christian CHR Charts. They have won two Dove Awards in the Rap/Hip-Hop Album Of The Year category consecutively in 2007 and 2008, and recently won in the Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song category with “Movin.” Group 1 Crew has previously had their music featured in a variety of popular television shows, including FOX Television’s “The Simple Life,” Style Network’s “Kimora Lee Simmons: Life in the Fab Lane,” MTV’s “Run’s House,” and The CW’s “One Tree Hill.”
 
For more information about Group 1 Crew, visit www.group1crew.com or www.wordlabelgroup.com.

 

Recently receiving his second Double Platinum and 7th Platinum RIAA certifications (Worship and Worship Again, respectively), industry leading recording artist Michael W. Smith releases his 22nd career project Wonder today, Sept. 28.
 
The anticipated 12-song collection is garnering attention from national media outlets including the Associated Press, Billboard magazine, FoxNews.com, SiriusXM, FOX NEWS Radio, Charisma magazine, The Baptist Press, Christian Retailing and is the subject of CCM Magazine's October cover story.
 
To top it off, Michael will spend Wonder’s street week in New York City doing radio and television interviews. Today, Smith will be a featured guest on FOX News Channel’s highly rated “HANNITY” show as part of Sean Hannity’s “Great American Panel” (9:00 PM EST). The following morning he will be a featured performer during the 8:30 AM EST segment of “FOX & Friends." Check local listings for airtimes in your area.
 
For more information on Michael W. Smith, including up-to-date tour information and exclusive story-behind-the-song video clips, please visit www.michaelwsmith.com.

 

Fans jump with both feet into Ocean, the newest release from acclaimed singer/songwriter Bebo Norman.  This album has already been touted as his “finest effort” and one of the “top overall album(s) of 2010.” Ocean explores the theme of finding one’s real identity - where we find it, who we are, and where we draw life from. 

“I’m given the opportunity to create records that become sort of like a topographical map of all my past experiences,” says Norman.  “And today I’m happily married with two boys that I love. Still, I find myself looking up and asking, ‘Who am I outside of music and beyond being a husband and father? How do I hide myself in who Christ is rather than relying on my own identity in the real world?’ Every song on Ocean speaks to that idea.”
 
To celebrate his seventh studio project, Bebo Norman will be on HearItFirst next Tuesday, October 5th at 8/7 PM Central.  He’ll be performing songs live from Ocean as well as answering fan questions.  Tune in next week at http://www.hearitfirst.com/live .

Here are some media highlights praising Ocean:

“Going deeper than a feel-good album, Ocean beckons you into the depths of God's love.”
- CBNMusic

“Bebo Norman puts words to unspoken emotions on Ocean …Norman is an expert word-painter, and the visuals on Ocean are extremely vivid. For those who appreciate a good turn of phrase and are drawn to the artistic, Norman's latest is a must.”
- Crosswalk.com

“Bebo inspires a new way to think about our personal relationships both with God and our loved ones through the songs on Ocean.  His lyrics display a sense of honesty and faithfulness in the midst of confusion and challenge the listener to stretch out of his or her comfort zone to get lost in the Lord.  This is definitely his best album yet!”
- Hearitfirst

“(Ocean) does bring back his signature lyricism.”
- JesusFreakHideout.com

“Ocean is full of poetic, folk-rock gems, but don't miss the Brandon Heath collaboration ‘Here Goes.’”
- Real Rhapsody

“Norman separates himself from many in the Christian worship pack with his soft musical tone....And with Ocean, Norman has earned our respect, which then makes us want to participate in his worship.” 
- Soul-Audio.com

Bebo Norman has recently spent time with Relevant Magazine in their new studios performing “Here Goes” and “The Middle,” which can be heard on this week’s podcast.  He also interviews with NewReleaseTuesday.com podcast, Charisma magazine podcast each available on their respected sites.
 
Follow Bebo’s journey on Twitter @bebonorman as well as his blog http://www.bebonorman.com with song descriptions and stories from Ocean.

 

"Light Up The Sky” Aggressively Climbing Billboard Christian Radio Charts
 
The Afters To Embark on “Hungry For Love Tour” This Fall with Leeland and Sanctus Real
 
Produced by Dan Muckala (MercyMe, Brandon Heath, Amy Grant), The Afters’ 10 track CD has a comprehensive theme of rebirth and a fresh start streaming throughout the lyrics of the record. The topic of new beginnings was something very natural for The Afters whom after going through a season of loss with the passing of their former manager, and even the loss of drummer Jordan Mohilowski’s best friend, started a new chapter with the added additions of a new bassist and drummer to their line-up.
 
“I think the direction of this album reflects where we are in life,” explains The Afters’ guitarist Matt Fuqua. “I celebrated my 10th wedding anniversary this year and so did Josh. As we get older I think we are seeing that what is truly important to us is God, family and our relationships. I think that is reflected in this album because that is where we are spiritually speaking.”
 
Sonically, the band’s pop sound continues to evolve and grow with Light Up the Sky. “We spent a lot of time working on building the soundscapes for this record. We experimented with mic placements...even placing mics throughout long hallways outside the studio rooms and in our producer’s garage to capture ambient sounds,” addresses lead singer Josh Havens. “There are a lot of textures and subtleties that the listener might not notice until they've listened a few times.  I think both musically and lyrically it is instantly accessible and yet has deeper layers for those wanting to find them. It's artful pop.” Light Up the Sky finds Havens and Fuqua writing alongside Muckala as well as Jason Ingram, Brandon Heath and Nate Campany (Brandon Heath, The Click Five).
 
The first single from the album “Light Up the Sky,” which is already No. 2 at Billboard Christian CHR and top 10 at AC, is a reminder of the steadiness of God’s faithfulness. The Afters have trekked across the US this summer in support of the single, making stops at KCMS (Seattle), Joy FM (St. Louis), K-LOVE/Air 1 and more (photos below). The song was also used in the final season of MTV’s hit show “The Hills” earlier this summer. Other songs of interest on the record include the sonically aggressive “ We Won’t Give Up,” the praise-filled “Lift Me Up,” encouraging “Runaway” and “Start Over,” which continues with the overriding theme of rebirth.
 
The Afters are teaming up with Leeland and Sanctus Real for the “Hungry For Love Tour” this fall. Sponsored by Food for the Hungry, the “Hungry For Love Tour” will help raise awareness for the goal’s of bringing relief and aid to twenty-six of the most impoverished countries in the world. The tour will be making stops in 23 cities across the U.S. starting Oct. 9 through Nov. 22. For the most up to date concert listings, visit http://hungryforlovetour.com/.
 
Texas-based band The Afters were propelled into the national spotlight with their INO/Sony Music Label Group debut I Wish We All Could Win. The project spawned the swirling, melodic hit “Beautiful Love,” earning the band an enthusiastic following when the song was selected as the theme track for MTV’s “8th and Ocean”.  “Beautiful Love” was also the most downloaded track of 2006 on the iTunes ® Inspirational charts and garnered the band an mtvU award as well. The Afters’ sophomore release Never Going Back To OK (INO/Columbia Records) debuted in the Top 50 on the Billboard Top 200, and proved to be sensation on the silver screen with “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC), “Dr. Phil,” “Army Wives” (Lifetime) and “Rachael Ray.” A slew of media including Rolling Stone, Seventeen.com, E! News Live, TV Guide, Premiere Radio and more also picked up on covering The Afters’ earlier releases as well.

Source: CMSpin

 

Fervent Records’ GRAMMY-nominated artist and reigning Dove Awards Female Vocalist of the Year Francesca Battistelli is on top of the world right now with her debut album My Paper Heart topping the overall Christian/Gospel Album Chart for four weeks in a row, making her the highest selling female artist in the genre in five years. This album features the hit singles “Beautiful Beautiful,” “I’m Letting Go,” “It’s Your Life” and the record-breaking smash hit “Free To Be Me” that held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Christian/AC Radio chart for 10 consecutive weeks. Not to mention, all four singles have sold well over 100K digital downloads each with “Free To Be Me” already nearing 300k downloads. In addition to all of these phenomenal milestones, Francesca and husband Matt are expecting the birth of their first child in October.
 
“I’m so incredibly thankful to my fans and Christian radio for all of these unbelievable blessings that I have cherished this year,” said Battistelli. “Without your support, none of this would be possible. It's amazing to see what God has done in such a short time. Thank you!”
 
And, all of the support has definitely paid off for Battistelli. Released in 2008, her album has had the longest run to No. 1 for a female artist in Billboard Christian Album Chart history, a testament to her continually growing fan base and infectious pop soul sound that has been featured on such popular TV shows as ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition, NBC’s The Biggest Loser, FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance and MTV’s The Hills. Luckily, fans will not need to wait much longer for new music. Battistelli is currently in the studio writing and recording for her much anticipated sophomore album, expected to release early next year.
 
For additional information on Francesca Battistelli please visit, www.francescamusic.com

Source: CMSpin

 

Tooth & Nail Records / BEC Recordings’ Hawk Nelson announces their fall headlining tour, “Fly Me To The Show,” featuring special guests Britt Nicole, Revive, and John Reuben landing October 9th in Texas concluding November 13th in Michigan. At select shows, fans can purchase special VIP tickets that include an exclusive acoustic performance and an autographed CD and t-shirt. The Fall tour dates are posted on the newly launched site: http://flymetotheshow.com/.

Continuing to Live Life Loud, Hawk Nelson will introduce concertgoers to the Mocha Club on tour.  Mocha Club ( http://www.mochaclub.org) is an online community of people giving up the cost of two mochas a month or $7.  Hawk Nelson stands behind this organization and their initiatives for the Orphan Care + Vulnerable Children, specifically the Grace Foundation. 

The Grace Foundation aims in helping children orphaned because of accident, HIV/AIDS and natural deaths.  Currently there are 180 children being provided for with clothing, educational materials (books, pencils and pens) and money for food. These orphans live in Sunyani, Ghana and its suburbs.

“We are stoked about our fall tour and the artists that will be joining us,” shares Jason Dunn of Hawk Nelson. “We’re thrilled to be bringing Mocha Club on board for the tour - an amazing organization that is making a HUGE difference in these children’s lives. We want to do our part and host a tour with a purpose.”

Fans can sign-up to help support Hawk Nelson’s efforts with Mocha Club here.  For tour dates, Facebook profile images and banners go to: http://flymetotheshow.com/.  For more information on the band, visit http://www.hawknelson.com, follow the band on Twitter and communicate with other fans on Twitter using the hashtag: #fmtts for the tour.

Source: CMSpin

 

Georgia Music Hall of Famer (2009) Third Day has reached yet another milestone in its already illustrious career with the certification of its ninth RIAA Gold Certification marking sales of more than 500,000 copies of Revelation (7/29/2008). 
 
The album launched with a performance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, a Billboard cover feature and an American Music Award trophy.  In addition, the album yielded two GRAMMY nominations in song categories plus the live version of the album, Live Revelations: On Stage, Off Stage, Backstage, also certified Gold, took home a GRAMMY for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album earlier this year.
 
The announcement caps a productive summer for the band, as the four-man rock unit finished production, alongside producer Paul Moak, on its upcoming 11th studio release MOVE, set to release on October 19.
 
“Lift Up Your Face,” the anticipated album’s first radio single, showcases the unmistakable vocals of The Blind Boys of Alabama. The song is not only poignant but is proving its potency as well.  Already a multi-format smash, “Lift Up Your Face” is garnering undeniable attention on both the AC and CHR charts with 91 stations spinning by its Aug. 13 add date and touting the most increased spins the weeks of Aug. 9th and Aug. 16th.  
 
Already No. 12 at CHR and No. 15 at AC Monitored, the song is seeing more than 3.5 million weekly impressions and is well on its way to reaching the benchmark set by the band’s previous 27 No. 1 singles.  “Lift Up Your Face” is a song of encouragement, and beyond the early radio success, it is a small taste of an album that was written to provide hope for those in the midst of desperate times such  as these.
 
Third Day will finish the summer and enter fall performing at select major festivals throughout the country, leading to the start of the World Vision/AEG Live-sponsored “Make A Difference Tour 2010.”   The tour, which also features Michael W. Smith, tobyMac and New York Times best-selling author Max Lucado, launches September 30, and will hit arenas in 20 cities through the end of October.  (For updated tour dates please visit www.ThirdDay.com.)
 
About Third Day
Over the past decade, the Atlanta-based, multi-Platinum rock band Third Day (made up of members Mac Powell, Tai Anderson, David Carr and Mark Lee) has racked up 27 No. 1 radio singles and sold more than 7 million albums which reflect an impressive 2 RIAA Platinum and 9 Gold Certifications.  A recent Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee (2009), Third Day has garnered 24 career GMA Dove Awards from 42 nominations, 4 GRAMMY Awards (with eleven career nominations), an American Music Award (11/24/2008 during its Revelation promotional window), 3 American Music Award nominations and multiple ASCAP honors for songwriting.  As a credit to its songwriting, Third Day’s memorable “Call My Name,” off its Revelation project (7/29/08), was selected by country star Keith Urban as a bonus track on his Defying Gravity project.
 
As a top-ranked touring band, according to Pollstar magazine, Third Day has played for audiences reaching into the millions. Because of its mass appeal, Third Day has been featured by top media outlets including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (NBC), “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” (CBS), “60 Minutes” (CBS), ABC’s “Nightline,” USA Today, the New York Times, and even graced the cover of Billboard magazine (June 7, 2008). For more information on Third Day, please visit: www.ThirdDay.com.
 

Source: CMSpin 

 

GRAMMY-nominated, Dove Award-winning Sanctus Real released on Sparrow Records in March its most critically acclaimed album to date, Pieces Of A Real Heart.  The fifth studio offering from the band, the album has since gathered an ever-growing cache of musical milestones, including the No. 1 radio hit, “Forgiven,” and the band’s eighth No. 1 radio single and first-ever Billboard Adult Contemporary (AC) No. 1, “Lead Me.”  The fastest climbing AC radio song ever for the band, “Lead Me” is also No. 1 on this week’s overall Billboard Christian radio national audience chart and makes its video debut on iTunes Sept. 7.  The song is further gathering acclaim from Casting Crowns, 10th Avenue North and others, as well as the first-ever song endorsements from Focus on the Family and FamilyLife.

 “Sanctus Real's ‘Lead Me’ is a beautiful reminder for men to stand up and be the husbands and fathers God called them to be,” says Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family.  “It’s a message every dad in our culture needs to hear, and I’m glad the song is making a significant impact on the radio.”

“It’s rare to hear a song that penetrates to the depths of the soul, stirs the emotions, reveals the innermost thoughts and seeks help from the only One who has it,” says Dennis Rainey, President and Co-Founder of FamilyLife, a subsidiary of Campus Crusade for Christ International.  “‘Lead Me’ does all this and more.  It’s a relevant message for marriages and families today.  Lead Me is a timeless message that should motivate every married man to stand up and fight for his family by kneeling down to pray.”

“‘Lead Me’ is a prayer song of God’s leadership that every man needs to hear, amazing song!” adds Chris Huffman of Casting Crowns.

“‘Lead Me’ is probably the most intensely convicting and inspiring song I’ve heard on Christian radio in years,” continues Mike Donehey of 10th Avenue North.  “I literally wept the first time I heard it. Matt put words to my heart’s cry and for that I’m infinitely grateful.”

Written as a personal confession and prayer by lead vocalist Matt Hammitt, “Lead Me” is proving to be a source of hope even as he and his wife, Sarah, walk through a difficult pregnancy. Parents to Emmy and Claire, the couple is struggling to bring to term their first baby boy, Bowen Matthew Hammitt.  Bowen, which means "small victorious one," is due Sept. 3 and has been diagnosed with a serious heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS).

“Knowing Bowen is sick has brought me face to face with the sobering reality that none of us are promised tomorrow and has pulled that nagging ache, the one to make every moment count, straight to the surface of my daily life,” confesses Matt on a blog he and Sarah created to give updates on Bowen at http://bowensheart.com/.

As the Hammitts patiently wait for Bowen to be born, band guitarists Chris Rohman and Pete Prevost are embracing their new roles as first-time fathers.  With children born on the exact same day, Chris and Dominique Rohman welcomed Penelope Jane Rohman, and Pete and Melissa Prevost welcomed Bennett Elise Prevost, into their respective families Aug. 11.

Enjoying the time off from touring to spend time with their families, the band members are also gearing up to be the nightly closing band on the 22-city “Hungry for Love” tour sponsored by Food for the Hungry and featuring Leeland, The Afters and Speaker Palmer Chinchen.  The tour begins Oct. 8 in Jackson, TN and travels through 13 states before wrapping up Nov. 21 in Rogers, AR.  (See full tour itinerary below)

Popularly known for its captivating recordings and live performances, Toledo, OH-based Sanctus Real is all about living out their lives as “real” Christians, not only on the stage and as they interact with fans, but in the quieter moments of their lives as husbands, fathers and fellow believers.  The band creates compelling, authentic music that lives up to the meaning of their name: to be Holy (Latin meaning of “Sanctus”).

With eight No. 1 and six Top 5 radio hits, Sanctus Real’s 2006 breakthrough album, The Face of Love, landed at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart while the band’s most recent release, We Need Each Other, garnered the band a GRAMMY nomination.  Pieces Of A Real Heart is the result of the band maturing and growing as songwriters, musicians and individuals, while retaining its aggressive edge and incorporating a more diverse musical palette of instrumentation and themes.

For all the latest Sanctus Real news, including it tour dates, go to www.sanctusreal.com

Source: CMSpin 

 

Fervent Records recording artist and 13-time Dove Award nominated band BarlowGirl is sharing the never-before-told side of their first 10-years with fans through their new album Our Journey…So Far due out September 14.  This album candidly tells the story of these three rockin’ sisters (Alyssa, Lauren and Rebecca) musically and visually in chronological order.
 
“It feels like yesterday that we packed in the van and drove to Nashville to make our first album,” said Lauren.  Rebecca continued, “Time flies! It has been such a blessing to be able to make music, travel the world and meet all of our amazing fans.” Alyssa then chimed in, “We thought it would be fun to take a look back on our first 10 years and show you what our journey has looked and sounded like!”

Produced by Otto Price (BarlowGirl, GRITS, dcTalk), the new album is a unique collection of the band’s 15 all time favorite songs, including their chart-topping smashes “Never Alone,” “I Need You To Love Me,” “Let Go” as well as the Top 5 hits “Mirror” and “Beautiful Ending.”  As an added bonus, the package also features a 16-page booklet that dips into the Barlow family archives and reveals the history of the band through never-before-seen images.  Capturing the raw essence of the band’s journey from day one until the present, Our Journey…So Far is ultimate collection of BarlowGirl songs all in one place. And if you want to be one of the first fans to catch a glimpse of their scrapbook unveiled by the girls themselves, visit www.BarlowGirl.com today, August 25 at 5:00 PM (CST) for a special live, online chat.
 
Our Journey…So Far Track Listing:
1.      Never Alone (BarlowGirl)
2.      She Walked Away (BarlowGirl)
3.      Mirror (BarlowGirl)
4.      Surrender (BarlowGirl)
5.      Let Go (Another Journal Entry)
6.      I Need You To Love Me (Another Journal Entry)
7.      Grey (Another Journal Entry)
8.      Here’s My Life (How Can We Be Silent)
9.      One More Round (How Can We Be Silent)
10.    Million Voices (How Can We Be Silent)
11.    Hallelujah (Light Has Come) (Home For Christmas)
12.    Stay With Me (Love & War)
13.    Our Worlds Collide (Love & War)
14.    Beautiful Ending (Love & War)
15.    Come Alive (Love & War)
16.    I Need You to Love Me (FredTown Manila Remix)

BarlowGirl recently wrapped up a headlining tour with Superchick and VOTA and will be appearing at Disney’s “Night Of Joy” in September.  For additional information on upcoming shows, the band and how to pre-order Our Journey…So Far now, log on to the BarlowGirl website – www.barlowgirl.com.

Source: CMSpin   

 

With the continuous momentum of Newsboys' current CD release Born Again, a No. 1 radio hit and an extensive touring schedule, they continue their whirlwind year with the announcement of their first-ever Christmas project. Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday will release October 12th, courtesy of Inpop Records.
 
The new CD was produced by Dustin Burnett, Michael Tait, and Juan Otero of The Write Bros, half of the production team of Born Again. Comprised of six holiday classics, Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday includes "Winter Wonderland," "Jingle Bell Rock," "All I Want for Christmas is You," "O Holy Night," "The Christmas Song," and "Mary Did You Know."     
 
To help promote Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday, Newsboys will join Newsong the weekend after Thanksgiving to kick off the "Very Merry Christmas Tour 2010." This 20+city nationwide tour kicks off in North Carolina and will finish up in Georgia on December 20th. Check out the tour dates listed below to see if can help ring in the Christmas season with Newsboys at a city near you.
 
There is no question the momentum keeps continuing to escalate for Newsboys and their July 13th release of Born Again. The current single and No. 1 hit "Born Again" continues to stay high up on the charts, having a total of 7.1 million impressions to date. Following the largest street week of their careers by selling an astounding 45,311 units and hitting #4 on Billboard's overall chart, Born Again continues to keep its place on the Billboard Top 200 chart and is No. 3 on the Christian Soundscan chart, scanning more than 72,000 units in the first month of release.  

Source: CMSpin  

 

As acclaimed songstress Kerrie Roberts readies to release her self-titled debut album on Provident Label Group’s Reunion Records on Aug. 24, the project’s early hit single, “No Matter What,” breaks the Top 20 this week at No.17 on Billboard’s AC Monitored chart, and jumps to No. 12 on the CHR format. With proven strong radio support, the emotive singer’s huge soaring vocals and transparent songwriting poise her to be the next breakthrough voice in Christian music.
 
The 10 songs on her soulful-pop debut, Kerrie Roberts, include production credits for GRAMMY Award-nominated Rob Graves (Natalie Grant, Red), Dan Muckala (Brandon Heath, The Afters), Chuck Butler and four-time Grammy Award winner Brown Bannister. Roberts, who has writing credits on every song, thematically explores a thoughtful side of faith, hope and love—the acknowledgment that an authentic life of faith isn’t void of suffering, the purpose amidst pain, the promise that a breakthrough is coming, and the motivating power of God’s love.
 
“People need to know they are not alone in what they’re feeling,” Kerrie says. “I want every song to leave people with a sense of purpose—a call to action, a realization of a truth, a promotion of hope and healing.”
 
Roberts’ first performance came at the age of 5.  Growing up a pastor’s daughter, she was the youngest member of the church choir, and would stand on top of a milk crate each week to see over the choir’s partition. After learning to play piano, she wrote her first songs in high school and began performing in churches and local venues.
 
The southern Florida native has been deeply impacted by her parents counsel and love to those who were hurting. Her parents’ ministry instilled in her a desire to reach out to the broken and those searching for hope. Her music is a clear indication she has developed a passion for sharing God’s faithfulness in hardship and the unconditional love she has seen poured into her own life and the lives of others. Kerrie explained, “That’s something that resonates in me and that I love being a part of.”
 
Kerrie’s distinctive songwriting and powerful voice have already caught the attention of radio stations and listeners across the country. Mike Prendergast, Director of Programming for KLTY in Dallas, predicted Kerrie Roberts as “New Artist of the Year” saying, “She’s one of the best new acts I’ve heard in a while.”
 
Dwayne Harrison, Program Director for WRCM in Charlotte, N.C., said he expected Kerrie’s talent and song-writing to earn her a lasting place on his station. After the positive response from her single, both stations say they look forward to sharing the rest of her album with their audience. 
 
Kerrie hopes the messages in her songs will be an encouragement to those who are struggling, and an honest expression of life as a Christian, a life where God allows hardship but never abandons during these trials.
 
For more information, performance videos, and more, please visit: www.kerrieroberts.com, and www.providentpress.com.

Source: CMSpin

 

Ancient words, carried through a friend, can deliver impact and inspiration which you dare not dream. In the case of the men that make up Jars of Clay, it was an old Irish proverb, translated as “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live,” that served as the genesis point for its newest project, titled Jars of Clay Presents The Shelter.
 
Recorded and produced by the band, Jars of Clay Presents The Shelter dwells on the idea of community, both physical and spiritual, and features a litany of both songwriting and vocal guests – including Mac Powell, Matt Maher, Brandon Heath, Laura Story, Thad Cockrell, Phillip LaRue and others – making contributions to this unique set of Jars of Clay songs.
 
“Jars of Clay, historically, has been this kind of compact creative environment; we’re known for doing everything from the songwriting to the producing to the artwork,” says guitarist Matt Odmark. “This was a push in a totally different direction. We brought people in on the songwriting side of things, and we knew in the beginning that we wanted as many voices as possible in the record.
 
“We wanted to make a record about community, and we wanted the recording process to be community. We wanted it to be an expression of what it was trying to articulate from a concept standpoint,” Odmark continues. “It wasn’t going to work any other way, and it didn’t make sense to us to write a record about community that was just us talking to one another.”
 
Alongside the project’s music reside very personal essays about the idea of community, gathered and curated by the members of Jars of Clay themselves. The writers – such as author David Dark, Blood:Water Mission executive director Jena Lee Nardella, Sara Groves, Nate Larkin, Anne Jackson, Jim Hancock, Padriag OTuama – have all contributed to Jars’ personal views on community, giving the listener and reader another avenue through which to explore that concept.
 
What emerges on Jars of Clay Presents The Shelter is more of Jars of Clay’s signature sonics, informed by the season of its last project The Long Fall Back To Earth but echoing all the way back to its much-heralded self-titled debut, meshed with an heretofore underexplored inclusiveness of lyric that encourages the listener to join in on the song. In short, these songs are designed to be sung aloud, with others, within the parameters of that listener’s own shelter.
 
For some, including the members of Jars of Clay, that will entail bringing them into the church
environment proper, something that hadn’t really been a purposeful part of the band’s work before.
 
“One of the things we’re excited about with this record is to offer, with humility, what we’re excited about within the church,” guitarist Stephen Mason says. “We’re all big fans of the church, we attend church, so part of the passion we want to get to the people is that, hopefully, this is the language we can use to rejuvenate the way we speak about God in terms of each other.
 
“What has been, graciously, changing us is this idea that when we look around we see God in other people and in what they’re doing. We are the hands and feet,” Mason continues. “We’re trying to find new language to describe stuff that we’re all probably in some regards cynical or bored about, because we want to believe there is life in those places.”
 
That idea of being “hands and feet,” actively working for the various communities it impacts, has long been a priority for Jars of Clay. It’s a notion that extends into the charitable realm through its foundation Blood:Water Mission, which was the beneficiary of a day-long Jars-hosted radio-thon via K-LOVE and Air 1, an effort which raised more than $800,000 for the group’s work.
 
Jars of Clay will hit the road extensively this fall, alongside two-time GMA Dove Award-winning Male Vocalist of the Year (and labelmate) Brandon Heath, and plans are underway for a multi-artist tour presenting songs from Jars of Clay Presents The Shelter scheduled for spring 2011.
 
About Jars of Clay                                 
Jars of Clay launched its breakout career with the multi-format hit “Flood” in 1995. Since then, it’s amassed more than six million in career sales (five Gold, two Platinum and one double Platinum certification), three GRAMMY Awards (from eight nominations), an American Music Award nod, six GMA Dove Awards nominations, 17 No. 1 radio hits, and numerous film credits and BMI honors for songwriting and performing.  Its GRAMMY nominated tenth album, The Long Fall Back to Earth (April 21), debuted at No. 1 on SoundScan and on October 5, Jars of Clay will release the compelling and community minded project, Jars of Clay Presents The Shelter.
 
While celebrated for its music and writing, Jars of Clay is most concerned with the needs in Africa. Compelled to make a difference, members Dan Haseltine, Stephen Mason, Matt Odmark and Charlie Lowell founded the Blood:Water Mission in early 2002. The first effort of this non-profit was the “1000 Wells Project” with a goal of raising funds to build, rebuild and repair 1,000 wells in urban and rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. This year Jars of Clay will celebrate the funding of the 1,000th well which will bring clean water to more than 150,000 people, www.bloodwatermission.com.

Source: CMSpin

 

Ancient words, carried through a friend, can deliver impact and inspiration which you dare not dream. In the case of the men that make up Jars of Clay, it was an old Irish proverb, translated as “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live,” that served as the genesis point for its newest project, titled Jars of Clay Presents The Shelter.
 
Recorded and produced by the band, Jars of Clay Presents The Shelter dwells on the idea of community, both physical and spiritual, and features a litany of both songwriting and vocal guests – including Mac Powell, Matt Maher, Brandon Heath, Laura Story, Thad Cockrell, Phillip LaRue and others – making contributions to this unique set of Jars of Clay songs.
 
“Jars of Clay, historically, has been this kind of compact creative environment; we’re known for doing everything from the songwriting to the producing to the artwork,” says guitarist Matt Odmark. “This was a push in a totally different direction. We brought people in on the songwriting side of things, and we knew in the beginning that we wanted as many voices as possible in the record.
 
“We wanted to make a record about community, and we wanted the recording process to be community. We wanted it to be an expression of what it was trying to articulate from a concept standpoint,” Odmark continues. “It wasn’t going to work any other way, and it didn’t make sense to us to write a record about community that was just us talking to one another.”
 
Alongside the project’s music reside very personal essays about the idea of community, gathered and curated by the members of Jars of Clay themselves. Friends of the band, including author David Dark, Blood:Water Mission executive director Jena Lee Nardella, Sara Groves, Nate Larkin, Anne Jackson, Jim Hancock, Padriag OTuama – have all contributed to Jars’ personal views on community, giving the listener and reader another avenue through which to explore that concept.
 
What emerges on Jars of Clay Presents The Shelter is more of Jars of Clay’s signature sonics, informed by the season of its last project The Long Fall Back To Earth but echoing all the way back to its much-heralded self-titled debut, meshed with an heretofore underexplored inclusiveness of lyric that encourages the listener to join in on the song. In short, these songs are designed to be sung aloud, with others, within the parameters of that listener’s own shelter.
 
For some, including the members of Jars of Clay, tha