Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News: September 2007

JFH Music News

September, 2007

*Friday, September 28th, 2007*

Kevin Max returns December 26th with his latest recording, The Blood - A very personal project that allowed him to step back from his usual rock stylings in favor of a musical exploration of Gospel. This deliberate departure features high profile collaborations with an extraordinary cast, including Vince Gill, Amy Grant, American Idol finalist Chris Sligh, Joanne Cash, Ashley Cleveland and others, including the long-anticipated reunion of dcTalk (featuring Max, Michael Tait and TobyMac)! "This album was something I have been wanting to accomplish as a singer for many years," says Max. "It is literally going back to my roots in search of the music that resonated with me as a young man, when I was searching for something bigger than myself." Max is quick to point out that The Blood is not a worship record or classic hymns cover project, but rather "a sensitive and stylized adaption of the music that was at the root of rock and roll, blues and popular culture." "I remember listening to Elvis, Mahalia Jackson, The Imperials, Andrae Crouch, but it took me years to understand the impact it had on me as a singer and an artist," explains Max. "These songs that I picked specifically related to me that the singer was in need of The Gospel more than The Gospel needing to be sung." For the full tracklisting with artwork, click here. With dcTalk, Max accrued album sales exceeding 8 million, as well as numerous Grammy and Dove Awards. Their reunion for "The Cross" marks the first recorded reunion of the group since the 2002 single, "Let's Roll." "Hearing the three of us on the same track again was a treat," says Max. "'The Cross' was the perfect anthem for that reunion." The Blood was produced by fellow recording artist/songwriter/musician Will Owsley (Amy Grant, Shania Twain, Michael McDonald), and features some of Nashville's finest players including Phil Madeira (B3, Organ, National Guitar). John Painter (Horns, HipHop Bass) and Vince Gill on guitar. Infinity Music Distribution will release the album through a unique partnership with Max's Blind Thief Publishing. An aggressive promotional campaign will include various retail promotions, national television appearances, a radio promo tour and heavy concert touring including a church tour currently being scheduled. The first radio single, "Run On for a Long Time" (featuring Chris Sligh), is going to radio this month. "Elvis Presley sang gospel music because he needed it in his life, not for fame," reflects Max. "That is precisely the reason I decided to make The Blood. These are songs that I needed to sing, because they fill me with joy." (from Nashville Publicity)

Fervent Records welcomes new female duo, Cadia, to its artist roster. Spotlighting positive messages for music fans, the group will release its self-titled, national debut album on Feb. 26, 2008. Nashville-based Cadia comprises longtime friends Courtney Myers and Tori Smith, both 19 years old. The two became fast friends while participating in a junior high school play and continue to perform together. “Recording and releasing a national album on a major label has always been at the top of our dream list,” says Myers. “We are grateful to have linked up with Fervent Records, who shares our passion for spreading the Gospel through music.” “We feel so blessed to have found a home at Fervent Records,” says Smith. “They really understand our hearts and are extremely supportive of our music and ministry. It’s a great match!” Produced by Otto Price (BarlowGirl, Out Of Eden, SONICFLOOd) and Rob Hawkins (Big Daddy Weave, Jump5, Rebecca St. James), Cadia’s debut addresses themes of honesty, empowerment, self-esteem, compassion, and confidence in God, issues that both Courtney and Tori have confronted on their own journey to adulthood. In addition to providing fun, meaningful pop music, the record also aims to encourage other teens facing similar life experiences. “We see a great future for Courtney and Tori here at Fervent,” comments Price. “Not only is their sound fresh and relevant, but they have something important to say. These days, and especially in the business of music ministry, a good message is as important as good music.” Cadia is derived from the Greek word Arcadia, meaning place of peace, symbolizing the peace found when fears, insecurities, and trials are released. The duo will open on Avalon’s spring tour, and its song “Inside Out,” with accompanying music video, will be featured as the theme song/video for Women of Faith’s “Revolve Tour,” geared toward teen girls. For more information on Cadia, visit www.Cadiaonline.com. (from Savvy Media)

Jump5 will perform songs from their upcoming album, Hello & Goodbye, in front of a studio audience on Live from Studio B, a half-hour weekly television series that features today's top Christian artists performing in an intimate environment while sharing the stories behind the songs. Jump5's appearance on Live From Studio B is scheduled to air tonight (September 27) at 7:30pm CST on DIRECTV Channel 321. The series also airs on more than 100 affiliate stations around the country, so check local listings, or visit the official website at www.LiveFromStudioB.com. Hello & Goodbye will be released October 9th by Slanted Records. Jump5 is currently in the middle of a 30-city North American tour, which kicked off September 7th and runs through the end of the year. "The Hello & Goodbye Tour" is sponsored by Kingdom Kidz Club and Shoutlife.com, and features performances by Jessie Daniels, Carried Away, Pure NRG, Sammy Ward and Cali. (from Nashville Publicity)

In the past 15 years, Word Records’ Point of Grace has recorded 11 albums, including five gold and two platinum-certified CDs, and they have garnered an unprecedented 24 consecutive No. 1 radio singles. Now, the foursome will turn the spotlight on their favorite artists as hosts of Hot List: Point of Grace’s Favorites – the newest installment of Gospel Music Channel’s music video count-down series which premieres this Sat. Sept. 29 at 8:00 P.M. ET/PT. Music videos from Aaron Shust, Aly & AJ, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Leigh Nash, and Michael W. Smith are among the top picks of these Dove award-winning ladies. The group will also present their own music video for “How You Live,” the title track from their new CD. The show encores on Thursday, Oct. 4. Visit www.gospelmusicchannel.com for complete listings and additional airings. The premiere of Hot List: Point of Grace’s Favorites is followed by a Front Row Live encore with Dove and Grammy Award-winning Rebecca St. James performing her unique Aussie brand of pop/rock during an hour-long concert starting at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). Point of Grace just released How You Live in August. It is the first new studio release from the group in three years and was produced by Brown Bannister. On their new CD, Shelley Breen, Leigh Cappillino, Denise Jones and Heather Payne offer a compelling collection of songs that invite the listener to examine their priorities and live each day to the fullest. (from Spinhouse PR)

After 2 years, Spoken is back with a new album, a solid touring schedule and contests to get fans excited and talking about the band’s new release. The hard rock outfit from Arkansas has built up a solid fan-base and sales history in their nearly 12 years of touring and recording. This album is one of Spoken’s harder albums musically, but continues to be filled with strong melodies and challenging lyrics that their fans have come to expect. This project, the band’s sixth album ago, gained the coveted “Spoken” title thanks to the album’s writing process. “We wrote these songs to please ourselves, to write songs that we wanted to play live,” explains Jef Cunningham, guitar player for the band. “We ended up with a few that were heavier and harder than anything on the last two records.” “We wanted to be able to experiment with heavier songs and think further ahead in the lifespan of the band,” continues Matt Baird, vocalist. “And with these heavier songs it really feels like a step toward the future and a reflection of the past.” Check out the band’s ecard which features media, music, tour dates and other information at http://www.toothandnail.com/spoken/spoken/ecard. To celebrate the release, the band has created a huge contest. Simply log onto the band’s myspace page – myspace.com/spoken – and enter for a chance to win prizes including a Paul Reed Smith guitar, a Ernie Ball Prize Pack, Autographed Spoken goods and more. This contest runs between now and October 19th. From now until October 2, the band will be hosting a Meet and Greet after each show. Any person attending the show who has a copy of the new album (either from a pre-order, a retail store or from purchasing at the show) is invited to attend the aftershow. As a special album release incentive, the band is selling the new CD with a special shirt for only $15! For tour dates, visit www.spokenmusic.com (from Biscuit PR)

*Thursday, September 27th, 2007*

Tooth & Nail Records’ Canadian rockers Thousand Foot Krutch and their newest studio album The Flame in All of Us are receiving acclaim from the media as the project bowed last week placing them on the Billboard Top 200 chart (No. 58), claiming the No.1 slot for digital Christian album sales and Billboard Top Christian Albums (No. 2). The debut rock single “Falls Apart” remains strong for the second week in a row at the top. The CHR single “What Do We Know?” continues to climb the Top 10 with three additional adds this week nearly claiming the entire CHR panel. Producer Ken Andrews (Chris Cornell, Pete Yorn, Tenacious D) was enlisted to string together the cleverly written project, which was recorded in a mere three weeks time. Making this release refreshing is a central theme of unification throughout beginning with its title and opening track, “The Flame in All of Us.” An ambitious rocker elevated by a stop-in-your-tracks chorus featuring strings and a softer melody that refers to the common thread we have in human nature asking the same core group of questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What is life really all about? Continuing with the theme of asking questions is the first CHR single, “What Do We Know?” which should be a landmark song for Thousand Foot Krutch. Easily accessible, it’s a “What’s Going On” type of sing-along anthem for the postmodern world that is equally haunting and hopeful in its memorable use of a children’s choir. Thousand Foot Krutch features McNevan’s childhood friend Joel Bruyere on bass guitar and drummer Steve Augustine. The Toronto, Canada natives have sold more than 450,000 copies to date of their albums Set It Off, Phenomenon, and The Art Of Breaking. Thousand Foot Krutch broke out with their 2003 Phenomenon album, which landed them an impressive six No. 1 songs on rock radio and even a step into the mainstream with songs “Rawkfist” and “Move.” It was “Rawkfist” that became the first great sports anthem of the 21st century being heard everywhere from sports stadiums to commercials (NHL, NFL and major league baseball, ESPN) to the WB’s Smallville. Thousand Foot Krutch is currently out on the road with TobyMac and BarlowGirl. For updated tour dates, visit http://www.thousandfootkrutch.com (from The M Collective)

Things are heating up for Sanctus Real's forthcoming fourth release early in 2008. Bassist Dan Gartley shines a bit of light on the subjet... "It's time to celebrate! We just finished tracking for the new record. It's so good! I can't wait for you to hear it. Does that sound arrogant? I don't mean it like that. You know how you feel after you spend months on a research paper and you get the final draft all typed up and printed out to turn in? It's a good feeling to have it finished right? Well we've got our final draft done and we're turning it in to you. And it's like you're the teacher who grades it. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that we're proud of the new songs and we're excited to share them. The first single is coming out on October 5th. It's called "We Need Each Other." Make sure you call your radio station and make them play it. Oh ya, and the album will be called Turn on the Lights. So that's pretty much it. Start spreading the word...talk it up around the water cooler. Alright, catch you soon." More to come! (from Sanctus Real; Jesusfreakhideout.com)

Dove Award-winning, rock band Red announces the November 13, 2007 release of End of Silence: Deluxe Edition, a two-disc (CD/DVD) set which comprises the band’s GRAMMY-nominated debut album, including a dramatic, never-before-heard, acoustic version of “Lost,” along with a DVD that will visually bring the live Red experience to all. The DVD will feature Red’s ever-intense live concert, filmed at a private, August 2007 show in the band’s hometown of Nashville, Tenn., for “Red Nation”, an online army of Red’s most devoted fans. The set includes the band’s new, rock radio single, “Let Go”; the Top 10 Active Rock (mainstream) Radio hit, “Breathe Into Me”; an acoustic version of “Pieces”, a song rarely performed live by the band; and many other songs from End of Silence. Also included on the DVD will be a unique, behind-the-scenes look at life on tour with Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin; brand-new interview segments with the band; the “Breathe Into Me” concept music video; unique surprises for hardcore Red fans - and more. Lane Arnold, a concert promoter with FastLane Concerts / AEG, is personally excited about the release of End of Silence: Deluxe Edition. “During the Red concert that I promoted in Houston, I stood in the back and watched as the band and crowd connected in a way that I’ve never seen before. The guys in Red absolutely gave their all on that stage, and their fans did the same in return. Red fans are absolutely going to flip when they get their hands on End of Silence: Deluxe Edition, and are able to watch Red, in concert, anytime they want. For new and potential fans, this is the perfect piece to understand what this band’s powerful, live show is all about.” Red will be back on tour with Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin and Seether in October and early November of 2007. For a list of all upcoming concerts, visit www.myspace.com/dropofred. (from Provident Music Group)

Agency for the Performing Arts (APA), Inc. has announced the launch of a full service Christian Music Division, to be located in the talent agency’s Nashville office. With offices in Beverly Hills, New York City and Nashville, APA becomes the third major agency, along with William Morris and CAA, to offer a division dedicated solely to booking artists in the Christian music marketplace. The latest artists to sign onto the APA Christian roster includes the band Overflow (www.myspace.com/OverflowBand ) and Brave New World recording artists The Wedding (http://www.myspace.com/thewedding ) They are joining current APA clients, Christian rock superstars, Stryper (http://www.stryper.com/). APA offers representation in all areas of the entertainment industry, from motion pictures to television to literary, as well as concerts and tours for their artists. Jim Gosnell, President/CEO states: “We have been involved in Christian music for the past five years, and with the addition of Mark Guynn we can now offer a full service Christian Department. We are thrilled to be able to provide across the board representation of Christian clients, and look forward to proceeding” Former William Morris agent Mark Guynn, an industry veteran of fifteen years, will oversee the Christian division for APA. All of the APA/Nashville agents will participate in booking the Christian roster. Guynn states, “We are very excited to be in the Christian music business full time and to start building the future of our division with these amazing acts. Our goal is to dedicate the kind of time and resources it takes to effectively represent each one of our artists at every stage of their careers. We plan to build careers that will endure.” (from Big Machine Media)

*Tuesday, September 25th, 2007*

All good things... Chasing Victory has decided to close the book on the run of the band. In a blog posted yesterday, the band writes, "We are aware that a lot of you keep up with us and have been wondering what has been going on with the band. We do read your messages asking "why arent you guys on tour?" We also appreciate all the messages and comments about our music and how it has impacted you. We never would have imagined four years ago that we would have even made it to the level that we have. It is all because of you reading this and the countless others who have supported us through the years. I am not going to drag this out. I will get straight to the point and then try to explain to the best of my ability. Chasing Victory has broken up. El Paso, May 2007 - We were sitting in our van discussing our goals as a band. Tired, hot, and burned out, we took a look at everything that was going on with us. We had just completed one of the most fun tours we had ever been on. We were on tour with two bands that we go way back with and have developed lifelong friendships with. Our equipment was finally at a point where we actually sounded decent from stage. We had a brand new album out that we were supporting. Everything should be just fine right? Well, the more we talked, the more it seemed that there was this unspoken tension amongst us. Not the type where someone is mad with someone else, but more of an uneasy feeling. Deep down, we had all lost our passion. Someone somewhere along the line just finally spoke up about this feeling that we all shared. Everyone quickly agreed. It seemed so abrupt, so non thought out that we did not know what was happening. Ultimately, it was there that we decided that we wanted to do something else with our lives. That is the reason. We all wanted something else. A career change if you will. We love our music. We love each other. We love playing shows. It was never about money. We never made any, so we definately weren't driven by it. Just like any other band break up, there were several other small contributing factors that brought us to this decision, so please do not think that we were acting "spoiled". The last thing we would ever want to do is let any of you down. I feel that that is inevitable though. So i appologize to anyone who will be upset with us. Trust me, we were upset too. If you have been to one of our shows, own any of our records, have personal friendships with us, or have any fond memories tied to the band Chasing Victory, please remember us by those and not our early departure from the music business. We love you all very much." We wish the Chasing Victory guys the best in their future ventures. (from Chasing Victory; Jesusfreakhideout.com)

This week, Blindside welcomes the newest member of the family. Tindra Lindskog came into the world on September 12th. Mama and baby are both doing well and Papa Christian could not be more in love. "Now you may understand why we chose to keep this tour short," the band wrote in their most recent newsletter. "As a band we have tried always to make decisions not based on what would propel our fame but what is right for us and our families. Christian and Elina are grateful for your prayers and support through this wonderful time." For more on Blindside and the Fall US tour, visit www.blindsideonline.com. (from Blindside; Jesusfreakhideout.com)

Attention all Christian music fans! Add a Veggie-twist to your music playlist with VeggieTales: Christian Hit Music, a new must-have CD from Big Idea featuring Bob, Larry and their Veggie friends, along with special guests Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Audio Adrenaline and newsboys, singing 15 of today’s most-loved Christian hits. With chart-topping tracks like DC Talk’s “In The Light,” Mercy Me’s “I Can Only Imagine” and Relient K’s “Sadie Hawkins Dance,” this brand new collection of critically acclaimed songs is sure to raise the roof for kids of all ages! Covering pop, rock, adult contemporary and other genres, Veggie-crooners Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, Junior Asparagus, Pa Grape, Mr. Lunt and an all-Veggie choir are joined by four of Christian music’s most legendary artists performing some of their biggest hits. Amy Grant sings “Baby, Baby.” Steven Curtis Chapman jumps in with “Dive,” Audio Adrenaline makes some noise with “Big House,” and newsboys rock out on “Shine.” Priced at $13.99 SRP, VeggieTales: Christian Hit Music is distributed by EMI CMG Distribution and hits a record store near you on October 2, 2007. “It’s an honor to present some of Christian music’s most-loved and influential songs to young families everywhere,” says Terry Pefanis, COO, Big Idea. “Working with Amy, Steven, Audio Adrenaline and newsboys made the project extra special.” (from Hoganson Media)

John Schlitt, multi-Grammy winning recording artist and lead singer of Petra, announces the sampler release of his third solo project, as of yet untitled. A montage of songs, complete with commentary by Schlitt, will be available for download on www.johnwschlitt.com on October 1. The project follows Schlitt's previous two solo albums, Shake and Unfit for Swine, as well as Vertical Expressions, the 2007 debut release by II Guys from Petra (Schlitt and Petra founder Bob Hartman). (from Nova Productions)

*Saturday, September 22nd, 2007*

Project 86 has been riding high since the release of their 6th studio album Rival Factions in June. The record grabbed P86 their highest career Billboard debut at 123 and their 1 single "Evil -A Chorus of Resistance" has topped rock charts for the last several months. Add the recent tapping to have their music used on the upcoming film The Seeker-The Dark Is Rising video blog series on MTV.com and its clear the guys in P86 have much to celebrate. Currently the band has just wrapped a busy summer of shows and festivals including a run on the Tooth and Nail tour featuring MXPX and their own headlining tour with Showbread, Inhale/Exhale and Sullivan. And as P86 continue to play shows all over the country this fall they are also gearing up to release a special digital EP which will be available this winter exclusively on iTunes. Andrew Schwab says, "Our fans are using the internet more and more to buy our music and we thought this would be a great way to give them fast access to some brand new exclusive, unique content". The EP will feature never before heard P86 songs, previously unreleased remixes (featuring Joey Milligan of Anberlin and Timothy McTague of Underoath) and a surprise or two. Further about the EP, Schwab stated in a recent blog, "We will be recording a cover song (perhaps two) to go along with a few b-sides from Rival Factions, and the remixes from ...And The Rest Will Follow for the digital EP coming this fall. The cover song(s) is (are) rare and obscure and awesome. The date for the EP will be coming soon..." Project 86's second single "Illuminate" just released this week and the guys who are famous for their live show are planning to film their third DVD as they play at their favorite venues around the country. (from Project 86; Jesusfreakhideout.com)

With major anticipation and nearly 100,000 downloads at the iTunes.com store in one week, Mainstay’s sophomore album Become Who You Are hits retail shelves this coming Tuesday, September 25th. The album also marks the kick-off for major touring as Mainstay performs on the 25 dates of the nationwide acoustic “An Intimate Evening With Jeremy Camp” tour. Radio is responding to Mainstay’s Become Who You Are release as well with the lead single “Believe,” co-written with Mainstay and label mate Camp, debuting at the #30 spot on the CHR charts. The song is currently on the heels of an add at Air 1 Radio. Mainstay has seen prior charting success with their 2006 debut album Well Meaning Fiction and the singles “Take Away” (Top 15 CHR) and “These Pages” (Top 20 Rock). The Jesusfreakhideout.com web site recently gave kudos to Mainstay’s newest musical offering by saying, “undeniably more daytime pop radio friendly, but the honesty and sincerity the guys brought with their debut is what will make this particular pop album stand out from the rest.” Fronted by Justin Anderson, the Minneapolis-based quartet is rounded out by Ryan DeYounge on drums, Dan Ostebo on bass, and Scott Campbell on guitar. Mainstay, originally a punk band practicing out of a garage, refined their sound throughout five years time. The band went on to record an EP on their own, which eventually amassed a grassroots following and record label interest. (from LB PR)

Our Heart’s Hero, who released their self-titled debut album on September 18th, will join Stellar Kart, Nevertheless, and Eleventyseven for this holiday season’s 25-city Punk The Halls Tour. The band is also planning a special street week concert event in their hometown of Huntington, WV on September 22nd. The Punk The Halls Tour is set to kick off November 24th in Bartlesville, OK and go onto subsequent dates in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho, as well as Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Illinois, and Ohio. A full touring itinerary will be announced in the upcoming weeks. Our Heart’s Hero, who average 150 shows a year, has toured most recently as part of this summer’s Rock, Paper, Scissors Tour and the Revolution Calling Tour and have shared the stage with the likes of The Afters, GRITS, and Red. With a strong grassroots following, Our Heart’s Hero will also perform a street week concert in their hometown of Huntington, WV on September 22nd. The event will take place at the Huntington Mall at 3:00pm with a meet-and-greet/autograph signing immediately following the show. The event is sponsored by the Family Christian Store located at the mall. “We are extremely excited to return to our home area to celebrate the release of our debut album,” says OHH frontman Nick Joyce. “We can’t think of a better place than Huntington to share this exciting time in our lives with all of our family and friends and fans who have supported and pushed us since the beginning. The opportunity to come back and perform in the same mall that we all hung out at as kids is so cool! Our Heart's Hero definitely bleeds green!” Prior to signing to Gotee Records in 2006, Our Heart’s Hero saw an amazing response to their music with over 20,000 units of their independent album sold. The band has also amassed over 20,000 friends on their myspace.com site to date. The band also has endorsement deals with both LIVE WIRES In-Ear monitors and C28 Clothing. (from LB PR)

Indelible Creative Group announces the release of two companion media products to Max Lucado’s latest book, 3:16: The Numbers of Hope. The CD and DVD arrived in stores on Sept. 11, part of Lucado’s plan to replace 9/11 – The Numbers of Terror with 3:16: The Numbers of Hope. The projects are part of an unprecedented product launch from Lucado’s publisher (Thomas Nelson), which includes a shipment exceeding one-million copies for the book’s initial run. The 3:16: Songs of Hope CD features award winning recording artists Jars of Clay, Third Day, Chris Tomlin, Michael W. Smith, Sandi Patty, Travis Cottrell and many more sharing musical tributes of the timeless message of John 3:16. Also included on the 3:16 – Songs of Hope CD is a new recording by Dove Award winning recording artist Jaci Velasquez. The first single from the project, “Loved By You” is currently spinning on Christian AC radio stations marking Jaci’s return to the music scene after a three-year break. The album also features Velasquez’s “God So Loved,” a song Lucado says inspired his interest in writing a book about John 3:16. “We are honored to partner with Max in this mission of spreading the very important message of John 3:16,” says Thomason. “We believe this message of hope will be the catalyst for many to come into relationship with God and that these products will help facilitate communication of the 3:16 message with a relevant and unique experience." The 3:16 – Stories of Hope DVD will be the first product released through Indelible’s new partnership with Lionsgate Home Video for the general market. Word Distribution will handle CBA distribution of the DVD. 3:16 – Songs of Hope (CD) will be distributed by Word in the CBA and WEA in the general market. 3:16 – Stories of Hope is a DVD release that features the powerful short film “Wherever You Are” (based on a short story written by Lucado) and personal commentary from Lucado sharing the meaning of the scripture verse, John 3:16. The short film is about Katherine, a woman who finds herself in a dance club far from home, remembering a more innocent time in her life, exemplified by her dancing with her father. Katherine's story of eventual rebellion and consequence leads to an inspiring account of forgiveness, grace and unconditional love. Along with the CD 3:16: Songs of Hope, DVD 3:16: Stories of Hope and the book, 3:16 The Numbers of Hope, Thomas Nelson and an exceptional group of licensed partners will release an assortment of products under the 3:16 brand during 2007 and 2008, reaching both the domestic and international markets in numerous languages. Some of the additional ancillary products from Thomas Nelson include a hardcover book, a gift book, an evangelism booklet, a pre-school board book, a teen edition and a DVD small group study. The products available with the campaign will also include a branded apparel and jewelry line. In addition, LifeWay will release an adult church curriculum with a companion workbook and a church musical. (from Motive Ent.)

In conjunction with the release of their latest album, Give Yourself Away, Sparrow recording artist Robbie Seay Band recently performed a Houston-area concert at Market Street in The Woodlands. Sponsored by KSBJ Radio, the event drew an estimated 900 people. Following the concert, the band members signed CDs at The Woodlands’ Borders. “Song Of Hope,” the first radio single from Give Yourself Away, was Most Added at Christian CHR radio for the week of September 21 and is #17 on the Christian AC Indicator chart for the week of September 21, according to R&R. Give Yourself Away debuted at #17 on the Top Christian Albums chart, according to Nielsen SoundScan, for the week ending September 2. (from Turning Point PR)

*Thursday, September 20th, 2007*

A serious illness set back a member of Skillet recently. Frontman John Cooper writes, "Our guitar player, Ben, has had several weeks of feeling ill. We took him to the emergency room late one night on the road and he was diagnosed with strep throat. We had a show that night, and after a shot and some medication, he played the show at a festival called Enfuego... The next week Ben seemed to get worse and we had to take him to the emergency room again where they were confused of what he actually had. As it turned out Ben was going to have to have immediate removal of his tonsils because of the swelling and bleeding he was experiencing. I thought we would have to cancel some shows since we would be leaving that same night to go to Florida. The biggest bummer was that we would have to miss "Rock the Universe" at Universal Studios, which is one of my all time favorite shows we have ever played. So, we sat up all night and taught our guitar tech Sean some guitar parts so we could do the shows. We slept for a total of ZERO hours and then drove to the airport to fly to Miami! Nothing can stop Skillet from the rock show baby! We played 6 songs with Sean on guitar. Then something happened that I hope never happens again: I had to play guitar for 4 songs because we did not have time to teach them to Sean. I stink on the guitar! It was the first time in 11 years that I have played guitar on stage and it was uncomfortable! But, it wasn't too bad because the show was rockin'!! Then, amazingly enough, the doctor postponed Ben's surgery a day because Ben was too weak to have it. Then he woke up the next day feeling 100% better and the doctor released him to fly down and meet us in Orlando for "Rock the Universe!" On the lighter side, Cooper also noted, "Lori has been proposed to a lot on the road at shows. However, if I am not mistaken the one this year in Orlando was the first guy who actually brought a ring! We were signing some autographs, and the next thing I know there is a guy on one knee, holding up a ring!!" You can see Skillet on tour right now this Fall. (from Skillet; Jesusfreakhideout.com)

II Guys From Petra (4-time Grammy winning artists John Schlitt and Bob Hartman) offer their 50+ years of expertise in Christian and secular music with "Seminar to Serve," a customized presentation geared towards the music professional and casual listener alike. Relying on their vast experience, Schlitt and Hartman relay a wealth of information in an entertaining yet professional manner. "Bob and I have been involved in nearly every aspect of music; leading worship, songwriting, recording, production, stage presentation, speaking - the list goes on and on" says Schlitt. "We want to share our knowledge in an exciting way in order to assist the music leaders in the church - as well as those who are simply interested in music - in obtaining their goals and objectives so they can be more effective within their own congregations." Schlitt continues: "We do this by customizing our seminars to fit the specific needs of the individual group. If they are interested in a certain aspect of music, we'll design our format accordingly. We are here to serve the church, not to be served, which is where the seminar title comes from." The presentation also includes an interactive question and answer period, which often launches the seminar into a whole different direction. "At times we find that what the host wants us to cover and what the attendees are interested in are two different things. So we open up the floor for questions - and where it goes from there is anyone's guess!" says Schlitt. For more information on II Guys from Petra, their seminars and concerts, visit www.johnwschlitt.com (from Nova Productions)

Christian music’s premiere rock group, downhere, is once again being honored by GMA Canada at the 29th Annual Covenant Awards. The band was nominated in two categories, Group of the Year and Rock Song of the Year for “Surrender” (co-written by band members, Marc Martel and Jason Germain). This year’s Covenant Awards will be held Friday, October 26, in Calgary, Alberta. "We are excited to be a part of GMA Canada Week again this year - the Covenant Award nominations were just a bonus,” exclaims Jeremy Thiessen of downhere. “We count it a privilege to be a part of such a fantastic community of artists, who continue to pursue excellence in their craft and serve the Lord in their ministry. I believe the Lord will continue to bless both Canada and the world as a result." This recent honor is in support of their most recent studio CD on Centricity Records, Wide Eyed & Mystified. Besides the nominated song, “Surrender,” the album also features the radio singles, “The Real Jesus,” and “Better Way.” As an extra bonus this summer, downhere released, Thunder After Lightning, a digital album that features 17 unreleased demos originally written for Wide Eyed & Mystified. Fans can now hear all of the great music from downhere either on the new project or on their upcoming tour dates, which include the second leg of the Wide Eyed & Mystified tour that begins October 4, 2007. Also featured on the tour is labelmate Jason Gray. (from Bozeman Media)

Forefront Records’ latest signing, Toledo-based band This Beautiful Republic won the hearts of fans across Europe last month on a three-week tour which wrapped Aug. 31. The in-demand band embarked on another tour alongside Tooth & Nail recording artist Falling Up, beginning Sept. 7. Supporting the European release of Even Heroes Need A Parachute, This Beautiful Republic kicked off its tour with a stop in Kulma, Sweden to headline the Frizon Festival, which set a new annual attendance record. The band then traveled to the Netherlands, where it performed at Flevo Festival in Liempde. From there it was on to Germany to co-headline multiple club dates with mainstream pop band, The Hot Stewards. Between shows with The Hot Stewards, This Beautiful Republic made its way to Lunderskov, Denmark, headlining the Glow festival. The group rounded out its trip at the United Kingdom’s Greenbelt Festival, sharing the main stage with Delirious?, and played several gigs in London before flying home. “I just returned from the Greenbelt Festival, and This Beautiful Republic was brilliant, really brilliant,” comments Jonathan Brown of Fierce Distribution in the UK. “Not only did they perform a great set, but I really enjoyed hanging out with them.” In keeping with its non-stop tour schedule since last spring, This Beautiful Republic will team up with pop-punk band Falling Up for a number of shows through October. The band will additionally be doing spot dates with Thousand Foot Krutch. Visit www.thisbeautifulrepublic.com for an updated tour itinerary. “It is great to be back in the good ole US of A,” says Ben Olin, frontman for This Beautiful Republic. “We are especially excited to be going on tour with Falling Up. They have one of the greatest live performances I have ever seen. I am most looking forward to seeing all of the fans that are coming out to see us again after our first encounter with them on the Sanctus Real tour.” (from Savvy Media)

Copeland has started sharing some info on their upcoming b-sides project, Dressed Up and In Line... "So it's time you learned some details about our upcoming b-sides record... The idea is this - we're taking rare and unreleased recordings from the last 7 years and revisiting the original tracks. All of them are going to be re-mixed and re-mastered. Many of them are going to be updated a bit with added strings, vocals, keys, and guitars. Some will be altered more than others. The goal is to have a cohesive album that can be listened to as a whole, rather than just a hodgepodge of songs (can you use the word "hodgepodge" in an official press release? I don't know...but I did...twice). In the end, we'll have a DOUBLE DISC collection of rarities, b-sides, EP tracks, acoustic, and alternate versions. We're going to package it with a booklet full of old photos and the stories behind the recordings. James Likeness is doing the layout, so you can be sure it will look very stylish. We've already started remixing some of the tracks, but we have lots more work to do. Our old buddies at the Militia Group are releasing this for us. You can expect it to hit stores on Nov. 27th." (from Copeland; Jesusfreakhideout.com)

Award winning and Platinum-selling Word recording group Point Of Grace debuted their music video for the title track “How You Live (Turn Up the Music)” their latest studio project on Great American Country’s Sunday morning show “Positively GAC” this past weekend on September 16. The video features intimate footage of the members and their children as well as performance shots filmed at the beautiful and historic Alabama Theatre located in Birmingham, Ala. How You Live, released nationwide on August 28, 2007, also has been creating buzz on sites such as MTV.com and E Online.com with news of its chart rank from street week sales. Landing on the chart at #56, Point of Grace’s How You Live debut showed noteworthy to the frequently visited entertainment news sites along with other Christian music acts Casting Crowns, Mercy Me and Caedmon’s Call. The highly anticipated project is the first new studio release in almost three years from one of the most notable and successful female groups in Christian music history. With producer Brown Bannister (Amy Grant, Building 429, Steven Curtis Chapman) at the helm, How You Live unites Americana musical influence with the classic vocal sound that has made Point Of Grace one of the world's most identifiable groups in any genre. After performing in front of hundreds of thousands of fans and selling over five million albums, Shelley Breen, Leigh Cappillino, Denise Jones and Heather Payne deliver a compelling collection of songs that invite the listener to examine their priorities and take stock of their lives on How You Live. (from L.A.B. Media)

Word recording artist David Phelps announces the release of his first ever Christmas project with Word Records, entitled One Wintry Night: A David Phelps Christmas, hitting stores September 25, 2007, just in time for the holiday season. The album not only contains traditional holiday classics, but also new arrangements of Christmas favorites as well as six original cuts – all delivered with Phelps’ powerful signature vocals. Crafted as a concept project, One Wintry Night takes listeners on an inspiring musical journey that explores all the joy and wonder that is Christmas. Phelps notes about the project, “We didn’t go out to find all the ‘Christmas Greatest Hits’ and then try to record them in our own style. Instead we tried to approach it as a solid record that just happened to have Christmas as its theme. While there are plenty of stand-alone songs on the album, it really is a concept project. From the moment you push ‘play’ until the last note of the last song fades away; I think you will get more out of it if you listen to it straight through.” Seeing that Phelps’ popular Christmas tour has sold out concert halls nationwide for the past nine years, he did not experience dealing with a shortage of material in creating One Wintry Night. Rather, the challenge he faced was to create an album that is fresh, yet timeless, and captures the quintessence of Christmas. One Wintry Night accomplishes this mission with tracks ranging from Phelps’ a cappella rendition of the classic hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” to his take on Elvis’ “Blue Christmas,” to the six original songs including “One King,” a track penned by Phelps and recorded as a duet with Sonya Isaacs. (from L.A.B. Media)

*Friday, September 14th, 2007*

A’postrophe Records artist Jaci Velasquez announced yesterday that she will be releasing a 3 track Christmas/New Year’s EP titled Open House on October 30th. This EP includes 1 well-known popular Christmas song “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” 1 original Christmas song titled “Quiet Christmas Night” and also Velasquez sings a version of “Auld Lang Syne” which is the song that everyone hears at New Year’s. Many people know the melody and I’m sure we are all guilty of trying to sing it, but many people don’t know the words or message behind the song. The Scottish song is generally credited to a man named Robert Burns, but earlier versions of this ballad precede his time. The song reminisces about friendships of long ago and good memories. Jaci’s version eloquently expresses these thoughts. Need help remembering it? Here is the first line that should help: “Should auld acquaintance be forgot?” Velasquez states, “I haven’t released a Christmas album since 2001 and with so many great things happening in my life - a husband I love and a new baby on the way - I thought of no better way to celebrate my favorite holiday that to share a few of my favorite Christmas songs!” (from Big Machine Media)

The GMA Foundation (GMAF) will induct artists Phil Keaggy, the Statler Brothers, Larnelle Harris and The Winans along with former music executive Joe Moscheo, announced John W. Styll, president and CEO of the GMAF. "This year’s class of GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees are each unique in their significant contributions to the heritage and diversity of gospel music, but together share a legacy of creating redemptive music that has inspired music audiences for decades,” said Styll. The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner will be held at the Richland Country Club in Nashville on Monday, Oct. 29 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available to the general public. More information is available at www.gmahalloffame.org. The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame was established in 1971 and has inducted more than 140 members since its inception, including Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Keith Green, Amy Grant, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Andrae Crouch, Sandi Patty, Vestal Goodman, Tennessee Ernie Ford, 2nd Chapter of Acts, The Oak Ridge Boys, Petra, Bill and Gloria Gaither, the Rambos, Evie, Richard Smallwood, Jake Hess, The Lewis Family, Thomas A. Dorsey, the Fairfield Four, Billy Graham and the Jordanaires. (from Spinhouse PR)

OurGodSaves.com is launching in conjunction with the September 18 release of Our God Saves, the upcoming album and current radio single from award-winning Integrity Music recording artist/worship leader Paul Baloche. Inspired by the lyrics of “Our God Saves,” co-written by Baloche and Brenton Brown, the site provides an online Christian community where visitors can encourage and uplift others by sharing their testimonies. Paul Baloche is one of the foremost worship writers of our time. His songs, including “Open The Eyes Of My Heart,” “Above All,” “Hosanna” and “All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises,” are sung by millions around the globe. “Above All” garnered a Dove Award in 2002 for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year, and Baloche received nominations in 2007 for Inspirational Album of the Year (A Greater Song) and Special Event Album (Arise – A New Celebration of Worship). In addition to leading worship for congregations across the country and overseas, Baloche serves as an instructor for Seminars4Worship and other conferences, where he trains and mentors worship leaders, songwriters and musicians. (from Turning Point PR)

Centricity Records is bringing holiday cheer this season by releasing the Christmas project, Bethlehem Skyline, September 25th. The album was available online last year and after the strong response, is being released to retail outlets in 2007 and will be distributed by Word Distribution Group. Bethlehem Skyline spotlights the talented roster of artists on the label; downhere, Circleslide, Jason Gray, Jaime Jamgochian, and Daniel Kirkley. The album showcases seasonal classics like “Joy ToThe World,” “Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuele,” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” done with updated arrangements that reflect each artist’s personal style. And of course there are new songs that will soon become Christmas favorites such as downhere’s “Glory To God In The Highest,” and the Circleslide song, “Jesus Is Born,” whose lyric lent itself to the project’s title. Plus on the finale of the CD is the entire family of Centricity artists lending their voices to a spirited version of, “O Come All Ye Faithful.” “One of the neat things about Bethlehem Skyline is that it is essentially a family project,” says downhere’s Jeremy Thiessen. “There are only a few artists on Centricity Records and we have all become like family, so to record an album together and to all be working toward the same goal is pretty special. There are a number of original Christmas songs on it too which I think will speak to people. We all love the classics, but there's room for new Christmas songs too and I think there are a number of soon-to-be classics on this CD.” Glenn Lavender of downhere adds, “Hearing some songs will bring back certain memories from years past, meals spent together, games played together, and so on. Then there are other songs, songs about the son of God coming to Earth, which take me to a totally different place.” “It is these songs being played over and over in my car, in the malls, and in friends homes that really help set up the importance of that day so long ago we are celebrating,” continues Lavender. “So when the day finally comes, the weight of everything I've been listening to reminds me of how wonderful and loving a God I serve that he would be willing to transform himself into a lowly man and not only live among us but serve us.” For more information on Bethlehem Skyline or any of the Centricity Record’s artists please visit, www.centricityrecords.com. (from Bozeman Media)

Whiplash Records will release the second national recording from Canadian rock band, Manic Drive on October 23, 2007. Produced by Brian Hardin, Reset & Rewind features guest vocals from former DC Talk member Kevin Max and rapper M.O.C. Manic Drive's first national CD, Reason For Motion, spawned four radio hit singles including top 5 and top 10 songs on the Christian rock charts. Manic Drive had two top 10 international music videos from Reason For Motion, and their songs "Something More" and "Nebulous" were featured as theme and commercial music for Spike TV's TNA Wrestling. They co-headlined the Revolution Generation Tour with Seventh Day Slumber, and have played at all the major festivals including Kingdom Bound, Cornerstone, Rock The Desert, Joshua Fest, Ichthus Festival, Downpour Festival, and Spirit West Coast. CCM Magazine named Manic Drive one of the "Bands to Watch" in 2006. Reset & Rewind has already spawned a new radio single and music video entitled "Eleven Regrets." Brothers Shawn and Michael Cavallo began their music career when they were only 8 and 9 year-old kids, creating four, self-produced cds before joining Whiplash Records for their 2005 debut. Now in their early 20s, these "veterans" have been endorsed by C28 Clothing, Scripts Shoes, Peavy Audio, and Godin Guitars. Reset & Rewind features guest appearances from Kevin Max, Jill Parr, and M.O.C., and the band will tour again this fall with Seventh Day Slumber to promote the new CD. "This is one of the best records I've ever made," says Brian Hardin, Producer for Reset & Rewind and Managing Partner of Whiplash Records. "It's exciting to see Manic Drive's growth artistically and spiritually. They've paid their dues and have impacted tens of thousands of lives over the years and Whiplash Records is thrilled to be a part of their mission." (from Adams Group)

*Thursday, September 13th, 2007*

Just one week after its release, Dan Haseltine’s The One, The Only, Magnificent Me is rocketing up the charts of the book world, debuting as the #1 children’s book on the Spring Arbor Bestseller List, and #9 for all Christian titles. Spring Arbor is the largest wholesaler of Christian books in the country. Outside of the Christian market, the book is already #2 for illustrated children’s books and #47 for all books on the Top 100 Bestseller List at Ingram Book Group, the largest book wholesaler in the United States. The One, The Only, Magnificent Me is written by Dan Haseltine, lead singer for multi-GRAMMY, multi-platinum band Jars of Clay and is illustrated by Joel Schoon Tanis, award-winning artist and Emmy-winning host of the children’s television show, Come On Over! Magnificent Me has already been called “Part Dr. Seuss, part Shel Silverstein” and has been getting glowing reviews from all over the country. Amy Sondova, editor of YMX & YMX:ALL ACCESS raved, “Haseltine’s skills as a songwriter may only be paralleled by his skills as a children’s author.” Other admirers have enthusiastically declared that the book “is at the top of my list for children’s books” and that “the illustrations are perfect, crescendoing with the brilliant rhyme and meter of the story.” Haseltine, who acknowledged that the story was autobiographical, was thrilled at the immediate reception for Magnificent Me. “Joel and I worked very hard on it, putting so much energy and emotion into the book. The stores have been incredible and the teachers, parents, and children have been so supportive—it’s wonderful that they feel so strongly about it. It is very humbling to be compared to such iconic authors—they are heroes of mine.” Tanis was equally thrilled. “I’m excited to go on tour starting next week and talk with the stores and share this story with them. The book is beautiful and I am so proud and happy that it can be making an impact on people’s lives—it is incredibly fulfilling.” In addition to Haseltine’s touring throughout the country with Jars of Clay, Tanis is on a national television tour, painting live and doing finished paintings for charity. The One, The Only, Magnificent Me is available at all Target stores nationwide, as well as Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Christian and independent bookstores around the country. Please visit www.mackinacislandpress.com for further details. (from Provident Label Group)

During the month of September, audiences will again have the opportunity to experience Glory Revealed in a live, concert setting, featuring performances and appearances by Mac Powell, author David Nasser, Shane & Shane, Candi Pearson-Shelton and Trevor Morgan. “He Will Rejoice” is the current radio single from Glory Revealed. The song features Trevor Morgan and contains lyrics taken directly from Zephaniah 3:17. It was written by Third Day’s Mac Powell, who also serves as producer for the multi-artist, worship project. The songs of Glory Revealed are making a significant impact nationwide, as the first single, “By His Wounds”, recently set a record on the R&R INSPO Radio Chart after maintaining the No. 1 position for eleven consecutive weeks. “He Will Rejoice” is sure to connect with audiences in a similar way. Glory Revealed: The Word of God in Worship, is a result of the collaboration between evangelist David Nasser and Third Day’s Mac Powell. Wanting to provide listeners with truths taken directly from Scripture, Nasser teamed with Powell and other artists to build one of 2007’s most unique albums. Contributors to the project include Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Brian Littrell, Trevor Morgan, Hyper Static Union’s Shawn Lewis, David Crowder, Shane & Shane, Candi Pearson-Shelton, Josh Bates, Starfield’s Tim Neufeld and Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall. (from Provident Label Group)

Canadian trio Carried Away snagged four nominations Tuesday night for GMA Canada's 29th Annual Covenant Awards to be held October 26th in Calgary, Alberta. Carried Away took a break from their current North American tour with JUMP5 to help announce the nominations in Brampton, Ontario on September 11th. The group was nominated for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year ("I Want You"), Song of the Year ("Mystery"), Seasonal Song of the Year ("Soaring Trough the Sky") and Group of the Year, alongside downhere, High Valley, Relient K and Starfield. Carried Away is currently touring North America with JUMP5's "Hello & Goodbye Tour," which runs through the end of the year. Their most recent album, I Want You, was released August 28th by Canadian-based record label Glide Records, with distribution through Infinity Music Distribution (USA) and CMC Canada. Their debut album, Closer To You (Word Distribution), was Canada's best selling debut for 2005, and earned the group two Covenant Awards in 2005 for Song of the Year ("I know?) and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. The 29th Annual Covenant Awards will be handed out as part of GMA Canada Week to be held October 24th-26th in Calgary, Alberta. Carried Away has been confirmed to perform at the awards show. For more information on GMA Canada Week visit www.gmacanada.ca. (from Nashville Publicity)

GRAMMY-winning Christian music act Casting Crowns remains the nation’s top-selling band for a second week with new album The Altar and The Door at No. 4 on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart. With another 40,000 units sold, Casting Crowns has scanned 170,000 in the first two weeks of release, and stays the highest-selling band on the charts behind High School Musical 2 soundtrack, Fergie’s Dutchess and Hannah Montana 2 soundtrack. The act’s historical third project The Altar and The Door released as the highest debuting album and top artist release overall last week (Sept. 2) at No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart with 129,000 scans, a new record for a Christian artist without crossover promotion in the mainstream market. Also this week, the album’s first radio single “East to West” hits No. 1 at Christian AC radiomaintaining the band’s perfect run with seven consecutive No.1 singles in four years The Altar and The Door has surpassed the group’s previous chart-high with its GRAMMY-winning, Platinum album Lifesong released at No. 9 in 2005 with 71,000 first-week scans. Casting Crowns’ lead singer and songwriter is full-time Youth Pastor Mark Hall, who is serving his 16th year as student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta. All seven band members remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta-area and tour part-time around their local-church duties. The band will visit 36 cities during its The Altar and The Door Fall Tour. For tour dates and more information, please visit www.castingcrowns.com. (from Provident Label Group)

*Wednesday, September 12th, 2007*

After an impressive first week in scans with over 12k units, INO Records’ Caedmon’s Call (with former member Derek Webb) is celebrating the success of Overdressed which released August 28 reaching No. 54 on Billboard’s Top 200 list and No. 3 on the Contemporary Christian SoundScan chart for the week ending September 7. “Overdressed is the organic outpouring of where Caedmon's came from, as well as where we are as a band,” says member Todd Bragg. “To see so many people moved to buy the project is extremely exciting.” National momentum continues to build at Christian AC, INSPO and CHR radio with Caedmon’s Call’s latest single “There Is A Reason.” Currently there are over 43 stations onboard playing the single including recent adds from AC stations KYTT in Eugene-Springfield,OR; WDJC in Birmingham, AL; KHZR in St. Louis, MO. Adds from INSPO stations include, American Family Radio Network; KCJB in St. Cloud, MN;Family Life Ministries Network; and CHR station in Chicago, IL WONU. To check out Caedmon’s Call’s EPK Sizzle Reel, which features behind the scenes footage of the band speaking into each song on the album along with personal never-before-heard stories behind the songs go to: Windows Media Download and Quicktime. For any other latest news and information, click on www.caedmonscall.com or www.caedmonscall.net. (from The M Collective)

Flicker rockers Fireflight will join INO powerhouse rock band Disciple on their 35 city “Scars Remain” tour; other tour mates will include Dizmas and Wavorly. The tour will kickoff on Sept. 13 in Witchita, Kansas and will cover most of the West Coast during the 39 day run. Among their stops, Fireflight will join the rest of the tour on the main stage of the inaugural Cornerstone California Festival in Orange County, California. Fireflight heads overseas to Germany to perform at the Christmas Rock Night in Gevelsburg, Germany on Dec. 7 and 8. After the success of their previous performance last year joining the likes of Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch and more at the festival, not only did the band receive another invitation to this year’s event, but also completed four more festivals with Kutless and Blindside in Germany, Switzerland and Croatia. The band also just finished their follow up record to The Healing of Harms due out in the Spring of 2008 on Flicker Records. (from The M Collective)

Dove Award winning artist Jaci Velasquez is featured with a brand new recording titled “Loved By You” on Max Lucado 3:16 -- Songs of Hope CD that is being released nationwide this week. This is a companion CD to the compelling new book from New York Times best-selling author Max Lucado. The album also features award-winning recording artists Third Day, Alison Krauss, Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin, and many more sharing musical tributes to the timeless message of John 3:16. The single “Loved By You” continues to gain momentum at Christian radio and the bonus DVD will feature highlights of Jaci in the studio as she recorded the song. For more information visit www.jacivelasquez.com (from Big Machine Media)

More than 5,000 pastors, youth leaders, worship leaders, musicians and students in Orlando and from all over the region will gather in Orlando November 9-10, 2007 for Hillsong United Conference, the first time the world-class modern worship band has brought its popular youth event to North America. The Hillsong United Conference will be held at the First Baptist Church at 3000 South John Young Parkway in Orlando, Fla. and will feature two days of speaker presentations, teaching and concerts. The conference will focus on the subjects of worship and justice and equipping young people to bring both to their communities. Local radio stations The Joy FM and Z88 FM are sponsoring the event along with the First Baptist Church. Australia’s Hillsong United is one of the most popular young modern worship bands in the world, and the various conferences they have hosted in Europe have drawn thousands of young people and their church leaders looking to immerse themselves in worship and gain a better understanding how to bring a lifestyle of worship to everyday life. The Orlando conference will feature guest speakers including Hillsong Church’s senior pastor Brian Houston and youth leader Phil Dooley and the seminars will demonstrate how young people can transform churches and communities. Some of the breakout sessions will teach songwriting; building a great worship team; youth ministry programming; evangelism; and using TV & media. The Hillsong United band will lead music at the worship events and will also be accompanied by Reuben Morgan. Registration to the conference is available at www.hillsongunitedconference.com. Pre-registration ends on October 12 at a cost of $59 and tickets, if still available, will be sold at the event site for $69. (from Spinhouse PR)

*Tuesday, September 11th, 2007*

Haven't heard much from Joy Williams lately? Well, the singer/songwriter has been focusing more time these days on songwriting and gave fans an update recently... "As I've mentioned before in previous blogs, I have slowly transitioned off the road and have begun focusing more closely on song-writing full-time. I am savoring this change! I have a great group of musicians and writers that I get to collaborate with...and that group is expanding every week. Each day, I get to create! I get to listen, respond, share ideas, slip on the skin of someone else in the creative process...and help turn real stories into songs. In the last few months, I've written with pop acts, rock bands, major LA producers, noted songwriters, American Idol finalists, CCM acts, country musicians, and indie artists. It has been nothing short of totally invigorating. I'm heading out to LA next week...possibly NYC next month...and talks about heading to London for some writing time are in the works. I am thrilled about this new chapter in my story...and filled with hope and passion. If you want to listen to a couple songs, check out my song-writer's page, "Joy Yetton," and you'll catch just a glimpse of how different each day's writing process can really sound. :) I totally appreciate your prayers as I navigate this new journey..." For Joy Yetton's page, visit www.myspace.com/joyyetton. (from Joy Williams Yetton; Jesusfreakhideout.com)

Been to a Family Force 5 show recently that didn't seem quite the same? Well frontman Solomon Olds (aka "Soul Glow Activatur") had taken a few days off to spend with his wife as she gave birth to their first child together, Cash Olds! For those who have seen the FF5 crew in concert without Soul Glow, bassist and fellow Olds brother Fatty traded his bass for the microphone to keep the crunk rock coming during his brother's absence. TobyMac's bassist Todd E. Funk (aka "Zodiac" on stage with Family Force 5) filled in for Fatty while he rocked the mic. Expect to see the band back to their usual selves real soon! Congrats to the Olds fam! (from Jesusfreakhideout.com; Family Force 5)

Newsboys are one of the most successful and most recognized bands in all of Christian Music. From their explosive, high energy live shows to their highly successful CDs, Newsboys continue to set the mark for Christian bands. With the release of The Greatest Hits, the band offers 16 of their most popular songs plus 2 brand new songs that will surely become favorites. Newsboys continue to sell more than 200,000 CDs each year, making them one of the best selling Christian Music artists. This is the definitive collection of Newsboys featuring 18 career spanning songs, including 2 brand new songs “Stay Strong” and “I Fought The La.” Including 10 songs not available on Shine the Hits, The Greatest Hits releases November 20th on Sparrow Records. (from Jesusfreakhideout.com; EMI CMG)

On November 20th, Tooth & Nail rock band Anberlin will release Lost Songs. The Lost Songs tribute is a collection of rare and never-before-released material spanning the band’s entire career and offers, for the first time-ever, a collection of acoustic versions, cover tracks and songs that just didn’t fit on an album. This will be a die-hard Anberlin fan's must have collection... (from Jesusfreakhideout.com; EMI CMG)

Stellar Kart has head back to the studio to begin work on their junior release... "Well it's that time of year again...studio time. We head in to the studio tomorrow morning to begin pre-production for our third record. Wow. For the next month or so we will be working hard in the studio every day that we're not playing shows to try and get the record finished by October, and I think we will be releasing it sometime in February. We are so excited and have a ton of new songs to work on. I know you're gonna love them as much as we do." More to come... (from Stellar Kart; Jesusfreakhideout.com; thanks to Megan D.)

For the first time since 2005, Blindside is back in the states headlining a two week tour. Joining the Swedish rockers for all the dates except September 29 is Edison Glass and Blindside is very excited to have them on board. "We know this tour is short," the band admits in a recent notice online. "There are reasons for this that we will let you know about soon." For all of the dates for the Black Rose Tour, click here! (from Jesusfreakhideout.com; Blindside)

Billboard’s top-selling band Casting Crowns maintains a perfect run at radio with its new single “East to West” claiming the No. 1 spot this week atop R&R’s Christian AC Monitored, Indicator, and INSP charts, Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs and CRW’s AC chart, marking the band’s seventh consecutive No.1 song in its four-year career. “East to West” is off the act’s historical third project The Altar and The Door released as the highest debuting album in the nation last week at No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart with 129,000 scans, a new record for a Christian artist without crossover promotion in the mainstream market. Jimmy Wheeler, Vice President of Sales for Provident Label Group, held to his pre-album release promise to shave his head if sales hit 100,000 in the first-week. Wheeler willfully participated in a public head-shaving ceremony in the Provident offices on Friday, Sept. 7. “When I made the ‘hair proclamation,’ it was stated to really stretch our sales and marketing force to achieve a monumental goal for all of us. Fortunately for our company, but unfortunately for my hair, we met and hugely exceeded that goal, and I personally had a week I will not soon forget,” says Wheeler. He adds, “I am humbled and honored just to be a part of the outstanding team at Provident.” Second on the chart behind the High School Musical 2 soundtrack, Casting Crowns’ The Altar and The Door was the top artist release overall for the week ending Sept. 2, according to Nielsen SoundScan. This surpasses the group’s previous chart-high with its GRAMMY-winning, Platinum album Lifesong released at No. 9 in 2005 with 71,000 first-week scans. Casting Crowns’ lead singer and songwriter is full-time Youth Pastor Mark Hall, who is serving his 16th year as student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta. All seven band members remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta-area and tour part-time around their local-church duties. The band will visit 36 cities during its The Altar and The Door Fall Tour. For tour dates and more information, please visit www.castingcrowns.com. (from Provident Label Group)

*Friday, September 7th, 2007*

Following five bestselling projects, nine consecutive No. 1 Christian singles and four back-to-back mainstream radio hits, the multi platinum, Dove Award winning and Grammy-nominated band MercyMe returns with their next batch of hook-filled and emotionally grabbing songs on All That Is Within Me due November 20th. MercyMe is one of few Contemporary Christian music to have had all of their recordings certified Gold or Platinum. Produced by Brown Bannister and recorded at Cider Mountain Recorders and ranch in Idaho (with strings recorded at London’s famed Abbey Road Studio), the band purposefully ‘got away from it all’ in order to soley focus on getting their creative direction straight from God for this project. As a result, an album of songs “straight from scripture” was created, says lead singer/songwriter Bart Millard. He adds that in many ways this record is taking them back to where MercyMe began, singing for the church, commenting that it is music “geared for the church, it’s what we do live, what we love, who we are, and what consumes us.” The record features worshipful moments like “God With Us,” “You Reign,” and “Sanctified” alongside the rockier and upbeat “Goodbye Ordinary” and “Time Has Come,” combined with very personal songs like “Finally Home.” “Finally Home” captures Millard’s thoughts about what he’ll tell his earthly father (who died from cancer several years ago and inspired “I Can Only Imagine”) about his life and how he’ll greet his heavenly Father. Full of energetic, melodic, thoughtful, and memorable moments, this record aims to touch the heart of the church in a very real, emotional and direct way. Accompanying the regular CD release is a special collectors edition that features a bonus disc which includes a six-song live video, interview footage with the band, three acoustic versions of songs and a free ringtone offer. MercyMe’s love for God, their families, music, and of course as many know, sports, is what consumers their lives, and in tune with these passions, the album’s cover features pieces of 56 photos from the band members’ personal collections, expressing visually “all that is within them” with images of family, sports, Bibles, pets, nature, instruments and more. In addition, descriptions of these photos will be a part of the launch of MercyMe’s new website on their street date (www.mercyme.org). About the project’s first single, “God With Us,” (hitting AC/CHR/INSPO formats October 5th), Millard remarks, “The whole idea that this big God would even look our way is mind boggling; it’s just an amazing thought that God would ever pay attention to us. This song is really trying to relay that feeling when you find yourself in the presence of God and it’s so intense that you’re going to bust at the seams. And I’ll tell you, it’s a daunting task to use a limited vocabulary to describe an infinite God, but this is one of those songs that we hope outlasts us and the church will sing long after we’re gone.” “MercyMe has always been about the business of expanding God’s kingdom through music,” remarked INO Records President Jeff Moseley. “Over the past several years they have seen conventional and unconventional opportunities come their way. On this record I am excited that they feel led to expand the Kingdom through songs that build up and edify the body of Christ. These songs exhort believers in a form that is perhaps the best body of work they have delivered to date. I believe these songs will resonate deeply with the church.” In addition to performing at Madison Square Garden for New York City’s Harvest Crusade on September 23rd, MercyMe will hit the road this fall on the 24+ city “All That Is Within Me” tour, supported by Aaron Shust and Monk & Neagle. Tour dates are listed below, and e-cards have been created and can be found at http://mercyme.org/falltour/falltour_07_ecard.html. “Some of MercyMe’s finest live moments come when they come together with a crowd and just worship,” remarks the band’s manager Scott Brickell. “There are so many songs on this record where there is the opportunity for this to happen, so the band is really excited to hit the road and play this new music and worship with fans across the country.” (from The M Collective)

Copeland has decided to follow in Switchfoot's footsteps by parting ways with their relationship with Columbia Records. The band writes, "We have some interesting news regarding our record label status. We've had a stressful few months with an optimistic outcome... We have officially parted ways with Columbia Records. There were recently some pretty significant personnel changes at the label and some key people on our team were let go, including our A&R guy. He was the guy that brought us on board and was also our most important contact and voice there. With him gone, as well as a few other important marketing people being let go, there was really no reason for us to be there anymore. At a big label, it's pretty crucial for a band to have those key team members in place. Otherwise, a smaller band like Copeland can get lost in the shuffle of the Beyonce's and John Mayer's that we'd be competing with for attention. So after months of red tape, we've been released from our contract and are frankly relieved. We have a lot of freedom right now, which is a great feeling. This freedom has got our heads buzzing with the idea of writing a new record. We're incredibly excited about a few new songs that we've been kicking around. So what's next for us you ask? Well, we're going to start getting this b-sides record together. We're looking to have it out THIS YEAR! (Nov. 27 is the likely date) We'll have a news post about that in the next week or so with some more details." More to come... (from Copeland; Jesusfreakhideout.com)

Those who tuned into MTV’s latest hit teen reality show Newport Harbor, The Real Orange County Wednesday, September 5, heard the music of Sparrow Records artist, Britt Nicole. Her song, “Sunshine Girl” from her debut release Say It, was prominently featured during a key moment in the show. Newport Harbor, The Real Orange County is serving as the successor to MTV’s wildly successful docu-reality show Laguna Beach, delivering Britt’s “Sunshine Girl” to the many loyal watchers the show has collected over its four years on the air. The news of Britt’s song feature on MTV follows her recent trip overseas, to promote Say It, which hits mainstream stores in Japan late this fall, marking the project’s first international release. Britt has also recently completed shooting her first music video from Say It, for the song “Believe,” which will be the first radio single in Japan. The video will be released worldwide in late September. “You,” Britt’s first radio single also continues to climb multiple radio charts this week. After 16 weeks, "You" is still positioned strongly in the Top 10 on both of R&R's AC charts, taking the #8 and #10 slots this week at both AC Indicator and AC Monitored respectively. The debut single has been on the CHR chart for 20 weeks peaking at #5 for 3 weeks, and is currently positioned at #11 on the chart. With Say It showing a consistent top ranking on the iTunes charts since its release and a recent feature as one of a handful of artists in any genre chosen for the new “Next Big Thing” iTunes promotion (one of only three Christian music artists included), a strong and growing Myspace presence with over 10,000 friends and a current Myspace “Say It” campaign and “Holiday” as the #3 most played song in the online dance game “Audition Online,” Britt is holding her place as a new artist to watch. (from LAB Media)

Starting this morning, Decyfer Down’s fourth consecutive No.1 Christian Rock single, “Fight Like This,” will be heard in a special promo promoting this weekend’s UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) title fight. The promo will start airing at 9 am EST on Sept 7th for 12 hours on the front page of YouTube.com. The UFC event will take place September 8th for the first ever basic cable presentation of a UFC Title Fight on Spike TV! Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Dan Henderson are slated to go five rounds for the Light Heavyweight Championship. The fight is happening at the 02 Arena in London, England, Saturday September 8th 9p-12m. For more information on Decyfer Down please go to: http://www.decyferdown.com or http://www.myspace.com/decyferdown (from The M Collective)

Trumpeting the mission statement “Let The Walls Fall Down!” through the music and message of top national Christian artists and speakers, SHOUTfest ’07 launched with record setting results this past weekend over the Labor Day holiday. In the first weekend, 20,000 people attended SHOUTfest, 15,000 Books of Hope were distributed, and hundreds of people came forward for ministry with 123 first time decisions for Christ! “This was the most effective weekend in the history of SHOUTfest which is a testament to the purpose and heart of founder Jeff Roberts who wrote the slogan: "SHOUTfest...Let the walls fall down,” noted SHOUTfest General Manager, Van L. Hohe. “In each city last weekend we witnessed groups of churches coming together hand in hand to reach their community for Christ. SHOUTfest is intended to be more than a tour...it is a tool for the local church. When believers come together under a common purpose, there is no limit to what can happen,” Hohe added. Launching September 1st with the most name artists, major sponsor alliances, and the biggest staging yet for Christian music’s most ambitious annual youth driven concert event, SHOUTfest will reach more than 20 national markets in its’ September thru November run. Jeremy Camp, Jars Of Clay, Superchick, and Pillar lead an array of more than 20 bands and solo artists who will rotate into the line-up being presented on two live stages. Other artists set to be featured on the tour market-to-market include, Building 429, Bebo Norman, The Afters, Starfield, Seventh Day Slumber, Shawn McDonald, Jump 5, Everyday Sunday, Storyside B, Group 1 Crew, Nate Huss, Inhabited, After Edmund, Article One, Starlit Platoon, Cali, and Lyrycyst. Resource additional information on SHOUTfest ’07: http://www.shoutfest.com (from Morning Star PR)

B&H Publishing Group will offer 750 free downloads of a rare Rich Mullins live recording, “Madeline’s Song,” in connection with the re-release of the acclaimed novel, Room of Marvels, in stores this month. Mullins wrote the song about Madeline Smith, the severely handicapped daughter of his close friend, author James Bryan Smith. Soon after, Rich died in an automobile accident on September 19, 1997. Madeline passed away in March 1998 at age two. James Bryan Smith, who had also recently suffered the loss of his mother, dealt with the overwhelming grief by writing Room of Marvels. Clearly based on his own experience, the novel tells the story of a loss-stricken author who regains his faith following a vivid dream about heaven. In the dream, the writer reunites with three people he has mourned (based directly on Mullins, Madeline, and Smith’s mother), gaining deep wisdom about the here and now as well as the hereafter. Upon its original release in 2004, Library Journal declared Room of Marvels “a good companion to Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven.” The 2007 re-release includes a new epilogue by Smith and is hailed as “a delightful fantasy” by 90 Minutes in Heaven coauthor Cecil Murphey. To download the free Mullins track beginning September 18, look for the “Madeline’s Song” link at roomofmarvels.com. (from B&H Publishing Group)

Celebrating a jaw-dropping spread of radio singles, press acclaim and prominent appearances throughout the early 2000s as breakout group Souljahz, brother and sister duo, Je’kob and Rachael Washington have rebounded from record label red tape and reemerged as The Washington Projects. The twosome is poised to unveil their debut album, Commanders of the Resistance, October 9th through independent record company, Black & White Label. As Souljahz, Je’kob, Rachael and their brother Josh had unprecedented success with their Word/Warner Bros debut, The Fault Is History. Their first radio single, “All Around The World,” shot straight to the top of the charts, while “True Love Waits” was simultaneously the most added on the CHR and AC formats. In addition, the project garnered two GMA Dove Awards, with five total nominations, and the group received extensive features on CNN Headline News, E!, Billboard, The WB, a slot on Sessions@AOL beside Christina Aguilera, 50 Cent, Shania Twain, Faith Hill and Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as a cross-country tour in support of the album, performing alongside the lauded and diverse talents of No Doubt, Nelly, Counting Crows, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Garbage, Kirk Franklin, TobyMac, Boyz II Men, Erykah Badu, Mary Mary and Sixpence None the Richer to name a few. “We can’t complain about the name change, or even about the unfortunate events that took place with our previous label. We had a great two years being blessed enough to see the world and spread God’s Message of Hope, Love, Peace & Happiness while touring a great record,” explains Rachael. “Music is our gift and though we had to make some hard decisions in leaving (Souljahz) behind, The Washington Projects represent the same mission. Our hearts are in reaching the lost with a message of hope, and no matter what the name, it is what my brother and I were born to do.” Commanders of the Resistance is an enthralling soundtrack of hope covering just as many relevant themes as it does sonic spectrums. A quick combing of the track list indicates everything from the club thumping “Crazy” to the neo soul shuffle of “Deliverance” and the rap/R&B attack of “Take It To the Streets.” The project also possesses endless trenches of lyrical depth, such as the relationship-based “Zephyr Wings,” the empowering “Diamonds” and the love song from Je’kob to his wife, “I Will Stay With You.” Je’kob tells a little more about the album: “This record is incredibly real. It is our hearts over the last four years, poured out in the form of music. We speak of love, hope, happiness and the trials and tribulations we’ve experienced in our lives, not only as a group, but individually as well. Each song on this record has a distinct meaning with our lives. The youth of the world, and even the music industry – Christians and non – need honesty. The world needs to know that being a Christian in the music industry doesn’t mean that every song has to be a worship song, or that we are perfect because we believe in God.” “We are telling true-life stories from the perspective of Christians,” continues Je’kob. “Music is a powerful tool that has drastic influence on today’s young people…even the artists themselves have influence, whether they believe it or not. We strive to reach kids where they are, to relate to them, be available to them and to speak in their language. Our goal is to use any influence we may have to impact lives.” In addition to debuting Commanders of the Resistance, The Washington Projects will also be hitting the road this fall and spring. First up is a slot as one of the featured artists on the Dare2Share “Survive” Training Conferences, alongside Hawk Nelson, Sanctus Real, Stellar Kart, Lincoln Brewster and speakers Greg Steir, Derwin “Dewey” Gray and Zane Black. The 3-day Conference tour will be hitting nine cities across the country between November and April. The duo is currently booking additional dates. “We are so excited to get back out on the road again,” says Rachael. “Even though we have been out doing spot dates here and there, we haven’t had a record to support. We’ve only done five or six shows performing the new material live, and I have to say it is by far the most fun I’ve ever had on stage! I can’t wait to get back on stage, travel the world, and use this gift to the fullest. This tour will be a great launch to get us back on the scene and in the ears and eyes of the youth.” While the group is securing national distribution, the album will be available on the Washington Projects website as well as iTunes. For more information about The Washington Projects and Commanders of the Resistance, please visit www.washingtonprojects.com and www.myspace.com/thewashingtonprojects. (from Springboard Entertainment)

*Thursday, September 6th, 2007*

MercyMe's upcoming All That Is Within Me Tour launches September 27th and in preparation, they have launched its auction site again. This year all proceeds benefit The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. This is your chance to get front row seats along with meet and greet passes while supporting a great cause. Fans can also read the special note from frontman Bart Millard on the site. Click here to visit the auction site. MercyMe's new album All That Is Within Me releases November 20th and is available in a regular single disc or a CD/DVD Collector's Edition set featuring aix song live video, interview footage of the band, three acoustic versions of songs on the record, as well as a free ringtone and free wallpaper! Click here to preorder today. (from MercyMe; Jesusfreakhideout.com)

In preparation for their upcoming third studio release, Captiva, alternative rockers Falling Up will be hitting the road this week for “The Captiva U.S. Tour” featuring This Beautiful Republic, The Send and A Dream Too Late. The tour will begin on September 7th in Knoxville, TN and conclude on October 8th in Oklahoma. Captiva (BEC Recordings) will hit consumers’ hands on October 2nd. "This fall tour will be unlike any other for Falling Up,” shares lead vocalist for Falling Up Jessy Ribordy. “Not only will we be playing new material from our upcoming album (Captiva), but our show will be more exciting than any previous tour. I really feel like we accentuate the extremes of our music during this set, and we are so excited to present The Captiva U.S. tour to every single person that comes out." Captiva is a three-dimensional, dynamic exercise that captures the strengths of their first two records while introducing a deeper, more profound element to the music. Running the gamut from the metaphorical to the candid, the lyrical content of Captiva is multi-faceted and dynamic, paralleling the sonic qualities of the record. The airwaves have played a major role in shaping the impact of Falling Up and promises to play an even larger role in the influence of Captiva. “Hotel Aquarium” will undoubtedly serve as one the year’s most influential singles already shooting up to No. 3 on the Rock chart before the album’s release. For current tour schedule & updates go to: http://www.myspace.com/fallingup (from The M Collective)

The Rocket Summer kicks off a very busy Fall today with the first date of the Sleeping With Giants Tour. Bryce Avary’s powerful vocals and infectious melodies will join The Academy Is, Armor For Sleep, and Sherwood on a three month journey across the country and even Canada. The Rocket Summer recently finished headlining Warped Tour dates as well as a tour to support the July release of Do You Feel. Yahoo! Music still features the band in their “Who’s Next” competition. Don’t miss out on the chance to see what all the hype is about in a city near you! You can read up more on the bands and buy tickets at http://www.mtvu.com/music/tours/the_academy_is/. (from Total Assault)

The William Morris Agency is pleased to announce their exclusive representation of modern worship band SONICFLOOd. "We believe that SONICFLOOd is one of the most trusted names in all of Christian touring with a solid track record of consistently delivering what churches want and expect from Christian artists. The band has done repeat concerts at many places, which is a sure sign that they deliver a strong and meaningful performance. We are pleased to represent the group at this important juncture in Christian music concert touring and in the career of SONICFLOOd,” states Charles Dorris, head of Christian Music for the William Morris Agency. Known as the "Fathers of Modern Worship Music,” SONICFLOOd helped launched the sub-genre in Christian music with the release of the classic #1 song, "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever.” The band has sold nearly 2 million albums, received a Grammy nomination and won Dove Awards for “Praise and Worship Album,” and has recently been featured on The Hour of Power, Breakthrough with Rod Parsley, and The 700 Club. With numerous Top 20 radio singles, the band has built a strong name as a touring artist with churches, Christian festivals, and worship/youth conferences. In addition to a healthy touring schedule in the USA, SONICFLOOd has had great success touring internationally, with performances in Europe, South America, South Africa, Australia and Asia. Current plans call for a spring tour in support of a new SONICFLOOd release in early 2008, as well as performing for churches, special events and festivals. For more information, visit www.wmaccm.com or www.sonicflood.com. (from SONICFLOOd)

On the heels of last week’s release of Robbie Seay Band’s critically-acclaimed sophomore Sparrow recording, Give Yourself Away, the Houston-based ensemble is currently on the road in support of the project. The multi-city “Give Yourself Away” Fall Tour features the Robbie Seay Band, along with special guest Reunion recording artist Brandon Heath. Kicking off recently in Midland, Texas, the tour is slated to hit more than 30 cities, including stops in Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Dallas; St. Louis; and Cleveland, before concluding in November. “We’re so excited to be back out on the road, covering a lot of ground and sharing our music with both old friends and new,” said Seay. “Playing new songs and starting conversations about them has opened the doors for more dialogue about faith, missions, and life in general. It’s also great to have Brandon Heath with us. We’ve been fans of Brandon’s for a while and couldn’t ask for a better partner on the road.” Give Yourself Away, the follow-up to Robbie Seay Band’s 2005 critically-acclaimed label debut, Better Days, was produced by Tedd T. (Mute Math, David Crowder*Band) and Robbie Seay, and finds the band taking an aggressive step forward with their alternative worship style. “Song Of Hope,” the debut single from Give Yourself Away, is at #24 on R&R’s September 4 AC Indicator chart and debuted at #26 on R&R’s September 4 AC Monitored chart. Comprised of Robbie Seay, Dan Hamilton and Ryan Owens, the group leads worship at Ecclesia Church, a Houston-based community of faith that seeks to embrace culture through practical love. In addition to their work within Ecclesia, Robbie Seay Band has recorded four independent projects and toured in 2005 on the 30-city David Crowder*Band “Collision” Tour. Brandon Heath has been a respected writer in the Nashville music community for years, collaborating with well-known artists like Bebo Norman, Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes, to name a few. The Nashville native first began writing at age 13 and credits the town's legendary hotspot for songwriters, the Bluebird Café, as the place he first experienced music that moved him. Heath's debut album Don't Get Comfortable has already yielded two hit songs with "I'm Not Who I Was" and "Our God Reigns" which garnered a Dove nomination for Worship Song of the Year. (from Turning Point PR)

In 1996, a relatively unknown Southern rock band from Georgia made their debut on Reunion Records. Ten years later, Third Day has become one of the most enduringly popular acts ever in Christian music. Commemorating the band’s first decade of history-making music, the Gospel Music Channel will world premiere an exclusive new one-hour documentary Inside Third Day: The First 10 Years which will air commercial free on GMC, Saturday, Sept. 8 at 9 p.m. (All times Eastern/Pacific.) The special’s premiere is part of Third Day Night on Gospel Music Channel (www.gospelmusicchannel.com), the nation’s first and only 24/7 Christian/Gospel music television network. Front Row Live: Third Day “Live Wire” -- a memorable live concert by the band -- kicks Third Day Night off at 8:00 p.m. followed by the premiere of Inside Third Day: The First 10 Years at 9:00 p.m. At 10:00 p.m., the band picks their favorite music videos as they host the GMC video countdown series Hot List. In Inside Third Day: The First 10 Years, award-winning director Paul Reeves follows the band from how they each met - to how they signed with Essential Records to their rise to arena-filling success. From band pranks like Tai's on-stage mullet revelation to shock frontman Mac Powell, to the band's unashamed proclamation of being a "Christian band," the documentary is a insightful and revealing look at the Atlanta-based foursome; a rare behind the music peak at how Mac Powell, Mark Lee, David Carr, Brad Avery, and Tai Anderson have earned a place among Christian music’s most respected bands of all-time. The special one-hour documentary is part of the multi-platinum and Grammy-winning band’s newly released Chronology, Volume Two, which features music from 2001 to 2006. Much like the companion Volume One (1996-2000), the two-disc CD/DVD set presents many of Third Day’s most beloved compositions. (from Spinhouse PR)

Jump5's "Hello & Goodbye Tour" kicks off September 7th, taking the successful teen pop group to more than 30 markets before the end of the year. The group recently announced plans to disband, but not before releasing their upcoming farewell album, Hello & Goodbye, and hitting the road one last time. Sponsored by Kingdom Kidz Club and Shoutlife.com, the "Hello & Goodbye Tour" will include performances by Jessie Daniels, Carried Away, pureNRG, Cali and Sammy Ward. Jump5's final studio album, Hello & Goodbye, will be released on October 9th by Slanted Records. The Radio Disney single "Shoot the Moon" is now available at iTunes. (from Nashville Publicity)

Multi-Platinum Christian music band Casting Crowns’ third album The Altar and The Door debuted this week at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart with more than 128,000 scans, making it this week’s highest album debut and the top artist release in the country, second only to the High School Musical 2 soundtrack. “This debut is a landmark achievement for this artist and our company in so many ways. Casting Crowns has proven that artistry, ministry, career and personal life can all co-exist successfully when the mission is clear. We are truly thankful to be a part of this at a time when record sales are hard to come by and consumers have so many choices. Clearly, Casting Crowns’ message of hope and encouragement, coupled with Mark Miller’s magnificent production, is resonating with listeners,” shares Terry Hemmings, President and CEO of Provident Music Group. Another equally impressive achievement is in the digital arena where The Altar and The Door peaked at No. 3 on the iTunes Top 100. This week’s success follows the band’s back-to-back Platinum certifications on its first two albums, its self-titled debut and its follow-up Lifesong, both of which are also in the Top 20 on the Nielsen Christian SoundScan Charts. Earlier this year, Casting Crowns set an RIAA record as the fastest Christian music artist in its career to have its first two albums certified Platinum, and only the second in RIAA history ever to achieve it (the other being Jars of Clay in 2000). The band’s GRAMMY-winning sophomore album Lifesong debuted at No. 9 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart in September 2005 with more than 71,000 scans. Casting Crowns is fronted by lead singer and songwriter Mark Hall, who also is serving his 16th year as student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta. All seven band members remain active in student ministry at their Atlanta-area churches. The band will visit 36 cities during its The Altar and The Door Fall Tour. For tour dates and more information, please visit www.castingcrowns.com. (from Provident Label Group)

*Wednesday, September 5th, 2007*

Gotee crunk rockers Family Force 5 will hit 30 cities nationwide as they headline the Dance, Rawr, Dance Tour with bands Jonezetta and The Secret Handshake beginning this October 1st. In addition, a sponsorship by Outerlight Entertainment has lead to the band partnering with Jedidiah Clothing and the Hope Collection, a series of t-shirts designed to benefit various humanitarian organizations and their causes. The 30-city tour will kick off in October 1st in St Louis, MO and take Family Force 5 through Nebraska, Minnesota, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Arkansas, as well as Ohio, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Tennessee, their home-state of Georgia, and Florida. Family Force 5, who tour an average of 200 dates a year, is just off the road with this summer?s Van?s Warped Tour. Fans who come out to one of the Family Force 5 dates will be able to support various social aid affiliates by purchasing a ?special edition? Dance, Rawr, Dance Tour t-shirt, with $5.00 from every shirt sale going to the Hope Collection charities. The special edition shirt will also come with a Gotee Records digital artist sampler in conjunction with start-up digital service DiscRevolt. Two Jedidiah representatives will be on the road as well offering the full Hope Collection lineup of clothing for purchase. The Jedidiah Clothing company is a premiere brand in the surf/art/music/fashion industry that aims to create a revenue stream to assist the less fortunate through increased awareness, financial contributions and service projects. The company embraces clothing as a platform to convey a message of Hope, Grace, Encouragement, Forgiveness and Love. 1% of Jedidiah?s total revenue is donated to various social aid programs and humanitarian groups. Jedidiah Clothing is sold nationwide at Buckle stores. (www.jedidiahusa.com) Family Force 5 fans can also anticipate an online contest where people from each tour market can sign up to win a chance to hang with the band pre-show and have the opportunity to win a pair of tickets and a shirt from the Hope Collection. The contest opens for participation tomorrow, September 5th at www.myspace.com/familyforce5 . Contest participants will need to create a piece of Family Force 5 artwork using sidewalk chalk in a highly visible area of their city. They will then photograph it and submit for contest consideration. Family Force 5 logo stencils will be available for download online. (from LB PR)

Relient K is playing a free show on Tuesday, September 11th. It's all part of the McDonald's LIVE Tour and The Last Goodnight will be performing for free too. Check out mcdlive.com for more details. And even if you can't make it to the show, the site will post concert footage after the show, so make sure to check it out! (Showtime and location: 6:00PM / 100 Block of State St. "30 on the Square" / Madison, WI 53703). Before next Tuesday, Relient K will be performing at Rock The Universe this weekend in Orlando, FL, so check them out then and you just might find some JFH staff wandering around as well! (from Relient K; Jesusfreakhideout.com)

Josh Fenoglio, drummer of the brand-new Essential Records band, Grey Holiday, recently found out he has a severe ankle sprain. Part of the problem is that it took him a month to realize the injury. While playing basketball at an orphanage in Mozambique, Africa, during his July visit, Fenoglio incurred the ankle sprain, for which he is now wearing an aircast. According to Fenoglio, “When I tried to get up from my fall, my right ear went deaf, my vision got blurry, to the point where I could only see spots, and I had to throw up immediately. It was kind of insane.” But no worries for fans of Grey Holiday - Josh is still able to play the drums just fine, so the band will not be missing any upcoming performances. Grey Holiday’s debut, The Glorious Revolution, releases September 25, 2007. (from Provident Music Group)

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is now accepting entries for 2007. One of the largest songwriting competitions in the world, ISC gives away over $150,000 in cash and prizes, including an Overall Grand Prize package of $25,000 (US) in cash and over $20,000 in merchandise. ISC offers artists the most exposure, the best judges, and the biggest cash prize, unmatched by any other songwriting competition. ISC winners benefit from extensive press and publicity, gaining exposure and recognition from an international music market of industry professionals and fans. PasteMagazine.com says, "How do you show the world that you have just made history? You could sit back down on the couch and hope for a record executive's phone call, or you could be proactive and win $25,000. The latter approach is not a dream; it merely requires talent and a submission to the 2007 International Songwriting Competition." ISC is proud to announce a new category for 2007: Comedy/Novelty. Judging the new category will be comedy icons "Weird Al" Yankovic, David Cross (FOX TV's Arrested Development), and Cheech Marin (Cheech and Chong). All original comedy, parody, and novelty songs are welcome in the new category. In all, ISC offers 19 different categories to enter: Pop/Top 40, AAA (Adult Album Alternative), Rock, Country, Americana, R&B/Hip-Hop, Blues, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Jazz, Gospel/Christian, Latin Music, Instrumental, Dance/Electronica, World Music, Children's Music, Comedy/Novelty, Lyrics Only, Teen, and Performance. ISC is unique because of its judges. Since its inception, ISC has become internationally renowned for having the most prestigious judging panel of any songwriting competition in the world, offering entrants the unprecedented opportunity to have their songs heard by the industry's top recording artists and influential music executives. Continuing in that tradition, the ISC 2007 judging panel includes recording artists Tom Waits; Loretta Lynn; Ray Davies (The Kinks); Julian Casablancas (The Strokes); Nelly Furtado; Kenny Wayne Shepherd; Ornette Coleman; Youssou N'Dour; Sean Paul; Jerry Lee Lewis; "Weird Al" Yankovic; Frank Black (Pixies); Robert Smith (The Cure); Cassandra Wilson; David Cross; Craig Morgan; John Mayall; Joe Satriani; Toby Mac; Michael W. Smith; Chris Hillman (The Byrds); John Scofield; Hinder; Amy Ray (Indigo Girls); Cheech Marin (Cheech & Chong); Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Macy Gray; Peter Hook (New Order); Paulina Rubio; and Tiesto. ISC is open to musicians, artists, and songwriters at every level from amateur to professional. Artists may submit as many songs as desired in each category or enter the same song in more than one category. Entries are accepted online or by mail. For more information or to enter ISC 2007, please visit www.songwritingcompetition.com. The deadline is quickly approaching, so enter now! (from International Songwriting Competition)

Michael W. Smith's Rocketown Records and Nettwerk Management (Jars of Clay, Leigh Nash, Matt Wertz) will partner together to present Born After Vinyl," an evening of music, conversation and social awareness, on October 4th in Nashville, TN at the SYNC @ Nettwerk. This partnership comes together out of the common interests shared by both companies to cultivate new artistry and ignite social awareness within local communities. The Nashville "Born After Vinyl" night is the first of what is being planned as a series of events which planners hope will reach something beyond labels and industry, creating a community where emerging music can thrive and social consciousness can develop. “We, at Nettwerk, are very excited to be partnering with Rocketown Records to present what we hope to be an ongoing series of great live music and engaging conversation," says Nettwerk's Michael Corcoran. "We think the 'Born After Vinyl' nights are going to be a great way to introduce people to new artists, as well as a wonderful opportunity to discuss some of the broader issues facing our local and global communities.” In addition to showcasing the new brand and artists involved, all proceeds from admission will be donated to the defense fund of Eric Volz, a one time resident of Nashville and Hillsboro High School student, who is falsely imprisoned in Nicaragua. Volz' still has family and strong relationships in Nashville, making his situation especially important for the Nashville community. The "Born After Vinyl" evening should be a reminder of Volz' case; providing information for those interested and raising further awareness around the injustice. Additional donation opportunities will be presented throughout the evening to support the Volz' defense fund. To learn more about Volz' story, please visit www.friendsofericvolz.com. If Volz is released by or before October 4th, any money raised will still be committed to assisting with the costs of defense. "Three things excite me about this idea. New music, new associations with innovative companies like Nettwerk, and social action," adds Don Donahue of Rocketown Records. "Music sounds better to me when it points towards something important... in this case shining a light on a falsely imprisoned man with family and friends in Nashville. Our hope with 'Born After Vinyl' is to discover a new generation of artists who care deeply about important things and connect them to a consumer who feels the same way." Rocketown Records, in conjunction with the "Born After Vinyl" live event, is announcing a digital compilation series under the same name seeking to provide a new platform of awareness for young artists. Comprised of both signed artists and non-affiliated, independent acts, Born After Vinyl Vol. 1 includes artists from and closely tied to Nashville. Like the live event, the compilation series caters to a demographic hungry for discovery and stresses the idea of artist community and the cross-promotional strength that it provides. The first compilation will be released to online digital music stores, such as iTunes, Napster, etc, on September 11. Born After Vinyl, Vol. 1 track listing: Andrew Osenga - "After the Garden," High Flight Society - "Sweet Redeemer," David Condos - "The Ache," Lanae' Hale - "Spring Again," Tyler Burkhum - "Carry You With Me," Jake Smith - "What I Plan To Do," Ives - "You Wanted Love," Amy Stroup - "Chasing Greenlights," Andrew Osenga - "Wanted," and Tim Wildsmith - "Recovery." Performers for the "Born After Vinyl" evening include Nettwerk Management's Kyle Andrews (www.kyleandrews.com) and, Born After Vinyl, Vol. 1 artists, Andrew Osenga (www.andrewosenga.com), Amy Stroup (www.amystroup.com), David Condos (www.davidcondos.com) and Lanae' Hale (www.lanaehale.com). Maggie Anthony, the mother of Eric Volz, will also be on hand as a guest speaker during the evening. Admission is five dollars at the door and doors open at 7 PM. The SYNC @ Nettwerk is located at 1201 Villa Place, Suite 206. (from Rocketown Records)