Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News: July 2004

July, 2004

*Thursday, July 29th, 2004*

MercyMe announced this news blurb to their fan list this week... "We had the opportunity a few weeks ago to travel to Seattle and record a special interview and unplugged set on the Nationally syndicated radio program "Delilah." The special will air this Thursday night 7/29 at 7pm on the nearly 250 stations around the country that play Delilah's show. Check out this link: http://www.radiodelilah.com/Radio/_listing.html to find out the station in your area that will be airing Delilah. Please tune in this Thursday night and listen for us! If you enjoy it, we'd love for you all to call either your local station, or the Delilah program itself at 1-888-6DELILAH (633-5452) between 7pm and midnight EST and tell them that you support them playing this kind of music on their stations. You can always call any time and request our current single "Here With Me!" It was exciting to to share our faith and play our music for the large audience (8 million) that tunes into Delilah every evening. ...Also, we are excited to announce the release of our new book through Thomas Nelson / J. Countryman Publishers, which hit store shelves a few weeks ago. The book is titled "I Can Only Imagine - Stories of Eternal Hope" and it is comprised of many stories that we have received from people who have been touched by God through this song. We have been so encouraged to hear of God at work in people's lives that we wanted to share some of those stories with you."

Brian Smith, of the band FFH, and his wife Allyson are celebrating the birth last night in Nashville of the newest addition to their family, a new daughter, Elaine Grace—“Ellie” for short. Ellie caught everyone by surprise—including her proud dad! She wasn’t expected until August 9th. Noted Brian from the hospital: “It was a pretty exciting day! We actually went into the doctor to have a routine check-up and ended up at the hospital because Allyson was a little dehydrated and had a slight fever. They hooked her up on the monitors and a half hour later the nurse came in and said to us, “You’re in labor!” Ellie arrived at 11:00 P.M. last Thursday night (22nd) at Williamson County Hospital, weighing in at a healthy 6lbs. 10 ozs. and stretching herself to her full length of 19 inches. “We had been praying everything would go smoothly and it was a perfect delivery, and she came out just perfect! She gets cuter and cuter as the minutes tick by,” added dad. Mom is resting well today and posing for the first family photos with her new daughter. Brian and Allyson have an older daughter—Madison—who at 17 months was excited to get to meet her new baby sister for the first time. “Maddie loves baby dolls—she carries one with her all the time—so when she first saw the baby she just lit up. All she wanted to do was hold her and hug and kiss her—it was pretty awesome,” noted Brian.

Sara Groves has recently been recognized by the Alumni Board from Evangel University for her significant achievements in the few years since her graduation. The "Outstanding Young Alumnus Award" is presented to alumni who have made contributions with their lives within a short period after their graduation. In 1994, Sara received her Bachelors of Science in History and English from this private Christian university in Springfield, Missouri. "So much of my life and music reflect the principles and passions I found at Evangel," states Sara. "From the day I was born, my dad [Dwight Colbaugh] has engaged me in a conversation about what it means to take on the very worldview of Jesus Christ. These and others still inspire me ten years later, and will inspire me for years to come to integrate my faith and life, and to live out the kingdom dream." Groves is set to perform for the Evangel University Homecoming event on October 9, 2004. Along with her performance, the keynote speaker is United States Attorney General John Ashcroft. Ashcroft has ties to this university as he is the son of the university's second president, the late Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft, who served from 1958-1974. Sara Groves is also a part of the new book collaboration,"The Art of Being," which features original essays and stories from a diverse list of contributors including Groves, Jonathan Foreman (Switchfoot), Matthew Odmark (Jars of Clay), Gloria Gaither, Don and Lori Chaffer (Waterdeep), Tammy Trent, and Linford Detweiler (Over the Rhine), The Art of Being explores what it really means to "be" who we are. Available everywhere September 21, 2004. Visit the link to read an except from Sara's essay http://www.artofbeingbook.com/

Delirious? is going to the Olympics? The D: boys will be following the eternal flame down to Athens to take part in, yes, the biggest event in international sports on Saturday 14th August! For more details, surf on over to www.delirious.co.uk!

Wonder what Warren Barfield's been up to lately? Lots. His debut year has been an amazing journey for Warren and the outlook for the next year is very bright! Also, Warren has allowed for fans to get a first listen at his new recording of Keith Green's "You're So Beautiful." He recorded it for the September release of CCM's Top 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music. This file is not a final mix/master of the song so check out this special recording now! http://www.warrenbarfield.com/music/

In a surprise announcement, Inpop Records’ pop singer/songwriter Ian Eskelin (All Star United) has announced his intention to seek the Presidency of the United States in the upcoming November general election. The announcement suspiciously coincides with the release of Eskelin’s first solo project in ten years, Save The Humans, which hits stores September 21. After being informed that persons wishing to hold the office of President must first actually qualify to run, Eskelin stated, “Well….I’m not sure that I have met or will meet the qualifications to be included in this year’s Presidential election, but we’re actively working to build support for my campaign. At our current rate, I’m expecting to have some real momentum going by the time I’m 70 or so.” He added, “I think I have some great ideas for the country…and did I mention that I’m releasing a new record called Save The Humans on September 21?” Co-producing Save The Humans in Los Angeles with the Wizardz of Oz (Avril Lavigne, Jason Mraz), Eskelin spent over twelve months creating the ten-song project which has been described as “one of the tightest and brightest alt-pop offerings in recent memory.” Majestic hooks, honest sentiment, expressive instrumentation and a disarmingly upbeat outlook combine in a way that makes Save The Humans imminently original as well as immediately accessible. The first radio single from the project, “Shout,” goes for adds at CHR and Christian Rock formats on July 30. “I really wanted to write a project with ten potential radio singles,” Ian explains. “I wanted the album to be that musically-charged, and very ‘happy.’ This project has a bit of humor and a bit of introspection, but never turns cynical or moody. It’s very positive all the way through. “That’s just where I’m at in my life,” he added. “I’m content. I’m eager to express my faith. I’m happy. I don’t know if it’s uncool for someone in rock music to just be really happy, but I am.”

Sparrow Rock band Sanctus Real recently completed taping the concept video for its current, No. 1 radio hit, “Everything About You,” which will be serviced to broadcast outlets nationally this summer. The video is the first from its critically acclaimed June 15 release, Fight The Tide, and follows the fan favorite, “Say It Loud,” the title track from the band’s record-breaking debut. “Everything About You” is being produced by Chad Denning, acclaimed for his videos for Universal Records’ artist The Features. The song also continues to garner significant airplay on multiple radio charts, holding the No. 1 position on the R & R Rock chart for the second consecutive week and capturing Top 10 positions on both the CRW and PDAdvisor CHR charts.

Dove Award-winning Male Vocalist and New Artist of the Year artist Jeremy Camp will headline the “Restored Tour” this fall, visiting 55+ cities in just three months. This is his second time to headline a nationwide tour in just a year. The tour acquires its name from Camp’s upcoming studio project, Restored, slated to release November 16th on BEC Recordings. From sales to radio, from media to touring, this singer/songwriter is making a definitive mark in this industry with his tremendous songs and ability to capture audiences of all ages. The “Restored Tour” will take Camp, as well as special guests Sanctus Real (Sparrow) and Seven Places (BEC Recordings) to over 55 cities beginning mid-August through November 23rd, taking a hiatus in October as Camp and his wife, Adrienne, will welcome the birth of their first child. Before hitting the main stages at all major summer festivals, this spring Camp was part of the extremely successful “Adoration Tour,” opening for Newsboys and Rebecca St. James. After touring with Festival Con Dios in 2003, Camp headlined his first tour, the “Stay Tour,” last fall. The tour averaged over 1,000 people a night with ten sellouts in the first half of the tour with over 500 people dedicating their life to Christ over the course of the Fall 2003.

Jessie Daniels was in New York last week to co-headline Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary Celebration. The event was held outside Arthur Ashe Stadium on the grounds of the USTA National Tennis Center (home to the U.S. Open Tennis Championships) in New York. Joining Daniels for the event was Bryan Chan, formerly of the Atlantic Records group LMNT and the hit television series "Making the Band". Chan is currently featured on a number of soundtracks including The Lizzie McGuire Movie and Disney Mania 2. He also toured with his group last year as the opening act for Britney Spears. Both artists performed 30 minute sets and joined numerous sports celebrities in signing autographs and meeting with fans.

The Answer To The Question, the third project from Inpop Records’ Dove Award-winning rock trio Tree63, continues to see success at radio and retail nearly four months after the record’s release on March 9. Inpop has released “King,” the second single from the best-selling project to radio, and the early response has been overwhelming. “Blessed Be Your Name,” the first radio single from The Answer To The Question, added to the band’s string of radio hits and reached the #2 position on the AC (Adult Contemporary) radio charts. The song remains at #3 on R&R’s (Radio and Records) Monitored AC chart, more than seven months after its release, and continues to be one of the most downloaded songs at the iTunes Inspirational section. Response to the song was overwhelming, resulting in the shipment of well over 60,000 units to retail in less than three months. Early reaction to “King” indicates that the song will pick up where “Blessed” left off.

Flicker Records has announced the signing of singer/songwriter duo Trent Monk and Michael Neagle. Known collectively as Monk and Neagle, the pair plans to release their self-titled debut August 24. Monk and Neagle also recently signed exclusive representation deals with artist management company Brickhouse Entertainment (Mercy Me, Audio Adrenaline) and Third Coast Booking Agency (Mercy Me, Shane and Shane, David Crowder). Produced by Ed Cash (Bebo Norman, Chris Tomlin), the ten songs of Monk and Neagle provide acoustic, soulful pop and infectious hooks from start to finish, including “Secret,” “Sweep Me Away,” “Dancing With the Angels” and the serenade for their beloved brides, “Stars Would Fall (I’m Crazy).” The first single from the album, “All I Need,” is rapidly climbing both Adult Contemporary (AC) and CHR Christian radio charts, following a summer full of concert appearances, including Alive Festival and Celebrate Freedom. “Flicker made a great fit for us because they understood our vision for this album, and helped to make that vision a reality,” said Neagle. “We wanted this album to convey what the Lord has done in our own personal relationships with Him and the many situations, good and bad, we have walked through in our lives. Our hope is that people from every walk of life will be able to identify with our music, and be encouraged by it.” “The excitement building around Monk and Neagle is amazing to watch, and we are thrilled to be a part of it,” said Troy Vest, general manager of Flicker Records. “Trent and Michael already have a phenomenal fan base as independent artists, and they are positioning themselves for explosive growth with their extensive touring presence this year. Their sincerity and artistry are undeniable, and stylistically, this album is at the core of pop music’s current direction.” Hailing from Amarillo, Texas, Monk and Neagle met in college and have been close friends for over ten years. Although each had developed individual followings as independent artists, the pair made the decision to travel together as the opening act for fellow Texans Shane and Shane on the group’s 2003 tour. Realizing their chemistry on stage together and their shared artistic vision, Monk and Neagle became a formal duo upon signing with Flicker Records.

Matt Slocum, formerly of Sixpence None the Richer, is known for his presence in the music world, so it should be no surprise he hasn't wasted any times starting up a new band. Nashville rock has reached uncharted heights since Astronaut Pushers made their national debut earlier this month. The trio features Slocum, Lindsay Jamieson (Departure Lounge), and Sam Ashworth (My Tyger).

New pop/rock band Exit East has found their home at Fervent Records. The Atlanta-based band is comprised of lead singer Jason Foust, guitarist Jon Stanley, bassist Mitch Brooks, and drummer Chris Lindsey, who began playing together in a church band in the winter of 1999. After claiming the top award at 2003’s AtlantaFest Artist Search, it was clear that the Atlanta-based group was ready to take things to the next level. Producer Otto Price (Out of Eden, BarlowGirl, Grits) describes Exit East as “not your average guy band, with a unique sound and a timeless quality.” "I've known these guys for almost two years now and believe 100% in their ministry and sincere hearts for the Lord,” says Susan Riley, owner and founder of Fervent Records. “They are the real deal and we're excited to have them as part of the Fervent family.” Each band member is passionate about impacting culture while creatively and consciously “changing” Christian music. Not that Exit East wants to challenge the fibers of Christian music, but rather they want to use it as an avenue to creatively tell the true-life stories of a Christian- not backing away from real life moments. With their candid themes, Exit East is poised to have a great impact on listeners in the Christian market, as well as those outside it. Lead singer Jason Foust states, “We always want to expand our limits as musicians and push ourselves to be better at our craft, working with more interesting ideas, huge hooks, and poignant themes; but overall, our music will always remain the story of our lives in Christ- we want to tell that story better with every song.”

CCM Magazine, the preeminent Christian music magazine covering Christian music for more than 25 years, has partnered with Creative Trust Workshop (CTW) and Integrity Publishers to launch a new music series, CCM's Top 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music. The series will feature four music recordings produced by Creative Trust Workshop and a book published by Integrity Publishing based on CCM Magazine's selection of the 100 best songs ever recorded by Christian music artists. "This is the essential collection of Christian music songs, compiled not only for their importance to Christian music, but for their impact on the lives of artists and music fans," said Roberta Croteau, associate publisher of Salem Publishing, publisher of CCM. "And, we're incredibly excited to also have a companion set of CDs for the book, a first of its kind." CCM's Top 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music, published by Integrity Publishers, will arrive in stores in early October. The book will reveal the ranking of the top 100 songs that were chosen by a group of journalists, industry experts and Christian music fans via an Internet survey. Each of the 100 songs is featured with intriguing details, interviews, facts and photos, providing context and insight into that song's impact in Christian music and on music fans.

EMI CMG/Worship Together lead worshipper, Tim Hughes, author of “Here I Am To Worship,” the 2003 Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year and 2004 Dove Awards Worship Song of the Year winner, is set to release his second album, When Silence Falls, August 24. Teaming with US-based producer, Nathan Nockels (Watermark; Passion) and following the success of his debut album, Here I Am To Worship, the new album from Hughes explores the theme of finding God in the desert places, in the midst of pain or confusion and learning to worship from those broken places. Although seasoned with lament, this collection of worship anthems and praise arias is anything but melancholy. Songs such as “When Silence Falls” and “Beauty of Your Peace” acknowledge that things can be difficult and problems will arise, while songs like “Beautiful One” and “Giver of Life” employ awe-inspiring imagery to encourage a spirit of adoration and identify the goodness of God in every situation. “How can we express God's goodness when life is hard?” asks Hughes. “How can we maintain that joy and amazement and wonder? As Christians we have to, because there are always so many things to be thankful for. For young people, that is especially important, because I think we can alienate and push young people away from God and the Church if we don't acknowledge that things can be difficult."

Beatmart Recordings launches label with debut release Best of the Submissions. Beatmart Recordings, founded by industry veteran Todd Collins, makes it’s industry debut with the release of Best of the Submissions, available nationwide July 13, 2004. Beatmart Recordings - Best of the Submissions is a collection of original and exclusive songs showcasing the best unsigned and highly respected emcees in the Christian hip-hop scene. Joining the cast of newcomers are established and well known artists such as KJ52, Manchild (Mars Ill), Sev Statik, Japhia Life, Bobby Bishop, Rob Hodge and many others, making this a must have for a wide variety of music fans. Best of the Submissions proves that this is the best collection of emcees around. Not only is this a great mix of artists and beats, Best of the Submissions offers emcees from around the world the opportunity to have their beats on the 2005 Submissions release. By putting this CD in a computer, the listener is taken to a secret website, which can only be unlocked with the CD, where they can post their own material. Once the song has been submitted, it will be posted to the public site at www.beatmart.com where people will vote on their favorites. Each month, a winner will be determined by the song receiving the most votes. At the end of the year, the monthly winners will go head to head, and the top three will be included on the 2005 Submissions CD.

Australian worship phenomenon, Planetshakers sweeps the U.S. with its dynamic spiritual teaching and high-energy live performance. Three months since the debut of its latest studio recording, Open Up the Gates, Planetshakers delivers (My King) Live Praise & Worship, featuring live songs from its spring project. The joint CD/DVD releases through Word Records Aug. 24. (My King) Live Praise & Worship is the most recent in a series of Planetshakers products and events planned for 2004. In conjunction with the Open Up the Gates release and a 15-city U.S. tour this summer, (My King) Live Praise & Worship is part of an ongoing initiative to affect America’s youth for Christ by empowering them to impact their communities with the Gospel message. “Planetshakers pioneered the youth praise and worship movement in Australia but is just now moving to the U.S. market,” comments Barry Landis, president of Word Records. “I’m excited about helping youth leaders across the U.S. experience this powerful ministry.”

Right now you can get an exclusive Charmaine CD single available at the shows that she will be performing with the Newsboys. Get a glimpse of the new album she is working on with her brand new song, "Escape." Hear it first at CharmaineMusic.com.

Rocketown recording artist Shaun Groves appeared recently on the acclaimed syndicated morning radio program, "The Rick & Bubba Show." In addition to live broadcasts on the internet, "The Rick & Bubba Show" can be heard in more than 23 markets as well as viewed each morning on Turner South. Groves, who heads out next week on the Summer Jam tour, is currently writing songs for his upcoming third album, due in 2005.

Demon Hunter's "My Heartstrings Come Undone" is set to appear on the upcoming Resident Evil 2 Soundtrack which hits stores on August 31st on Roadrunner Records.

Right now when you order the debut album from Haste The Day, Burning Bridges from Tower.com, you'll receive a free 7 song EP with purchase! This is a limited time offer, so don't miss out. Check out details here! http://www.towerrecords.com/promo.asp?page=Haste%20the%20Day%201

*Saturday, July 17th, 2004*

Multi-platinum-selling artist Michael W. Smith and best-selling author Max Lucado join forces again to create Come Thirsty: A Day of Refreshment and Worship. Slated for three cities this fall, each all-day event is geared for Christian inspiration through music, teaching and preaching. “We’re inviting people to give their Lord a Saturday,” says Max Lucado. “Michael will lead worship. I’ll bring encouragement from the Word. Together, we implore people to come thirsty and drink deeply. We want them to experience the presence of God and the joy of Christian community.” “This is going to be one big church service, and I’m excited about that,” Michael W. Smith says. “As I’ve said many times before, this—leading God’s people in worship—is what I enjoy more than anything else, and it’s an honor to work again with Max Lucado.” Come Thirsty was inspired by Smith and Lucado’s experience with the highly successful Come Together and Worship tour, which also included Third Day. The tour’s spring 2003 leg was enjoyed by 110,000 people on the West Coast. Prior to that, the tour’s fall 2002 dates ranked among Pollstar magazine’s Top 100 tours of 2002. During the Come Thirsty events, Smith will be sharing worship songs from his upcoming album Healing Rain (Reunion, Oct. 26), including the title track which received praise after Smith debuted the song at this spring’s Gospel Music Week.

GRAMMY Award winning band Audio Adrenaline celebrated the Fourth of July with nearly 7,000 students attending the International Youth Convention (IYC) of the Church of God held in Nashville, Tennessee. Following a fireworks display hosted by IYC, the band treated the students packed into the world-famous Grand Ole Opry with hits from its current, critically acclaimed release, Worldwide, as well as a full set list of other fan favorites. “Audio Adrenaline has been consistent in their message and in their Christian walk for numerous years,” said Andy Stephenson, Director of IYC. “They aren’t a band that came and went. And everything about what happens {at IYC} is about making a moment for life change.” In addition to Audio Adrenaline, the five-day conference featured student leadership workshops, worship sessions and dynamic speakers including Louie Giglio and Lori Salierno. Students also ventured out for a morning of service projects, volunteering at 68 sites across “Music City,” while further visiting residents at the Nashville Rescue Mission and several area nursing homes. This year’s conference carried on the seventy-year tradition of creating a “moment for life change” for the attending youth, whose 12,000 attendants at the previous two conferences represented 40 states and 12 countries. With conference attendees returning to their respective homes, they, and music fans all over the US, are beginning to hear the newest hit from Audio Adrenaline as “Miracle,” from Worldwide, released to radio last week.

With career sales of more than one million, seven no. 1 radio hits, 17 Top 5 singles, multiple Dove Award nods, and a myriad of national headlining tours, FFH gears up for the Sept. 28th release of the group’s fifth studio project on Essential Records, Still The Cross. The newest project from FFH is its most musically ambitious “hands on” album yet, from the co-production by Jeromy Deibler to the band’s writing and hours of instrumental tracking in the studio. FFH members, Jeromy and Jennifer Deibler, Brian Smith and Michael Boggs, define Still The Cross as both a corporate and individual ‘labor of love’. “We’ve had more creative input and control over this project, than any album to date,” noted Jeromy. “On this record, it was the four of us in the studio, me speaking more creatively into the production from the control room, and all of us on a level playing field at the same time---we were more decisively calling the signals to ‘press record and play.’ With Still The Cross, we feel confident as a group about our music at a new level we’ve never experienced before.” Seven of the tracks were co-production ventures of Jeromy with the band’s long-time producer; Scott Williamson with three of the new tracks had the added production creativity of Mark Miller, (Casting Crowns, Sawyer Brown). Noted Miller, “I was initially drawn to the integrity of the music and the ministry intent of FFH. I’m pleased to be a part of a project that is a definite ‘coming of age’ venture for them as a band.” All ten songs were written or co-written by Jeromy, Michael and Brian. “This album comes from an ‘honest place’ we’ve all reached as individuals in the last year and a half,” notes Boggs (guitar/vocals). “The ten songs we finally chose came together as a collection of what God has been putting on our hearts.”

Continuing to impact the global community, EMI CMG rock band Delirious? was a special headline performer at SWR3’s Arena of Sound 2004 music festival, where more than 80,000 fans filled the Schlossplatz in Stuttgard, Germany. The band’s appearance at the festival followed the German No. 1 SWR3 hit radio single “Inside Outside,” which has received over 10,000 plays at radio in Germany since February. The song is from Delirious?’s current, internationally acclaimed album World Service. Responding to fan demand, the band is slated to release it’s second German single from World Service, “Every Little Thing,” to radio soon. Arena of Sound reviewers have already touted the band’s performance of the song at the festival and are eagerly awaiting to hear more from Delirious? in the near future. In the States, the band’s new single from World Service, “Majesty (Here I Am),” has been rated by R & R as the No. 1 Christian AC New and Active single, while PDAdviser named the single on the top of its AC Advancers chart. R & R also ranked Delirious?’s multi-format hit “Rain Down” as No. 1 on the CHR Most Played Recurrents chart. More information about Delirious?, World Service and the band’s touring, can be found at www.delirious.co.uk, www.sparrowrecords.com.

Sparrow Rock band Sanctus Real garners its second consecutive No. 1 radio hit this year with “Everything About You.” The song is from the band’s critically acclaimed sophomore offering, Fight The Tide, which released last month, and follows Sanctus Real’s No. 1 hit “Beautiful Day,” from the multi-artist project, In The Name Of Love: Artists United For Africa. “Everything About You” securely grasped the No. 1 position this week on the R & R Rock chart, while simultaneously breaking into the Top 10 and climbing on the CHR chart. The song is also No. 12 and climbing on both CRW and PDAdvisor CHR charts. Furthermore, CRW lists the song at No. 2 and climbing on its Rock chart.

Big Idea Inc., creators of the award winning VeggieTales® entertainment franchise, announced Wednesday the relocation of its headquarters and animation studios from the Chicago region to Franklin, Tennessee to support its creative and production needs. “Big Idea is thrilled to call Tennessee home,” says Chief Operating Officer Terry Pefanis. “This vibrant area of the country is not only rich in culture and hospitality, it is also the center of the Christian entertainment and country music industries. It is the ideal place for Big Idea and VeggieTales to grow and prosper." With 12,000 square feet of redesigned space, Big Idea’s entire executive, creative and production teams are housed in a state of the art facility at The Factory at Franklin, an environment emulating Big Idea’s modern take on timeless classics. In addition to being a member of the National Register of Historic Places, The Factory is ideally located near major distribution partners Word and EMI in Nashville, as well as several key licensees. Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, joined Franklin Mayor Thomas R. Miller and other dignitaries yesterday in welcoming Big Idea and attending renowned VeggieTales characters Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber to the state. “Big Idea’s decision to relocate its corporate headquarters to Tennessee, where it began, is reflective of a growing interest in developing family entertainment in the Franklin area,” states Governor Bredesen. “Big Idea’s move here is sure to spark additional entertainment investment in this community and its workforce.”

Coming out of the studio with their sophomore release Seven Places is readying for Hear Us Say Jesus to hit stores on September 21, 2004. Prior to that, you will be able to catch the guys on the road with the Carried Me Tour featuring Jeremy Camp, Seven Places and Sanctus Real. This tour begins August 12 and heads through Sept. Following the Carried Me Tour you will be able to see the guys on the 30 city Fight the Tide Tour with Sanctus Real, Seven Places and new band Hawk Nelson. This tour runs end of September thru October!

Flicker Records has some hot things happening in the video world! Fuse has added the Pillar "Bring Me Down" video to it's OvenFresh section and some things are stirring at MTV. Subseven's "Emotion" has a huge following on MuchMusic in Canada, meanwhile the latest two videos from Everyday Sunday for "What Love Is" and "Comfort Zone" have been added to the marketplace. "Dictatorship vs. Democracy" from Staple is still hitting the scene hard, so remember to keep your requests for all your favorite Flicker artists coming to your local video shows and networks. http://flickerrecords.c.topica.com/maacr2Jaa8qWhbnitqcbaeQBcY/

The new album from Further Seems Forever, Hide Nothing, hits stores everywhere on August 24th and the anticipation is great! Right now you can listen to a second new song from "Hide Nothing" at pureVOLUME.com. Check out the song "Someone You Know" here! http://www.purevolume.com/furtherseemsforever

Returning to the place that millions of people around the world have come to know him for, award-winning composer and performer, John Tesh, will release Worship at Red Rocks, the live concert on DVD on August 24, 2004. Worship at Red Rocks, which reflects Tesh’s continued passion to respect and provide entertainment for the entire family, will be priced at $14.99 SRP and is distributed by WEA, with an order due date of July 12, 2004. Nearly ten years following the Live at Red Rocks concert, which resulted in an RIAA certified gold record and one of PBS’s most successful fundraising specials ever, Tesh will release the family-friendly full-length DVD, Worship at Red Rocks. Tesh has created a family worship event at God's most magnificent amphitheatre near Denver, CO where viewers are invited to worship under the stars. DVD special features include 30-minutes of behind-the-scenes footage as well as archival footage of Tesh as a news anchor in New York. The Worship at Red Rocks DVD will feature the high energy "You Are Good", the hit song "I Can Only Imagine" and worship songs such as "Lord Have Mercy", "Breathe", "Draw Me Close," and many more. Worship at Red Rocks is sure to uplift, encourage and entertain families and worship music lovers for years to come. “Nine years ago, in a driving rain storm, with my wife and 2 month old daughter in the audience, my life changed forever at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre,” comments Tesh. “It was inspiring to be back with a new concert, Worship at Red Rocks, as these live concerts were a lifelong dream for me. I truly believe that you can make all of your wishes come true. If we can’t create things that are positive influences in our world, why do it? I’m committed to making sure that what I do reinforces the importance of family and positivity.”

Mercy Street Entertainment Group and Doxology Records ready for the release of their first joint effort, Creation: The Story of Life, Aug. 24. In preparation for the series’ debut installment, radio and retail promotions are set to launch this month. Creation: The Story of Life has prompted several radio specials, the first originating from Zondervan Publishing this summer. Four Creation songs will be highlighted in a 60-minute national program titled, “The Case for Creator,” inspired by the book from best-selling author Lee Strobel. The radio special will be syndicated to 1,876 Christian stations nationwide. Answers In Genesis, an apologetics ministry that enables Christians to defend their faith and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively, will sponsor a one-hour Creation radio special this fall. A key contributor to the album’s development, AIG has also agreed to promote Creation to its monthly mailing list of over 80,000 constituents as well as spotlight the CD in its print magazine and on its Web site, which receives half a million visitor hits each month. In addition to the aforementioned produced radio specials, Creation: The Story of Life’s first single, “This is My Father’s World” performed by Allen Asbury, was serviced to Inspirational radio stations in preparation for a World Premier airing of the song on July 16. Select stations will also participate in an “Apollo 8” giveaway contest. Featuring Larnelle Harris, Cindy Morgan, Greg Long, Allen Asbury, Mark Harris (4HIM), Lisa Bevill, Andy Chrisman (4HIM), Bob Carlisle and Billy Sprague, Creation: The Story of Life is the first in a series of concept projects designed to celebrate our Creator and His creation. For more information on Creation: The Story of Life, visit: www.thestoryoflife.com.

*Wednesday, July 14th, 2004*

As already posted across several sources around the web, Patrick Andrew, one-third of PFR has confirmed that the band is recording again! Details beyond what we posted earlier about the 8 re-recorded classics and 2 brand new songs, not too many new details have been released besides Andrew's confirmation. Here's what his post on his forum on Sunday at PatrickAndrew.com has revealed... "Welp, Joel came to my house yesterday (he just happened to be at his Mom's house in Scottsdale), and we signed a contract to record 8 re-juiced tunes and 2 new ones. There it is. Recording shall commence August 23rd. Here's the crazy thing. We have literally ONE WEEK to record. This is absolutely nuts. Anyway, Joel shared some lyric ideas that are cool, and I have some musical ones that I'm happy with. Please pray that we will be at our creative peak for the next month and a half to accomplish this tall order. PDA" We'll continue to keep you posted! In the meantime, if you hadn't had a chance to yet, please check out Patrick's new solo album There And Then It's Gone! PFR fans and pop/rock fans alike would be sorry to miss this one...

And speaking of PFR... drummer Mark Nash's wife Leigh's band Sixpence None The Richer has a new release this Fall. Although the band split earlier this year, Word Records is releasing an album called Best Of, a collection of some of the band's greatest hits, on October 26th. We don't have many details right now, but stay tuned as we learn more!

You can start expecting some new releases from some of your favorite Word Records artists real soon! The following artists are currently in the studio recording new material: MUTE MATH, Point Of Grace, Ted & Sheri, Nic Gonzalez & Salvador, Randy Travis, and Jaci Velasquez!

Tait and TobyMac aren't the only members of dc Talk making new sounds. That's right, Kevin Max's brand new independent EP Between the Fence & the Universe is now available for preorder. Surf on over to KevinMax.com and get yours now for only $10.00. And remember, next month you can catch Kevin starring in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Fox Theater in Visalia, CA for select dates. Check out KevinMax.com for more info!

Bleach's final show next month is quickly approaching but fans can get a view of the considerably bizarre trailer for a new DVD the band is releasing this year. You can check out the footage by heading over to their video page: http://www.bleached.com/audiovideo.asp

Tooth and Nail artist, Hawk Nelson, is making a splash this week with the release of their debut project, Letters to the President! In addition to this release, the group is celebrating their TV network debut with their song being played on the WB Network Tuesday night. The song, "Like A Racecar" aired on Summerland on Tuesday, July 13th and will repeat on Monday, July 19th. Hawk Nelson will also be a part of the Wal-Mart/Anderson Back to College CD Rom, which hits the markets in early August. "California" will be on the CD as well as on more than two million CD samplers that will be distributed through Seventeen and BMX magazines and college campuses. The group also begins touring with the "Just Play Games "Mill Mall nationwide tour this month, playing 9 major market spots. Benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, this festival is also partnered with Virgin Megastores, ESPN X Games, Jillians, Vans, EMI Music Group and more. The focus of this mall tour is to educate parents and children about safe media and video games while enjoying the sounds of groups like Hawk Nelson along with The Vines, The Roots, Fefe Dobson and Young Gunz. Letters to the President released this week on Tuesday, July 13.

Former Five Iron Frenzy frontman Reese Roper's new band Roper is really starting to come together. Reese updated the band's site this past Monday with the following news... "Today, I started tracking the vocals at Saki's new studio. Hooray for that. I still have to rewrite three songs, but everything sounds great so far. The three songs I tracked were: "Vendetta"- A butt rock song about me being old and going on dates. "Hello Lamewads"- A song about me being lame and getting a C minus in school. "Say Sayonara"- Some song about a girl. SOON, we will work out some way for you kids to listen to this stuff. But first, I must record 13 more songs, and Ethan Luck will have to come up here and play some more guitar. Hooray for that, though. Godspeed, Reese"

Sonicflood is in the studio making a new record! Rick Heil says "This project largely take us back to our roots -- that is modern praise and worship with a twist." Look for the new album, entitled This Generation, in stores September 14th.

During Rebecca St. James's recent trip to Chicago, she met with her book publisher, Tyndale House, for major planning sessions on her forthcoming book "SHE" which will lanch in October. Also, this Fall catch Rebecca back on tour with the Newsboys for the second leg of the Adoration Tour. You'll also be able to hear her on a guest appearance on the Newsboys brand new record Devotion releasing in November!

Mae offered this exciting announcement on their site this week... "Benji (The merch/video guy) and MAE here, inviting all who are interested to join us for a free big-screen screening of our tour documentary Destination: Beautiful, Year: One on Sunday August 1st, 2004. The project, a year and a half in the making will be the main feature of MAE's upcoming DVD. You will experience what life was like on the road with MAE from the day their album came out, to its one year anniversary. The story spans 12 months, many many tours, and many many miles. There is live performance footage, interviews with the band, interviews with other bands such as Something Corporate, Copeland and The Format, and enough in-the-van and behind the scenes footage to make for a full-length 2 hour movie experience. Admission is FREE. But... seating is limited to the 1st 250 people. Afterwards we invite you to share your thoughts and suggestions. We hope to see you there! Here are the details...
Sunday August 1st, 2004
7pm - 9 pm
Old Dominion University
Building BAL (Batten Arts and Letters Building), Room 104
(On the corner of Hampton Blvd. & 49th St.)
Norfolk, VA "

The Planetshakers worship band has completed their first American tour. They criss-crossed the US in about 20 days playing dates for churches and youth camps. Some of their stops included the Cornerstone Church youth in San Antonio, as well as several shows for First Assembly of God in Ft. Myers, Florida. The band is scheduling their second mini-tour which is to come in September. More info at www.PlanetshakersUSA.com

*UPDATE for Friday, July 9th, 2004*

This just in from KidsInTheWay.com... "Coming to a city near you this fall will be a killer tour featuring Audio Adrenaline, Relient K and your very own Kids In The Way along with Number One Gun. The tour runs September 12th through September 30th." Sounds cool! We'll keep everyone posted on "The Rock 'N Roll University Tour" as we hear more...

*Friday, July 9th, 2004*

This just in from P.O.D.... "It’s been rumored for months that P.O.D. have written an original song inspired by The Passion Of The Christ. We are now able to confirm this! Before anyone was involved or before the film went on to become a billion dollar film property, P.O.D. were invited to an early screening at Mel Gibson’s office in Los Angeles. As more and more celebrities and major artists saw the film and were impacted by it, it led to the idea to do a unique, inspired by album... with ALL original songs, exclusively for this record. "This is the real deal-brutal, honest, touching," said P.O.D. singer Sonny Sandoval. "This film made me check my own heart and my own faith. It's not the fairy tale story of Christ we're all used to. So, even before anybody wanted to be involved, in the heat of the controversy, I wanted to give back and contribute to this..." The multi-artist soundtrack comes out the SAME day as the dvd, Aug. 31st. The DVD is shipping 17+ million the first week."

Tommy Nelson has signed renowned Grammy and Dove Award-winning recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth for a series of new children's books featuring their adopted daughter Shaohannah. The first release, a picture book, retells the adventure of Shaoey's adoption entitled, Shaoey & Dot: Bug Meets Bundle, (ISBN: 1-4003-0482-2, $16.99, November 4, 2004) will be in stores in time for National Adoption Awareness Month in November. "We're very excited to be working with Steven and Mary Beth to retell the story of Shaoey and her friend Dot in this new picture book," said Dan Lynch, senior vice president and publisher for Tommy Nelson. "With adoption on the rise, we hope this book will be an inspiration to families of all nationalities as well as serve to remind us that we're all adopted children in the family of God." Steven and Mary Beth had previously supported others in their adoptions, but initially resisted and never expected to understand what they call "the miracle of adoption" personally. Now, both have come to recognize that adoption is a perfect picture of what God has done for each of us, and are grateful to be experiencing this love by adopting two daughters from China. Shaohannah Hope Chapman was the first child they adopted from China in March 2000. Shaoey, as they call her, brought such joy to the Chapman household that they soon sensed the call to adopt again. This time they brought home Stevey Joy Ru Chapman in May of 2003. "The Chapmans are elated to share the spirit and their animated story of adoption to touch, educate and inspire children, parents, grandparents and teachers around the world," said J. David Huffman, COO, Creative Trust, Inc. "This is another step in fulfilling the callings placed on their family's life. We are glad to launch the Shaoey & Dot brand with our friends at Tommy Nelson." Shaoey & Dot: Bug Meets Bundle is an endearing tale told from th eperspective of one little ladybug, Dot, who happens upon a mysterious bundle one sunny day. Dot stays with the little bundle as she is carried to the place "where babies come to be found," and promises to stay with the little one throughout her journey toward finding a family. It is a story of hope and faith for all families who have been blessed by a "lost little bundle of love." Jim Chapman, Mary Beth's brother, ties the story together with insightfully original art that features true pictorials of the Chapman's adoption experience in Chine with fun characterizations of Dot the ladybug. And watch for many more Shaoey & Dot adventures to follow as they come the United States with their new family.

VeggieTales®: Sumo of the Opera received a round of applause and a laugh-out-loud response as a standing-room-only CBA International crowd packed the Georgia World Congress Center’s Thomas Murphy Ballroom in Atlanta. The attendees were among the first to experience the Italian Scallion take on Apollo Gourd for the World Veggie-Weight title. The hilarious lesson in perseverance, described as Rocky meets the Mikado and the WWE, will be available in CBA market stores Aug. 28 and in the general market Aug. 31. Starring as The Italian Scallion, Larry the Cucumber has his eye on the Tiger Bike he so desperately wants to win. Unfortunately, he is a much better jokester than wrestler. Like the CBA crowd, this zany adventure will have kids of all ages on the edge of their seats cheering this fun-filled lesson in perseverance based on Hebrews 10:36. The project also includes such great bonus features as a Persistence Maze game, Veggie Karaoke, Director’s Cut of Going Up!, DVD-ROM links and a Behind the Scenes Feature.

Word recording artist Mark Schultz recently met with soldiers from Operation Iraqi Freedom at Ft. Campbell in Kentucky. Schultz will be traveling to Army bases across the country as a spokesperson for the U.S. Army's "Be Safe--Make It Home" campaign. His current radio single "Letters From War" is the centerpiece of a music video, training video and PSAs that will be used to educate soldiers and the general public of the Army’s high-rate of accidental fatalities. As part of this initiative, the Army asked Americans to leave their front porch lights on the night of Sunday, July 4, as a reminder to all soldiers to be "Be Safe--Make It Home." For more information on "Be Safe--Make It Home," visit: www.https://besafe.army.mil/. Also, view the music video online at www.markschultzmusic.com.

One year after signing its first artist, Warren Barfield, and launching his successful debut, Creative Trust Workshop (CTW) has signed a new artist to the label’s roster. BDA, a five-member band that formed at Greenville College in Illinois in 2001, is currently in the studio working on their debut CD, Better Days Ahead, scheduled to be released on October 26 (and distributed through Provident Music Distribution). “At a time when the trend in music is towards a more brooding and introspective style of music, BDA is a refreshing reminder of the enduring qualities of groups like the Beatles in mainstream music and PFR in Christian music, rock bands with memorable melodies, distinctive music and universal lyrics,” said Dan Raines, president of Creative Trust Workshop. “BDA’s music is as infectious musically as it is compelling lyrically. I think they will have an immediate impact at radio and retail on a national level, like they have already had on a regional level.” BDA is Matt Jones (lead vocal), Dave Ray (guitar, principle songwriter), Clint Milburn (lead guitar), Ben Eggebeen (bass) and Jake McDaniel (drums). The five 21-year-olds met their freshman year at Greenville College, among the top colleges in the nation that offer a degree in contemporary Christian music. Greenville College is also known as training ground that brought us Jars of Clay. BDA has self-produced and released several independent recordings and has developed a fan base by touring in the Midwest and Northeast and has performed at summer festivals alongside artists such as Switchfoot, Sixpence None the Richer, Jars of Clay and Audio Adrenaline.

Newly signed Fervent Records group Palisade (Jeremy Noel, Ashley Jett, Brandon Peffer) recently shared the stage with Bebo Norman, Casting Crowns, Caedmon’s Call, Warren Barfield and several others during CBA International at the Provident Distribution Big Ticket event held in the Historic Fox Theatre in downtown Atlanta, GA. Along with the live performance, Palisade welcomed a long line of fans that stood in line to have the band autograph pre-release copies of their self-titled debut in stores July 20.

Traditional Records Inc. introduces the latest addition to best-selling gift and collectibles brand, Precious Moments. Loving, Caring and Sharing as well as Precious Lullabies are the first in a series of Precious Moments music releases, launching July 27. A licensing agreement orchestrated by United Media on Precious Moments’ behalf grants Traditional Records rights to the production of a music collection. This is the first time Precious Moments music merchandise has been made available at CBA retail. “The idea behind this concept was to fold all of those endearing and inspirational qualities associated with the Precious Moments brand – love, friendship, encouragement –into a music product that was equally beloved and inspiring,” comments Traditional Records president, Steve Propas. “I truly believe we have accomplished that with these two compilations, which are fun yet poignant, and suitable for the entire family.” Tied together by theme, Loving, Caring and Sharing features 16 hit songs including “That’s What Love is For” (Amy Grant), “Circle of Friends” (Point of Grace), “I Will Be Here” (Steven Curtis Chapman), “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” (Sonicflood), and “Friends” (Michael W. Smith). Precious Lullabies showcases an assortment of calming tunes such as the “I Can Only Imagine Lullabye” (Bart Millard of MercyMe), “Sleep My Child,” (Debbie Boone), “Babies” (Reggie Hamm), and “Butterfly Kisses” (Bob Carlisle), among others.

Youth Explosion is a youth crusade out of Deer Park, TX. (GreraterHouston,TX.) Its sole purpose is to reach the youth and lead them to christ, the crusade is being held by Central Baptist Church of Deer Park. Youth Explosion is being held at Deer Park Highschool's football stadium which holds 10,000+. This is a big step for christ do to the controversy of prayer in public schools. And Deer Park is one of the largest division 5 schools in Texas. The event will be two nights, featuring Andy Pettitte, Lance Berkman from the Houston Astro's, Jamey Ragle the halarious youth evangelist will be speaking. KSBJ christian radio will also be broadcasting live. Music will be performed by FFH, Warren Barfield and a Local group called Seventy Seven. It will all take place on Sept 2 & 3,2004. thursday 6:00pm, Friday at 7:00pm, Admission is Free! For more information go to www.youthexp.com

Integrity Music recently presented film composer John Debney with a gold record for the Integrity Music/Sony Classical soundtrack to the #1 film, The Passion of the Christ. The Passion of the Christ official movie soundtrack was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in April and continues to be a top-selling soundtrack on the Billboard charts, including six weeks at #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Christian chart and three weeks on the Billboard Soundtrack chart. The Debney composed soundtrack is the only recording that contains the music from the film. The composer then will conduct "Music From And Inspired by The Passion of the Christ Tour" launching this fall and continuing into Easter 2005. The tour is being presented by Metropolitan Talent Management, LLC and Icon Productions and is being booked by Creative Artists Agencies (CAA) in Nashville. The multimedia presentation will be to a visual backdrop, designed by award-winning production designer Wendall Harrington, including scenes from the box office smash. Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ film has brought in a worldwide box office of more than $600 million worldwide to date (according to Box Office Mojo). The film sits at #7 on the U.S. all time box office charts and will be released on DVD on August 31, 2004.

*Wednesday, July 7th, 2004*

Multi-platinum, multi-Grammy and Dove Award-winning band, Jars of Clay has had its hit "Show You Love", from Who We Are Instead (11/4), selected for use in the WB's popular new hit series Summerland starring Lori Loughlin, and for promotion of UPNs new series Kevin Hill starring Taye Diggs and Michael Michele. Summerlandused the song in multiple episodes, while UPNs promotions will run through October. Madonna Wade-Reed, music supervisor for the WBs new series, Summerland, comments, "The use of 'Show You Love' in Summerland was a perfect example of how a song can turn a good scene into a great one. Charlie Lowell, Jars of Clay's keyboard player noted, "We are thrilled to partner with the WB and UPN. It's great to get to hear 'Show You Love' in Summerland. It's always an honor to work with film and television, and watch how music and TV work together."

Though it's only been 11 months since INO/Epic released A Beautiful Glow, the Rock 'N' Roll Worship Circus were antsy to get new music into the hands of their friends, family, and fans. They went to work writing new material in March, and began playing the songs in April while opening for Delirious. They hit the studio in May, releasing an MP3 online and received an ecstatic response from their fans. And now, on July 11th, the first EP since Little Star Logistics will be released. Announcing The Listening EP, 5 songs which are only available through www.worshipcircus.com and at their live shows! So, attention Northwest Fans! This is the show you won't wanna miss!
Date: Sunday, July 11th
City: The Rose City itself, Portland, OR
Venue: The Roseland Theater
Address: 8 NW 6th Ave (Just off Burnside and 6th, downtown)

Eric Champion is back this time he's brought a band. Keep an eye out for a new band called Rook releasing their debut record in early 2005. Rook is currently in the studio working on their full length debut and Champion fans can look for a single hopefully sometime late this year. Rook is being described a "very modern rock pop with many brit pop influences for fans of OK GO, Self, Ima Robot, Luna Halo, Jellyfish, Blur and Radiohead". For now you can listen to some of the rough mixes here: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/9/rookusmusic.htm

Trevor Morgan and his wife, Murray, added Maxwell Thomas to the Morgan fold on Tuesday, June 15. Born at 5:04 PM, "Max" weighed in at 7lb. 13oz. and was 21 inches long. All are home and healthy. In other Trevor news, his national debut project, Wonderlight, has been chosen by Wal-Mart as the mega-retailers July Christian Pick. The album will be positioned in over 500 Wal-Mart stores across the country in a special section featuring new and best selling Christian releases.

Check out the iTunes Exclusive Carried Me Sessions EP from Jeremy Camp. The EP features 3 worship songs that weren’t included on the Carried Me album, but we are sure you will want them for your own! It's only $2.49, a great little bonus for fans. If you don’t have iTunes, check out http://www.itunes.com where you can download iTunes and have instant access to this Jeremy Camp exclusive! If you have trouble finding it, just type in Jeremy Camp in the search area or check out the inspirational page and click on the banner!

TheElms.net has reported that The Elms are now fully immersed in the recording process for their third album! Recording in Nashville, TN, the band spent last week recording rhythm tracks for the 13 new songs expected to make the album's final cut... After a July 4 holiday, the band is returning to Nashville to resume work on the album. The Elms' road manager, Phil Tuttle, has chronicled the first several days in the studio via commentary and photos at his website, www.elmsblog.com. More details on the recording process will be divulged soon... from the band themselves later this week at TheElms.net. Some more news has been divulged regarding The Elms' live concert DVD, filmed May 2 in the band's home state of Indiana. Word is that the band spent several days last week mixing the audio for the DVD in a studio in Bloomington, IN... furthermore, the DVD will feature NO OVERDUBS - That simply means that the band didn't re-record any part of the DVD's audio. What you hear on the finished film will be exactly as it was played the night of the show. Also, a 55-minute documentary is being prepared as bonus material to the concert film. The documentary was shot on the two days prior to the filming of the concert, and chronicles the band rehearsing, preparing, deliberating, and ultimately waiting backstage just moments before taking the stage. The results are rumoured to be very insightful, hilarious, and at times intense. Owen directed the documentary, and Thom will provide a blues-infused musical score. Interview segments with each band member will also be included. More material is expected to make the DVD, but this is all that has been confirmed. A specific release date has not been announced, but late summer is an expected time frame.

Hosted by industry veteran group, NewSong, the 14-city tour features acclaimed artists Rachael Lampa (Word Records) and Shaun Groves (Rocketown Records), in addition to highly anticipated debut musicians Taylor Sorensen (Rocketown Records), Jadyn Maria (Sparrow Records) and Overflow (Essential Records). Further tour markets include Rochester, NY, Pittsburgh, PA, Corpus Christi, TX and Little Rock, AR, among others. A full listing of cities can be found at www.jamtour.com. I traveled with NewSongs Summer Jam tour two years ago and was amazed at how ministry was such a priority for these guys, says Lampa. They are totally committed to bringing people to Christ and Im excited to be a part of that again this year! Eddie Carswell, one of NewSong's founding members, explains, "The Jam tours have a history of diverse and talented artists with strong ministry hearts this summer is no exception. We had such an amazing response this last Winter Jam and hope to continue to see the enthusiasm from audiences this summer. We are humbled that God has given us this platform of ministry and entertainment to use for His glory. 2004's Summer Jam follows the highly successful 9th annual Winter Jam Tour that had over 115,000 in attendance and featured Audio Adrenaline, Relient K, Todd Agnew and Jadyn Maria. Dubbed as the All New Winter Jam Spectacular, the shows format was overhauled to give it a fresh appearance including full video and performances by illusionist Brock Gill. The 23-city tour saw over 5,000 attendees make the decision to follow Christ and had nearly 2,500 people sign up to sponsor World Vision children.

How would you like a free CD? That's right, you can download brand new music from Indie Vision Music's Dismissed. While this hard working Southern California band is out on tour slamming out locales like Cornerstone Festival, Sonshine Fest, and a number of midwest venues, we thought we'd share some new free music. To get the songs, you can now download the entire new mastered 4 song ep at www.christianpunk.net

Globally renowned Newsboys were honored this week with Christian Retailing magazines Retailers Choice Awardduring CBA International in Atlanta. Adoration, the band's critically acclaimed and fastest selling album to date, received the significant award in the music category with votes coming directly from CBA retailers nationwide. Hosted by Pat Williams, author and Senior Vice President of the Orlando Magic, the Retailers Choice Awards were presented Wednesday, June 30 and featured presenters Chick-Fil-A founder Truett Cathy and music legend Smokey Robinson, among others.

It's Rocky meets the Mikado and the WWE, when the Italian Scallion takes on Apollo Gourd for the World Veggie-Weight title in the all new VeggieTales® release, Sumo of the Opera. With laughs, music and wrestlers galore, VeggieTales: Sumo of the Opera will be available in CBA market stores Aug. 28 on VHS for $12.99 SRP and on DVD for the great low price of $14.99 SRP. The project hits the general market Aug. 31. Starring as The Italian Scallion, Larry the Cucumber has his eye on the Tiger Bike he so desperately wants to win. Unfortunately, he is a much better jokester than wrestler. This zany adventure will have kids of all ages on the edge of their seats cheering this fun-filled lesson in perseverance based on Hebrews 10:36. Including such great bonus features as a Persistence Maze game, Veggie Karaoke, Directors Cut of Going Up!, DVD-ROM links and a Behind the Scenes Feature, this DVD is a virtual arena of fun!

Cool Hand Luke is currently shooting their first music video for the song "Cinematic"! Daniel from Norma Jean is behind the camera, creating what will be an amazing experience of stop action filmmaking.

Trevor Sellers, bass player from Number One Gun was in a serious accident June 19th while swimming in a river in Northern California. It is a miracle that he is alive with no broken bones, but he does have a couple of staples in his head. The band will be canceling most of their shows this summer until Trevor is back on his feet. Please be praying for Trevor’s healing, and if you would like to send Trevor a get well message, please send it to getwell@floodgaterecords.com

After their highly acclaimed debut release Then Is the New Now, Denison Marrs is busy in the studio finishing up their second Floodgate release. The guys entered the studio just after Eric's baby was born to record, so I'm sure some of the songs are gonna have some fatherly lyrics. Right now, the band is shooting for an October self-titled release.

Floodgate Records announces the signing of the Florida-based Forever Changed. The band signed just after completing a self-booked 36 city tour where they opened for acts such as Anathello, Cool Hand Luke and the Violet Burning. The band formed three years ago, and hoaned their sound opening for band such as Anberlin, Bleach and The Juliana Theory. “So many bands just have the same old emo sound, and I think Forever Changed stands out as something different. There’s something unique about how they craft songs – using different time signatures, interesting keys and melodies – but yet they are accessible enough to play alongside bands like Further Seems Forever and Mae,” says Tim Taber, President of Floodgate Records. “We were also impressed by the amount of touring the band has done on their own. They have been out making a career for themselves, even without a label behind them. We’re glad to gain their trust and expect much success from these guys.” “All along we have wanted to be represented by people who not only believed in us, but worked with the quality of artists that we wanted to be aligned with,” states Nick Roccanti, manager of the band. Dan Cole, vocalist continues, “We didn’t rush into anything when labels started talking to us. We just wanted to make sure we made smart decisions. After we had talked to several of the other bands on the label – many have been favorites of ours for years – we felt very comfortable with our decision to go with Floodgate. I think Forever Changed and Floodgate are definitely on the same page, and have the same vision. Currently the band plans to enter the studio in October for a spring 2005 release. Forever Changed will be playing the Rock For Life stage at Cornerstone Festival, Saturday at 3:30. The band is also playing at Orlando date of the Warped tour. Floodgate Records is based in Costa Mesa, CA and is distributed through Word Distribution/WEA. Other artists on the label include Cool Hand Luke, Denison Marrs and East West.