November, 2006
sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records artist-worshipper/songwriter/author and UK-native
Matt Redman releases his album, Beautiful News,
December 26. His first new studio album in over two years, Beautiful News, is a
collection of songs of salvation and action oriented evangelism, taking the beautiful news to the
broken world and bringing hope in a time of despair.
"In this world we hear so much news, and a lot of the time it's disturbing, dark or depressing,"
says Redman. "But the gospel of Jesus Christ is all together different - it's refreshingly
good news, beautiful news."
Executive produced by Louie Giglio (Passion Conferences) and produced by Doubledutch (Robert Marvin
and Josiah Bell, whose credits include Toby Mac, Mat Kearney), the album also features guest vocalist
Delirious? frontman, Martin Smith. Redman and Smith sing together on the high-energy track
"Take It to the Streets," which Redman also co-wrote with Smith. The duo also co-wrote the song
"All Over the World," originally introduced at Passion 05. Another co-write on the album is
"A Greater Song," which Redman wrote with songwriter and worship leader Paul Baloche.
"Matt is a great man to be around as he loves God with a passion and it rubs off on you,"
says Martin Smith. "To re-kindle our writing partnership was also a joy and an honor, it had been
a good 10 years since we co-wrote some of the songs on his first record. Here we were again with the
same boyishness and faith that music can change people's lives. I pray these new songs are a part of that."
The studio recording of the current, top 10-radio hit, "You Never Let Go," is also featured on
Beautiful News. Taking inspiration from Psalm 23, "You Never Let Go" was originally
released as a live track from Passion:
Everything Glorious. The song is about the importance of realizing that God is holding
us and He never lets go, even in the midst of the hardest trials, pain and dark times. It is a
reminder that there is ?beautiful news? to rejoice in despite life?s troubles.
"I'd like listeners to find themselves engaging with God through this album, and finding themselves
strengthened in their lives of praise," says Redman. "Good worship songs have elements of 'inhale'
and 'exhale'. In other words, they help us breathe in the awe-inspiring truths of who our God is,
and then they propel us to a life of praise in response."
Beautiful News hits shelves December 26.
(from Hoganson Media)
Sadly, Leeland's longtime guitarist Jeremiah Wood has decided to leave the band.
"I will be leaving the band and moving on to pursue personal interests (effective immediately),"
said Wood in a recent blog. "It has been an amazing 4 years playing with Leeland and a true honor
to be a part of this ministry. Leeland is going to do great things. I will miss being a part of the
band and support them fully in everything that they do. Thank you guys for your love and support."
The band collectively responded in the same blog, "We will miss Jeremiah and appreciate his
dedication to the band. We support him and wish him the best. We would like for you guys to welcome
a good friend and great guitarist, Austin Tirado. He will start playing with the band immediately."
We also wish Jer the best and welcome Austin into the Leeland family!
(from MySpace.com/LeelandMusic; Jesusfreakhideout.com)
You can catch Leigh Nash live today (November 30th) at 5pm (Pacific) 8pm (Eastern)
to hear her perform on Music Plus TV (www.musicplustv.com) on ROCK THIS w/ VJ Jen Meola.
Also, you can IM Leigh while she is on air! (AOL Instant Messenger: MUSICPLUSTV) In other Leigh
news, the former Sixpence None The Richer has also released a second digital-only remix EP, aptly
titled Leigh Nash Remixed 2, on iTunes. This tri-track installment features the songs
"Along The Wall (Syrofoam Remix)," "Nervous In The Light Of Dawn (Morgan Page Remix),"
and "Just A Little (Submarines Remix)." Finally, fans can get their home videos ready for
Leigh's holiday video contest! By submitting, fans will have the chance to be a part of Leigh's
music video for her original song, "Wishing for This." Those interested can head on over to
contest.leighnash.com/wishingforthis
to upload their videos. In addition, those who enter will be eligible to win a great autographed
prize package from Leigh, along with great gifts to keep you relaxed over the holiday season from
www.lush.com.
(from MySpace.com/LeighNash; Jesusfreakhideout.com)
Award-winning singer/songwriter Russ Lee recently
returned from a series of concerts and ministry appearances in Australia, Africa, Europe and the
Pacific Islands, as part of the “I Will Go” World Tour and global initiative celebrating his 25 years
in ministry. The Tour, which has now hit six continents, also stopped in Indonesia, Malaysia and
Singapore earlier this year.
“After spending this year circling the globe, I'm more convinced than ever that deep inside each of
us is the same greatest need, to be loved unconditionally regardless of one's cultural, ethnic or
social background,” Lee says. “The Gospel of Jesus Christ resonates this message of love deeply in
all those who hear it. I feel so blessed that my family and I have been able to carry this message,
literally around the world.”
In cooperation with HCJB World Radio, Lee performed concerts throughout the Pacific Islands and
witnessed thousands make commitments to Christ. He gave three outreach concerts in Sydney,
Australia, and performed at a citywide concert in Suva, the capital of Fiji. He also visited three
prisons, a children’s hospital and a school in Fiji.
In American and Western Samoa, Lee was hosted by the Showers of Blessing Radio Network. He
conducted music workshops, spoke and performed at public school assemblies and presented evening
outreach concerts in Pago Pago. In Western Samoa, Lee performed at a school assembly and gave concerts in local churches, in addition to a citywide concert for nearly 1000 people in Apia.
At Busa Secondary, a public school in Paupa New Guinea, Lee held a concert for students and faculty and was allowed to share the salvation message. “About five songs into the concert, the entire school's power went out,” Lee recalls. “So I hopped off the stage and shared my testimony. Someone brought me a bullhorn so the whole crowd could hear, and when I gave a call for anyone who wished to receive Christ, over 500 out of the 800 in attendance stood in response to the Gospel. It was a humbling experience.”
Lee spent a month in Africa, including a week in the bush ministering to the Samburu tribe, an unreached people group. In Nairobi, he met and ministered with missionaries and presented a concert for more than 1000 students at Kenyatta University. During his time in Africa, Lee also participated in street ministry and visited various World Vision community development sites.
Earlier this summer, Lee traveled extensively in Germany, Ireland and Poland. In Germany, he continued his ongoing ministry to U.S. military personnel by visiting families stationed at the Kaiserslautern and Hanau Army Posts and Ramstein Air Base. He appeared at various events and toured the Walking Wounded Medical Detachment and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, where many combat wounded soldiers from the Middle East are transported for treatment.
Lee performed in Athlone, Ireland, at the closing ceremony of the country’s 40-day “Prayer Watch,” in addition to presenting a concert at a church in Dublin. He also appeared alongside several mainstream artists at "European Days” in Gliwise, Poland, and gave a concert in Wisla.
Next year, Lee plans to complete the U.S. leg of the “I Will Go” World Tour, finishing his visits to all 50 states and spending time in the Navajo Nation. He is also slated to travel to India and make a return trip to the Dominican Republic, among other locations.
(from Turning Point PR)
Today, Gotee/Capitol Records have released "Must Have Done Something Right,"
the ebullient first single from Relient K's upcoming album, Five Score and Seven Years Ago.
The single will be available at all digital retailers. The single plus a bonus track, "Fallen Man,"
will also be available as an MP3 file for $0.99 direct from the band's website www.relientk.com.
"Fallen Man" will not appear on the forthcoming album. The same single plus bonus track will be
available on iTunes. A higher quality 320kbs MP3 download of "Must Have Done Something Right" plus the bonus track
will also be available for $ 1.25 via the band's website.
Despite three consecutive Gold albums, a Grammy nomination and two Top 20 singles
("Be My Escape" and "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been"), Relient K may be pop-punk's best-kept secret.
"We're still under the radar, nobody knows who we are," says lead singer/guitarist/pianist Matt
Thiessen gleefully. The band has long had a strong internet presence - 2004's
mmhmm debuted at #1 on the internet chart (and at #15 on
the Billboard 200) and Relient K currently has upwards of 360,000 myspace.com friends.
Five Score And Seven Years Ago - the title is both a reference to the album being the band's
fifth in seven years and a nod to Lincoln - presents 14 slices of life as only Relient K could
render it, beginning with "Plead the Fifth," an 'eyewitness' account of Lincoln's assassination from
a bogus conspirator and concluding with the 11-minute, 115-track tour-de-force "Deathbed," told by an
end-stage cancer patient who has mercifully not lost his sense of humor. "The Best Thing" and
"Must Have Done Something Right" are fueled by an infectious exuberance while the hard-edged
"Devastation And Reform" captures our innate aptitude for doing something wrong, despite our best
intentions. Relient K, comprised of Thiessen, lead guitarist Matt Hoopes, drummer Dave Douglas, bassist
John Warne and Jon Schneck (guitar, banjo, and bells), recorded most of
Five Score And Seven Years Ago in Los Angeles with producer Howard Benson
(My Chemical Romance, The All-American Rejects). Three tracks were completed thereafter in Nashville
with Mark Townsend, who produced each of the band?s previous works, including their initial demo.
Guest artists include Switchfoot's Jon Foreman. Five Score And Seven Years Ago will be
released on March 6, 2007.
(from LB PR)
FFH’s greatest musical moments to-date have found a
home together on the ten-track Far From Home: The FFH Collection, which will be in stores
February 6, 2007 (Essential Records). Combining the band’s best signature harmonies and upbeat,
acoustic-pop sounds in one place, the project is one fans will not want to miss. So far, in its
amazing career, FFH has sold nearly two million albums, accumulated 7 No. 1 radio singles
(17 overall top 5 radio hits), and released 6 in-studio projects.
According to the band, “We are honored to have so much support from the Church body over the years,
and we are excited to have a collection that marks the milestones of our music career so far.
None of this comes close to the blessing of seeing lives impacted by the message that we are
privileged to be a small part of. With our new worship album in its final stages and due out in
early 2007, it is with much gratitude that we look back at some of the songs that we have seen
touch lives over the past 10 years.”
Far From Home: The FFH Collection is comprised of the following ten tracks:
“Big Fish,” “One of These Days,” “Found A Place,” “I Want to Be Like You,” “Fly Away,”
“Open Up the Sky,” “You Found Me,” “Ready To Fly,” “Still the Cross,” and “Worth It All.”
(from Provident Music Group)
After a decade of music featuring nine acclaimed recordings that have sold over 1.5 Million
copies, sixstepsrecords will release 30 songs that celebrate the Passion journey,
The Best Of Passion [so far], Dec. 26. Some of the best-loved, most sung songs in the world have been birthed by the Passion movement,
championed by college students and sung by millions each Sunday in worship services throughout the world.
The tenth Passion project, The Best Of Passion [so far], features 11 of the top 50 and 22 of the top
500 CCLI songs. The two-CD set also includes 10 Top 10 radio hits and six No. 1 songs:
“How Great Is Our God,” “Blessed Be Your Name,” “Indescribable,” “All Over The World,”
“You Are My King” and “Holy Is The Lord.” Combining the amazing voices and songwriting of
Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman and more, all of the tracks were
recorded live at Passion gatherings and in front of as many as 40,000 college students at one time.
Opening with the never-before released version of David Crowder singing “Come And Listen” from the
first night at Passion 06, disc one recaptures glimpses of Passion's early years from Passion '98 in
Austin through the 2001 Passion Experience Tour. Disc two opens with songs from OneDay 03 and tracks Passion’s recent history. The disc closes with the project's second new bonus track never before featured on an audio CD: Shelley Nirider singing “Jesus, Lover Of My Soul,” which closed the OneDay gathering in Memphis. The project also includes Chris Tomlin singing “The Wonderful Cross,” formerly only available as an iTunes exclusive.
“As we set out on this Passion journey, recording live worship CDs wasn’t at the top of our priority list,” said Passion founder Louie Giglio. “Honestly, we were all a little stunned, and still are, as the soundtrack of Passion’s wave has continued to circle the globe. While we are symbiotically linked to the songs, our compelling vision stretches beyond music alone as we long to see this collegiate generation – 132 million strong around the globe – awaken to the greatness and goodness of the risen Christ.”
“It was a tough call trying to shrink Passion's musical history onto two CDs, but the result is an amazing collection than spans over a decade of Passion gatherings,” continues Giglio. “The music you’re holding is the result of a massive collaboration of gifted people, all pouring their energy into the process.”
The next conference Passion is hosting will be Passion 07, a four-day indoor gathering in Atlanta for college students from around the nation and world January 1 – 4, 2007. More than 20,000 students are expected from all across the USA and internationally, with 24 countries already represented, including Afghanistan, Japan, Poland, South Korea, Malaysia, South Africa, Romania, Australia, Slovakia, Brazil, Ukraine and Ireland. Registration information, schedule and conference details can be found at www.268generation.com.
(from Hoganson Media)
Rocketown recording artist Michael Olson returns with
his sophomore CD, Where Fear and Faith Collide, on Feb. 13, 2007. After playing drums for
Michael W. Smith’s summer band dates as well as joining Smith’s current “Christmastime” tour,
Olson has already been confirmed as a guest artist on Smith’s Spring 2007 tour. A talented
multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, Olson teamed with acclaimed producers Jason Ingram
(Bebo Norman) and Nathan Dantzler (Tree63, The Turning) to craft his latest effort.
“Where Fear and Faith Collide is a collection of songs that has come out of a period of huge
transition in my life,” remarked Olson. “It seems like circumstantially everything is different for
me than it was two years ago. Some changes have been great, and some have been truly challenging. In
either case, changes in life beg the question, ‘What are the foundational things that I believe in
and how do they apply to these new circumstances?’ We can either allow challenges to define us and
back us into a corner of fear, or allow God to use challenges to grow our faith. This record reflects
how God has grown my faith over the past few years.”
Since Rocketown’s release of Olson’s 2005 independent debut, the artist has performed on tours with
Big Daddy Weave, Ginny Owens and the Gloria Christmas tour in addition to serving in the bands of
Smith and Sara Groves. Olson will also be performing on the 18 dates of Smith’s Christmas tour, which
started Nov. 24, and is scheduled to hit such major markets as Dallas, Cleveland, Nashville, Atlanta
and Minneapolis, among others. Cities and dates for Smith’s Spring 2007 tour, on which Olson has
already been confirmed as a guest artist, will be announced soon.
Singles from Where Fear and Faith Collide—“On the Third Day” for AC and “Tell Me Again” for
Inspirational radio—will go for adds on Dec. 29. Both songs aptly represent the album’s overall
theme, and “Tell Me Again,” which traces God’s work through biblical history by outlining the stories
of David and Abraham, features the luminous vocals of INO artist Sara Groves.
Rocketown Records President Don Donahue said, “Helping Michael with the making of
Where Fear and Faith Collide has been extremely satisfying to all who participated in the process. From co-writers to players to producers to our staff, we feel this project is one that needs to be heard due to its universal themes and brilliant choruses. I eagerly anticipate audiences and church bodies nationwide experiencing the music in 2007.”
(from Rocketown)
Multi-Platinum selling, multi-GRAMMY Award winning band
Jars of Clay brought to a close its successful, fall
2006 Good Monsters tour that consistently filled concert venues nationwide.
Launched in Toccoa Falls, Ga. Oct. 5 and concluding in Lexington, Ky. on Nov. 18 the band has
garnered significant media exposure in every tour city. Appearances on the nationally syndicated
morning radio show, “Mancow,” and local TV affiliates along with high impact print, talk radio
and Internet coverage have generated more than 12.2 million impressions.
Reflecting on the band’s time on the road, Jars of Clay’s Dan Haseltine muses, “It was great
getting to play our new songs on the road, but I think my favorite part about touring is being able
to reconnect with and make new fans.”
Additionally, Jars of Clay’s Good Monsters studio
efforts are being put to “work” to help promote Fox Television Network’s Tuesday night line-up via
television and radio spots. The band’s song, “Work,” will be featured in promotional segments over
the next two weeks for the shows “Standoff” and “House.”
Good Monsters, completely self-produced by the band offers eleven original songs, and a
remake of the Julie Miller-penned anthem “All My Tears,” Good Monsters even boasts a couple of
stirring guest appearances: Nashville-based, singer/songwriter extraordinaire Kate York guests on
“Even Angels Cry,” and formerly of Sixpence None the Richer, Leigh Nash, sings on “Mirrors and Smoke.”
Additionally, the African Children’s Choir is featured on the moving, “Light Gives Heat,” a song inspired by its work in Africa through its non-profit, organization, the Blood:Water Mission.
(from Provident Label Group)
Critically acclaimed, award-winning singer/songwriter Ginny Owens
will be honored by the Nashville Mayor’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities at its
25th annual awards ceremony on Nov. 30, 2006. Appropriately, Owens also announces her latest project,
a self-produced Christmas recording, Bring Us Peace, which will raise money for Fingerprint events in 2007.
The Mayor’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities annual recognition awards acknowledge
outstanding individuals with disabilities as well as those who make a difference in the disability
community. Owens is being honored in the category of Artist/Performer/Athlete. Last year’s recipient
of this award was Drew Bennett of the Tennessee Titans.
“When I received the phone call that I’d won the Artist Award for the Mayor’s Council on
Disabilities, I immediately said, ‘Are you sure? There must be some mistake,’” remembers Owens.
“It is truly an honor to be encouraged for work I love doing anyway.”
Continuing her outreach efforts into the new year, Owens has begun raising funds for Fingerprint
Initiative events in 2007 with the release of Bring Us Peace, her first foray into holiday music.
Co-produced by Owens alongside friends Tony Lucido and Will Sayles, Bring Us Peace is an
intimate, eclectic mix of original tracks and familiar tunes as well as some unexpected songs.
From the Ray Charles-esque blues tune “Nothin’ for Christmas,” in which Owens pours out her
Mississippi soul, to the angelic, a capella “Ave Maria,” arranged by Owens, this record delivers an
extraordinarily unique listening experience for all.
“This might be my favorite project yet,” says Owens. “It is intimate, conversational, stylistically
diverse, and really creative. And more than this, it is my Christmas gift to all who will listen.
In a time when the world seems to be at war, Bring Us Peace is my humble and passionate prayer for all mankind.”
Available now at www.ginnyowens.com and after Dec. 1 at iTunes and P.J.’s Coffee stores
(www.pjscoffee.com), fifty percent of the proceeds from Bring Us Peace will be donated to
Fingerprint’s many service projects. For more information on Ginny Owens and the Fingerprint
Initiative, visit: www.ginnyowens.com or www.fingerprintinitiative.com.
(from Savvy Media)
sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records lead-worshiper and GMA Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year,
Chris Tomlin, is featured in this week’s issue of the
leading news magazine TIME, which boasts a readership of 19.5 million people weekly.
In the article, “Hip Hymns Are Him,” TIME says Tomlin “thinks of himself less as a musician and
more as a worship leader. Tomlin is the chief American practitioner of the pop-sounding ‘praise and
worship’ music that has replaced traditional hymns in congregations looking for a younger crowd.” (www.time.com)
Tomlin’s first feature in the magazine, he also became the first Christian artist to eclipse 20
million impressions in one week at radio for the Christian format (Oct. 23), according to Christian
Radio & Retail Weekly (CRW). This week Tomlin’s “Made To Worship,” from his Sept. 26 release and
No. 1 selling album, See The Morning, gathered 20,693,300
impressions, while capturing more than 218 million total impressions since August 28.
As Tomlin’s fourth No. 1 radio hit, “Made To Worship,” strongly holds the top position even after ten
full weeks there, his former No. 1 song “How Great Is Our God,” from
Arriving, continues to receive more than two million
impressions at radio after being released over a year ago. As one of the fasting rising songs on
the CCLI charts, “How Great Is Our God” moved to No. 1 on the Song Select Advanced chart, becoming
the most downloaded of any digital products offered by CCLI to the 51,000 participating churches.
Previous hits from his first RIAA-certified gold record, Arriving, made radio history in
2005 by producing three songs in the R&R AC Top 30 simultaneously (two of those in the Top 10):
“Indescribable,” Holy Is The Lord” and “The Way I Was Made.”
Following the success of his 2004 release, Arriving, and the new album, See The Morning,
which debuted at No. 1 on multiple retail charts and landed at No. 15 on the Billboard Top 200,
This week, Chris Tomlin sees the re-issue of his first two studio efforts as a combined two-disc, budget
priced set. Entitled The Early Years, the project released yesterday (November 21).
(from Hoganson Media)
Rebecca St. James is gearing up to release a new project in 2007. The project is something her
fans have been asking for for quite some time - a "live in-concert" DVD super-packed with a companion
bonus CD of the concert audio mixes, and bonus photo and video footage. Truly an ultimate collector's
set from EMI, Rebecca was filmed live in concert on the If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something Tour
this summer in Fort Myers, Florida. The results promise to be just what fans have been looking for.
Fans can help Rebecca now by suggesting titles for the project! You can let RSJ's team know your
thoughts in two ways: Leave your comments under the blog "Name Rebecca's New Project" on her MySpace
page, or e-mail them at rebeccastjames@rsjames.com. Be sure to mark your e-mail "Name Rebecca's Project."
The top three names picked to submit to EMI will be awarded an autographed set of Rebecca's
If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something and Christmas CD's.
Visit MySpace.com/RebeccaStJames for the latest on RSJ.
(from MySpace.com/RebeccaStJames; Jesusfreakhideout.com)
Million-selling, GRAMMY and Dove Award-winning rock band Third Day
recently concluded its jam-packed 2006 touring schedule with a sold-out show in its hometown of
Atlanta, capping off both a fall season and a year full of successful live events.
The 40-city fall tour, featuring special guests the David Crowder*Band, Hyper Static Union, Leeland
and Charlie Hall showcased material from the band’s most recent studio project Wherever You Are.
Together with a handful of shows revolving around the band’s first holiday effort
Christmas Offerings, the tours accomplished
success not only for the band, but also for charitable organizations across the country.
“With the concert market softening a bit for the entire entertainment industry, we are quite pleased
with the tour results of this fall cycle,” said David Huffman of Creative Trust Management,
Third Day’s management company. “The Wherever You Are Tour averaged over 4,000 in attendance each
night and overall had a great market response. Touring is a major team effort and we are thankful to
all of the partners who worked hard for the results.”
Third Day experienced sold-out shows in a number of markets in the fall, including Denver; Salt Lake
City; Puyallup, Wash.; Hattiesburg, Miss.; Evansville, Ind.; Tyler, Texas and Atlanta, as well as
significant fan and radio impact throughout the schedule.
“The Wherever You Are tour was a big hit in Southwest Florida!” said Jeff Taylor, general manager of
WAY-FM in Fort Myers, Fla. “Many of our listeners have remarked that the worship experience that
night was very unique. It really was a great day all the way around.”
Fans also supported the band’s humanitarian efforts in record numbers, as Third Day’s
“dollar-per-ticket” campaign raised significant funds for the charities they support. “We are so
grateful to the fans and promoters who raised over $125,000 for Operation Christmas Child, Invisible
Children and Blood:Water Mission,” Huffman said.
In addition, more than 700 World Vision Hope Children and 700 Children of War sponsorships were
enacted, and together with longtime promotional partner Chevrolet, Third Day created the ‘Thanks
and Giving Drives’ charity events, teaming with local radio stations and charities in seven
southeastern markets to bring help and hope to those in need, and to give away an all new 2007 Chevrolet Silverado.
(from Provident Label Group)
Singer/songwriter JJ Heller recently attended the
Nashville premiere of Charlotte¹s Web at the historic Franklin Cinema, where she shared
the red carpet with Reba McEntire, Troy Gentry and Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry, Clint Black
and Lisa Hartman Black, among others. Heller was interviewed by various media outlets on the red
carpet, and after the movie premiere, she and her husband Dave joined other VIP guests at the county fair-themed after-party.
The pure, penetrating voice of singer/songwriter JJ Heller is brilliantly apparent on her new album
effort Only Love Remains, which Christian
Musician Magazine calls "one of the great surprises of 2006." The project, which released November
14, 2006 on Stone Table Records, was helmed by Grammy-winning producer Mitch Dane (Jars of Clay,
Bebo Norman) and recorded at Nashville¹s famed Sputnik Sound studio. In addition to the formidable
vocal and guitar skills of JJ and her husband Dave, the roster of players on this project includes a
veritable Who¹s Who of Nashville¹s first call session players, including Bryan Sutton (Dixie Chicks,
The Chieftains) on mandolin, guitar and banjo; David Henry (Over the Rhine) on cello; Ben Shive
(Andrew Peterson) on piano; Andy Hubbard (Little Big Town, Fernando Ortega) on drums and Aaron Sands
(Jars of Clay) on bass. Jeremy Casella (singer/songwriter) and Andrew Osenga (Caedmon¹s Call) join
Heller on guitars and backing vocals. "Music has a way of speaking to my heart like nothing else can,"
says Heller. "It is my hope and prayer that my songs will somehow speak to my listeners and bring
them hope, peace and inspiration." Only Love Remains is available on Stone Table Records and distributed by TAG Artist Group.
(from McCain PR)
NewSong performed recently at a fundraising dinner at
the Speedway Club at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. for Motor Racing Outreach, a Christian
ministry of the racing community, prior to a weekend of NASCAR events. Nearly 200 drivers and their
family and crew members attended the dinner, helping to raise more than $59,000 for the ministry’s
programs. NewSong recently released its second Christmas CD, The Christmas Hope, featuring
13 tracks, including six original Christmas songs and a remake of “The Christmas Shoes.”
NewSong embarks soon on “The Christmas Hope” tour featuring Todd Agnew, Rachael Lampa and NY Times
author Donna VanLiere starting after Thanksgiving.
(from Spinhouse PR)
Legendary guitarist and songwriter, Grammy nominee and Dove Award winner
Phil Keaggy is offering his Nashville fans a chance to hear
him perform live with a free concert on Saturday, November 25, 2006, at the Notable Café
(8321 Sawyer Brown Road, Nashville, TN 37221). The event will run from 7:00-9:00 p.m. and will
feature selections from Keaggy¹s latest project,
Roundabout, and his upcoming new vocal album,
Dream Again. For more information about this concert event, call 615-646-9116.
One of the world¹s and Christian music¹s most beloved master musicians, Keaggy has enjoyed immense
success over his career, which has spanned more than three decades. Having first entered the music
scene as the co-founder and guitarist for Œ70s power group Glass Harp, Keaggy has since released
close to 50 albums and has made appearances on countless others. Widely recognized for his guitar
playing, he has received numerous accolades and awards for his music, including seven Dove Awards and a Grammy nomination. Keaggy continues to sell out concerts all over the US with his ever-changing style, ranging from rock Œn¹ roll to fully orchestrated instrumental compositions.
(from McCain PR)
Plumb has expanded her family this past week by giving birth to her new son, baby
Oliver Canon Lee! Tiffany's husband Jeremy announced the big news on Friday, "I just wanted to drop
you a quick note letting you know that Tiffany is doing great and so is Oliver Canon Lee...
Tiffany told me to... let everyone know she is doing great. She had Oliver Canon last night at
11:16pm on 11/16. He was 8lbs 1oz and a beautiful healthy baby boy. He is so much bigger than
Solomon was, he looks a lot like Solomon except he has bigger eyes... Thanks so much to everyone who
prayed and for your continued support..." Congratulations to the Lee family from all at JFH!
(from MySpace.com/Plumb; JFH)
Award-winning rock band Pillar steals its eighth
career No. 1 radio hit this week with “Everything,” the debut single from its Oct. 3 release,
The Reckoning. Pillar’s success at radio is only
heightened by great support at retail and on the road.
Both Radio & Records and Christian Radio Weekly reported “Everything” as the No. 1 song on their
respective Christian Rock charts. The single also debuted as New and Active on the mainstream Active
Rock format this week coming in at #48. Pillar’s rocket-like momentum comes as no surprise to
Troy Vest, Flicker Record’s vice president of marketing & artist development. “Pillar’s history
of delivering amazing songs to radio continues on… We couldn’t be more excited about the support
we are receiving at radio for the band.”
Pillar has made impressive headway at retail as well since The Reckoning released only six
weeks ago. The record debuted at No. 70 on the Billboard 200 chart and continues to see significant
numbers week-to-week. Sales are boosted, in part, by the band’s highly successful “Days of the
Reckoning” tour which kicked off late October. Featuring additional artists Day of Fire, Decyfer Down
and The Showdown, the “loudest tour out this fall” is a fan favorite.
Mike Pappas, promoter of the tour’s debut show at Club 3 Degrees in Minneapolis, comments “Pillar
is a band that knows how to connect with their audience. They have a very loyal growing fan base that
always comes out to support the show. Every time the guys play Club 3 Degrees we know they will bring
solid numbers with an intensely engaging, rock and roll performance!”
For a list of tour dates in your area, visit: www.pillarlive.com.
(from Savvy Media)
In a year that has found a surprisingly eclectic blend of some of the biggest names in the music
industry recording and touring together, Christmas will hold yet another special gift for audiences.
GRAMMY® and Dove Award winning Christian artist Rebecca St. James
and multi-platinum pop and Christian artist Brian Littrell whose success with the group Backstreet
Boys set the stage for his launch as a solo artist in Christian music and the spring ‘06 debut of his
Christian album release Welcome Home, will welcome
audiences to The Christmas Tour, a concert billed as ‘a night of acoustic Christmas’ during an eight
city tour set to run December 7th thru 17th.
St. James, who records for EMI/Forefront Records, and Littrell whose Christian music is an alliance
project of Reunion Records and mainstream label partner Jive Records, hold the promise of together
delivering a powerful evening filled with the true heart and meaning of Christmas. The two hour plus
nightly presentation will present individual sets by each artist with a closing segment that will
bring them both together onstage. “I’ve been a born-again Christian since I was 8 years old and I’ve known for a very long time that my
main objective is to spread God’s word,” notes Littrell whose introduction as part of the 5 member
Backstreet Boys re-defined the term ‘pop music phenomena’ with their 1997 launch. “God has allowed
me through the Backstreet Boys to minister in a positive way, encouraging people to stand up for what
they believe. I’m looking forward to this tour. I have utmost respect for Rebecca, her ministry and music,” he added.
A defining voice in Christian music for more than a decade, Australian born Rebecca St. James has r
eached globally with her consistently passionate message for God through music and ministry. Of the
tour she noted: “I am very excited about the Christmas tour for quite a few reasons. I love
Christmas music—it represents some of the most powerful worship music to God in the world. To go on
the road with an artist of the caliber of Brian Littrell and share the belief in that powerful
message as we do, is a tremendous thrill. Being acoustic as it is, the concert will hopefully allow
Brian and I to engage audiences in a very warm and personal way with the true emphasis on the reason for the season: Jesus.”
Tickets for The Christmas Tour are available online through iTickets at www.itickets.com or
by calling (1) 800 965-9324. Tickets for the December 16th concert in Charleston, South Carolina may be purchased online
at TicketMaster (www.ticketmaster.com)
(from Morning Star PR)
The Gospel Music Association (GMA) has announced deadlines and guidelines for the 2007
GMA/CMB Radio Station of the Year contest, making this the ninth year GMA will honor
radio at the GMA Dove Awards. The radio station awards acknowledge those Christian radio stations that meet the highest standards
of quality and have the strongest impact on their listening areas, according to John W. Styll,
president of GMA. One radio station from each of the market segments -- major, large, medium and
small – are honored with this award. The entry deadline is January 26, 2007. Eligible stations must play Christian music for at least
50 percent of their broadcast day. They will be judged in four areas -- community involvement,
ratings, air-check and industry leadership. Complete guidelines are available at the GMA office at
615-242-0303 or online.
Three finalists in each market category will be announced by the GMA and the winners will be notified
four weeks before the 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards on April 25, 2007. The winners will be acknowledged
during the GMA Dove Awards’ broadcast. The GMA Dove Awards are the culminating event for GMA Music
Week 2007, which will be held at various locations in downtown Nashville from April 21 -25, 2007 and
include radio specific programming through the Christian Music Broadcasters Seminar (CMB).
The Radio Station of the Year winners from 2006 were KSBJ/ Houston, TX; WPOZ/WEAZ/Orlando, Fla.;
WMHK/Columbia, S.C.; KLRC/Fayetteville, Ark.
(from Spinhouse PR)
DIRECTV, the nation’s leading satellite television service provider, heralds in the holiday
season with Songs of Praise for Christmas, a
90-minute television special hosted by Grammy Award-Winner Amy Grant and NASCAR legend Darrell
Waltrip. This all-new Christmas special debuts November 24 exclusively on DIRECTV Channel 103 and
will run continuously through the month of December. Featured performances from celebrated artists
and choirs include Clay Aiken, Grammy-Award winners Nicole C. Mullen and Michael W. Smith, as well as
the famed Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. A follow-up to the tremendously popular Songs of Praise debut last Easter, Songs of Praise for
Christmas will take viewers on a musical journey through the story of Christmas.
DIRECTV viewers will be treated to Clay Aiken’s rendition of "Silver Bells," Nicole C. Mullen’s
performance of "O Come O Come Emmanuel," and Michael W. Smith’s "Silent Night." The special will also
feature inspirational performances from choirs around the country including the Brentwood Baptist
Church the Hyde Park Baptist Church and the Anderson University Choral Group
“We were literally overcome with emotional feedback from the millions of viewers who tuned into the
Songs of Praise debut last Easter,” said DIRECTV President of Entertainment David Hill. “Following
that sensational start, we’ve decided to extend the special to a full 90-minutes and are excited to
have Christian music leaders like Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and singing phenomenon Clay Aiken on
our roster for this new addition to the series.” As of this past week, DIRECT TV also welcomes Rebecca St. James, Mark Hall
of Casting Crowns and American Idol finalist Mandisa as Guest Hosts! All three of these talents will be sharing their favorite Christmas memories and part of the Christmas story with viewers during the SONGS OF PRAISE FOR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL.
Songs of Praise for Christmas is part of an ongoing DIRECTV initiative to bring more religious
programming to DIRECTV subscribers. Beginning November 24, this 90-minute special will air on DIRECTV
channel 103 continually through December 31. Songs of Praise for Christmas will premiere on DIRECTV’s
channel 103 alongside a variety of other exclusive spiritual programs, including The Very First Noel,
an animated family program telling the story of Christmas, through out the month of December.
“The Brooklyn Tabernacle is honored to be a part of another special with DIRECTV,” exclaimed Jim
Cymbala, Pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church. “Our hope is for viewers to be inspired to draw
nearer to God through these Songs of Praise.” Songs of Praise for Christmas is produced by
DIRECTV Original Entertainment in conjunction with Propeller Consulting and Triplehorse Entertainment
for broadcast exclusively on DIRECTV and is available at no additional cost to all DIERCTV subscribers.
For more information on the artists and choirs performing in Songs of Praise for Christmas, please
visit our website at www.directv.com/songsofpraise
(from The M Collective)
Caedmon's Call has relaunched their fan club The Guild
program for the fifth and final time. "The band is entering a new season which is exciting for us,"
Caedmon's announced in a recent newsletter, "and we hope that means it's an exciting time to be a
Caedmon's Call fan too! We've got renewed vision since finishing our deal with Essential Records,
we've started work on a new album that we think is going to be amazing, and we've just relaunched our
fan club, The Guild... Memberships for Guild 5 are lifetime memberships. No more yearly renewals like
in the past. In previous Guilds, you've paid about $35 for the year and received a few goodies.
With Guild 5, you pay $13.50 for a liftetime membership ($10 for membership, $3.50 to mail you your
membership card once we have them finished). That's it. No more membership fees ever." The band
also touched on details of their next project, citing a message from member Andrew Osenga,
"I've got a box full of CDs and a hard-drive full of material that we are going to use for the
Guild 5 CD. In addition, we are going to use outtakes and songs that don't make the cut for this next
Caedmon's record and put them on the Guild 5 CD as well. Because of this, you'll probably see the
next Caedmon's record come out before the Guild 5 CD does, but the Guild 5 CD won't be too far
behind and it will be worth the wait." For the latest on the band, visit www.caedmonscall.net.
(from Caedmon's Call; JFH)
Multi-million-selling, GRAMMY and Dove Award-winning rock band
Third Day has extended its groundbreaking partnership with
Chevrolet to the charitable arena, encouraging local participation in charity campaigns through the
Chevrolet & Third Day Thanks and Giving Drive.
Third Day and Chevrolet will wrap up their groundbreaking charity effort, with a hometown appearance at the 59th Lighting of the Great Tree at Macy’s at Lenox Square in Atlanta where they will give away an all new 2007 Chevy Silverado. Fans can register to win the All American Truck at several southeast region Third Day concerts, as well as online at the special event website www.chevythanksandgiving.com.
The new charity campaign coincides with Third Day’s tour in support of the band’s new recording, Christmas Offerings, which released October 10. In each market, Chevrolet and Third Day are partnering with local radio stations to raise charitable contributions during the holiday season.
“The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are great catalysts to propel all of us to be more involved with our neighbors who are going through difficult trials,” said Tai Anderson, Third Day’s bass player. “In this day and age, our neighbors are both those in our own city and those around the world.”
“We are ecstatic with the partnership we have been able to create for these charities with Third Day, Chevrolet, Macy’s and the vital local radio station partners,” said J. David Huffman of Creative Trust Management, Third Day’s management company. “What an amazing way to celebrate this season by giving of ourselves to meet the needs of others in each community. We certainly appreciate Chevy supporting our fans with the Silverado giveaway, as well.”
“Chevrolet has a strong connection to Third Day, and this year we have a deeper purpose,” said Tim Hudgens, Chevrolet Regional Marketing Manager. “As America’s brand, we must do what we can to help our communities. Through the Thanks and Giving Drive we can impact American families in a positive way.”
The Thanks and Giving Drives have teamed with local radio stations and benefited charities in the following markets: Greenville, S.C. (His Radio/Blue Star Mothers Operation Hope); Jacksonville, Fla. (88.1 The Promise/Salvation Army U Care Food Drive); Tallahassee, Fla. (Way-FM/Stockings With Care); West Palm Beach, Fla. (Way-FM/Forgotten Soldiers Outreach); Fort Myers, Fla. (Way-FM/Nation’s Association); Mobile, Ala. (Power 88.5/Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child) and Atlanta (The Fish/Hosea Williams Feed The Hungry & Homeless).
(from Provident Label Group)
Attention all VeggieTales’ fans! Bob, Larry and the
rest of their Veggie friends are again making broadcast history with the launch of the first ever
official Veggie Tales Radio Show, a 14-part radio series created from some of the most beloved
VeggieTales videos ever made. Just in time for holiday travels, Big Idea, Inc. will give radio
stations the opportunity to play some of their favorite VeggieTales shows beginning November 20 with
Gideon: Tuba Warrior, the brand new VeggieTales DVD, based on the legendary biblical story.
Renaissance Communications founder and president Joe Battaglia serves as producer of the radio series
and was responsible for translating each of the VeggieTales episodes into a 30-minute radio-friendly audio format.
“We have always believed that a VeggieTales radio show would be core to Christian radio’s desire for
family-friendly entertainment, and will ultimately be embraced by radio in general,” notes Battaglia.
“We’ve so enjoyed partnering with Big Idea during the last five years on the promotion of the video
releases, and are thankful to them for allowing us the opportunity to produce this radio version of
the best-selling video series.”
VeggieTales Radio is hosted by none other than the ever-popular Larry the Cucumber, who makes radio
history as the first talking vegetable to front a national radio show. “I am honored to be a part of
this historic occasion with the launch of VeggieTales Radio,” says Larry the Cucumber.
“And I wouldn’t be surprised if this groundbreaking event set the stage for a vegetable like myself
to be inducted into the Broadcast Hall of Fame.”
Complete with a new introduction and ending exclusively produced for radio, the first six titles of
the programming line-up include: Gideon Tuba Warrior, Dave and the Giant Pickle, The Ballad of Little Joe,
Esther…the Girl Who Became Queen, Josh and the Big Wall, and The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree (based on the CD).
Other classic episodes to follow are: King George and the Ducky, LarryBoy and the Bad Apple,
Madame Blueberry, Rack, Shack & Benny, LarryBoy and the Fib from Outer Space, LarryBoy and the Rumor
Weed, Lyle the Kindly Viking, and Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson’s Hairbrush.
The radio versions of these stories were carefully edited to make them as authentic as their video
counterparts, complete with the original Silly Song segments VeggieTales fans have come to love and
expect. Each 30-minute episode includes two 2-minute commercial breaks, with one minute of each
break available for the radio station’s use.
To encourage widespread radio participation, Big Idea will give interested stations the opportunity
to first hear a program demo by logging onto www.bigidea.com/radioshow. The radio page also
contains detailed information about the series and a link for radio stations to register. Upon approval from Big Idea, radio registrants will be provided with a user name and password to access the site, along with instructions on how to download each episode and the suggested order of shows beginning the week of November 20. The service is free and participating stations are asked to commit the VeggieTales programming to a regular weekly timeslot.
(from Hoganson Media)
Like the 2007 Suzuki SX4 compact sport X-over, one of the grand prizes
Kutless is giving away during its current concert tour,
the BEC Recordings’ band is rocking on all cylinders, making this fall one of its busiest and most successful.
Kutless is currently in the middle of the Hearts of the Innocent Tour Powered by Suzuki, which also
features Disciple, Run Kid Run and Red, and wraps ups with a final show on November 19 in New York
City. In addition to the successful tour, Kutless has news to announce on four fronts.
On December 5, BEC will release Kutless’ its very first live album and video.
Kutless: Live from Portland includes 15 songs including the band’s radio hits
“Sea of Faces,” “Strong Tower,” “Treason,” “Run,” “Pride Away,” and “Your Touch” and music off their
latest Hearts of the Innocent project.
In addition to the full live concert, filmed last spring in the band’s hometown of Portland, OR,
the DVD features backstage behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the band. The Live from
Portland DVD was directed produced by the multiple Dove Award-winning team of Michael Sacci,
Ken Conrad and Carl Diebold (Switchfoot, Third Day Michael W. Smith).
“We are ecstatic about the release of Kutless: Live In Portland. Every detail of the band's
amazing live performance has been captured by equally incredible production,” said Brandon Ebel,
president of Tooth and Nail Records/BEC Recordings. “The goal of the project was to provide fans
with a vehicle to completely emerge themselves in the Kutless ‘experience’, sonically and visually.
The end result is nothing short of amazing, we strongly feel that this is one of the best CD/DVD packages released this year.
On the Hearts of the Innocent Tour Powered by Suzuki, Kutless is playing new markets for the first
time and finding an enthusiastic response.
“We’ve been extremely pleased with the turnout on this tour. Because Kutless has not had the
opportunity to headline the Eastern U.S., there have been legions of Kutless fans who have been
asking us to go East and they have turned out in full force,” said Darren Tyler of Platform Management.
Not content to idle for too long after the current tour ends, Kutless was just announced as the
featured artist on the newsboys’ 40+-city “GO” tour in Spring 2007 which kicks off in February.
Radio has embraced several songs from the current release Hearts of the Innocent.
“Winds of Change” from Hearts of the Innocent is making its impact on the CHR charts now with
“Promise of a Lifetime” poised to be a future AC hit. Additionally, radio still cannot get enough
of 2005’s praise and worship-infused Strong Tower and now has “All Who Are Thirsty” climbing the AC
charts. In October, Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems (BDS) awarded Kutless with a BDSCertified Spin
Award for achieving 50,000 spins at radio for “Strong Tower.”
“To say that 2006 has been a whirlwind year for Kutless would be an understatement,” said Sumrall.
“We are grateful to our fans and humbled by their support in helping to live out our music and ministry to the fullest.”
(from Spinhouse PR)
This Thanksgiving, Oklahoma native and Grammy award-winning singer
Sandi Patty, will appear live on the 80th Anniversary
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, broadcast nationally on NBC-TV. On November 23, while on the
Oklahoma float, Patty will be singing “Oklahoma Rising,” a song written by Jimmy Webb and Vince Gill
in honor of the Oklahoma Centennial. This song is a new Oklahoma anthem with lyrics that celebrate
the states unique first 100 years and bright future.
Along with Patty, additional celebrities will be riding on the float such as: retired NBA athlete
and musician Wayman Tisdale, ten-time world champion of BMX Mat Hoffman, and Olympic Gold Medal
gymnasts Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci. The float is entitled “Oklahoma Rising” to correspond with the new anthem.
This year marks the 80th anniversary for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which anticipates over
3.5 million spectators lining the streets of New York City. Over 50 million viewers are expected to
catch the celebration on television nationwide. For more information on the parade, you can go to
www.macysparade.com ; for more information on Sandi Patty, www.sandipatty.com; and for the Oklahoma Centennial celebration, visit www.oklahomacentennial.com.
(from The Media Collective)
Columbia Records has signed Copeland, the emerging
indie pop-rock band whose latest album, Eat, Sleep, Repeat,
has just entered the Billboard Top 200 best-selling albums chart at #90.
Released on October 31, with first week's sales of more than 11,000 pieces, Eat, Sleep, Repeat is
Copeland's highest charting album to date. In Motion, the group's last full-length album,
peaked at #115 on the Billboard Top 200 shortly after its release in March 2005.
The band had this to say about the signing, "We always said that we would only consider working
with a label that was passionate about our band and our music, and the folks at Columbia are just
that. Nothing drastic will change other than the fact that hopefully a few more ears will get to
hear our music." Congrats guys!
(from MySpace.com/Copeland)
Inpop Records’ acclaimed super group newsboys announces
a 40+-city tour in Spring 2007. The “GO” tour will also see special guest artists Kutless and
Stellar Kart as support. This full-production tour will be the band’s first national tour since its
highly successful “Adoration” tour in 2003.
Kicking off Feb. 16, the “GO” tour will visit more than 40 cities nationwide, including Seattle,
Minneapolis, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and Dallas. Venues will consist mostly of arenas and
theaters. As precedent dictates, fans can expect an all-out musical experience.
“Newsboys have always been known for their live performances,” comments newsboys manager Wes
Campbell. “From landing on stage in space ships and light shows encased in massive 50-foot
microphones, dueling drum solos on spinning drum risers that go upside down to giant inflatable
3500-seat air domes, newsboys tours have always been ‘can’t- miss events.’ The rumors are that this
tour will far exceed any of those past ones.”
For up to the minute “GO” tour updates, please visit www.newsboys.com.
(from Savvy Media)
Been looking endlessly for a copy of Relient K's out of print Deck The Halls, Bruise Your Hand?
This year, the only place to get Relient K's Christmas record is on iTunes. Download individual songs
like "Deck the Halls" and "Santa Clause is Thumbing to Town" for only .99 cents each or get the
entire record (10 songs) for $9.90. Also, selected ringtunes from the Christmas CD are available here!
(from Gotee Records)
Speaking of Relient K... Former RK bassist Brian Pitman is a part of new band, Inhale Exhale.
Their highly anticipated album releases on November 21st, and Pitman recently had the following to say
about the debut record... "I just wanted to take a second to thank you. You always supported me and
my previous band Relient K. As many of you know, at the release of the last RK album I made a
decision to take a break from music for a moment, and then pursue harder music... the stuff I grew up
loving. I wanted to let you know that this new band Inhale Exhale, and our debut album
The Lost. The Sick. The Sacred. comes from the same heart to impact kids for Christ. I can
assure you that there are four guys in this group passionate about what we're doing and the purpose
we do it for. The theme of this album is to bring a positive message about the victory we have in
Christ. I love stepping into a secular setting and watching God move in a place where he is rarely
talked about. Even if it is for one night we know that we can plant seeds and reach people by doing what is on our hearts.
Thanks again for your support and prayers. And we hope you like the album. Sincerely, Brian Pitman."
The Lost. The Sick. The Sacred. streets this coming Tuesday.
(from MusiChristian)
Congratulations are in order for Bebo Norman and his wife Roshare as they are expecting their
first child together! "There will soon be a little baby Norman running around," announced Bebo's
latest newsletter. "We are sure this will be Bebo’s best release yet." We at JFH wish the Normans the best
as their family continues to grow! In the meantime, be sure to check out Bebo's previously most recent
release, his September 19th release of Between the Dreaming and the Coming True.
(from Bebo Normam; Jesusfreakhideout.com)
Switchfoot's latest music video for their new single "Oh! Gravity." has hit Yahoo! Music. The
video, also the title track from their upcoming December 26th release,
Oh! Gravity., follows the same artistic direction
as the record's cover design, spinning the members through a cartoony world as the song plays.
Check it out now at music.yahoo.com.
(from Switchfoot; Jesusfreakhideout.com)
Christian music’s biggest annual tour shows its muscle in 2007 with its strongest line-up yet.
With more than 14 million albums sold among them, the Winter Jam 2007 Tour Spectacular
(www.jamtour.com) will be hosted for the 12th straight year by NewSong
and feature headliners Steven Curtis Chapman and Jeremy Camp,
announced Troy VanLiere, partner in VanLiere-Wilcox, and producer for Winter Jam.
Joining the 34-city tour will be special guests Hawk Nelson, Sanctus Real, new artist Britt Nicole,
Speaker Tony Nolan, Presidential impersonator and comedian John Morgan and the breathtaking, fire
breathing Andre the Hollywood Cowboy. Winter Jam 2007 Tour Spectacular launches on January 12, 2007
in Tri-Cities, Tenn. and runs through March 13 in Charlotte, N.C., stopping in 17 states along the
tour route. “Winter Jam will be the ultimate jam session with amazing artists like Steven Curtis
Chapman and Jeremy Camp headlining the show,” said Eddie Carswell, founding member of NewSong.
“I can think of no more rewarding way to kick-off 2007 than being part of such a phenomenal,
entertaining and inspiring concert experience. It is exciting to have a roster of artists that
share in the big spiritual vision we have for this tour.”
(from Spinhouse PR)
Mat Kearney has announced the first set of shows for 2007, featuring the artist opening
once again for John Mayer, starting February 13th. Check out the Tour page at www.matkearney.com for
dates and cities. Tickets for most shows are on sale now.
Also, there's good news for Grey's Anatomy (and Kearney) fans: "Where We Gonna Go From Here"
from Mat's album Nothing Left To Lose will
air on this Thursday's episode of Grey's Anatomy. The show airs on ABC at 9/8c.
(from MySpace.com/MatKearney; Jesusfreakhideout.com)
The Listening's frontman Gabriel Wilson is poised to release his first solo project, entitled
Lovely Is Death on December 10th. When Wilson recently announced the preorder for the album,
he spoke openly about project, saying it's "the very first time I've worked alone musically in my
life. It's naked, honest... gritty. It's a snapshot into my mind during the toughest chapter of
my life. I hope you enjoy it, and that you find it as healing as I did." For more information on
Lovely Is Death, including how to preorder, visit LTownMusic.com
(from Gabriel Wilson; Jesusfreakhideout.com)
Ready for Christmas? Well we know a few folks who are. Centricity Records is working on a new
Christmas project entitled Bethlehem Skyline, featuring the label's artists.
In fact, Downhere, Jaime Jamgochian, Circleslide, and new artists Jason Gray and Daniel Kirkley have all
teamed up to sing on the song, "Oh Come All Ye Faithful," which can be heard now in its entirety
at MySpace.com/Bethlehemskyline.
You can even download the song (and others) right now!
(from MySpace.com/Bethlehemskyline; JFH; thanks to David S.)
Gotee Records/Capitol will release Five
Score And Seven Years Ago, Relient K’s fifth album in seven years and the follow up to
2004’s mmhmm, the band’s third consecutive Gold album.
The album, most of which was produced by Howard Benson in Los Angeles with three tracks completed
thereafter with the band’s longtime producer Mark Townsend in Nashville, is a departure of sorts
for the pop-punk band. For starters, there are some love songs – happy ones. “I always write about
what I’m going through and I can’t avoid the fact that I’m just really happy and there are some good
things going on,” says lead singer/guitarist/pianist Matt Thiessen. This happy state of mind lights
up the exuberant first single “Must Have Done Something Right.” "This song represents something that
I've wanted to create for a long time,” he explains. “It’s not a political commentary or a tear
jerking emotion-piece, it’s just a feel good, fun song. Written at 3 a.m. with a smirk on my face,
the song turned out to be something that you can tap your foot and smile to.”
Although Five Score And Seven Years Ago’s 14 songs are written in the first person, Thiessen
has ventured beyond the confessional this time around. “Plead the Fifth” and “Deathbed,” the two
songs that bookend the album, step into the shoes of a 19th century man with an intriguing conspiracy
theory about Abraham Lincoln and an aging cancer patient respectively.
But while Five Score And Seven Years Ago isn’t packed with the band’s characteristic puns,
Relient K has clearly not lost its quirky sense of humor. In “Faking My Own Suicide,” the narrator
takes a cue from the classic cult comedy Harold and Maude, hatching a faux suicide plot to get the
object of his affection to realize that she really does love him. “Crayons Can Melt On Us For All I
Care,” which takes longer to say than to play, is a classic Relient K goofball aside. And while the
11-minute, 115-track “Deathbed,” which features Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman as a guest vocalist, has a
somber setting as its title implies, the masterfully woven tale of a man’s life and last moments
brims with keen observations and aural ironies.
Five Score And Seven Years Ago marks Relient K’s first full-length album featuring bassist
John Warne and Jon Schneck, who plays guitar, banjo, and bells – although the two appeared on the
band’s Apathetic EP, released in late 2005. With
lead guitarist Matt Hoopes and drummer Dave Douglas completing the lineup, Relient K is now a quintet
with each of the members contributing vocals. But the biggest change was in the control booth,
working with Howard Benson. “I was honestly pretty nervous,” confesses lead guitarist Matt Hoopes, “We’d never really worked with
any other producer beside Mark Townsend – he did everything from our first demo, all the way up to
the last album. But it was a good experience working with Howard.”
All kidding aside, Five Score And Seven Years Ago is an ambitious follow-up to mmhmm,
Relient K’s first joint Gotee Records/Capitol release, which debuted at #15 on the Billboard 200 and
at #1 on the internet chart in 2004.
(from LB PR)
Music will be sent out after Thanksgiving, but here’s your first chance to hear the
first smash single “Made to Love” from TobyMac’s new album, which is already climbing the charts, currently No. 13
(up from no. 20) on R&R’s CHR chart. Check it out at:
www.myspace.com/tobymacmusic
In addition, check out this video link of TobyMac talking about “Made to Love”:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN-gPWuaops.
TobyMac's third album, Portable Sounds, hits streets February 20, 2007.
(from The M Collective)
Yahoo Music will post the online world premiere of Switchfoot’s “Oh! Gravity.” video November 13.
The clip from the multi-platinum band’s sixth studio disc of the same name hits Switchfoot.com
the next day. The Oh! Gravity. album releases to
stores everywhere December 26, and a wealth of information about the project continues to precede
that highly anticipated date. Switchfoot has just posted all of the new song lyrics (as has JFH)
along with an updated band biography and lead singer Jon Foreman’s insightful notes about how Oh! Gravity.
came together. Discussing the studio time with producer Tim Palmer (U2, Pearl Jam), Foreman says,
“This was one of the most enjoyable records we’ve ever made. I feel that (Palmer’s) mixes are among
my favorite mixes we’ve ever had, they sound unlike anything I’ve heard in a long time. He really
brought the record to a place that we wouldn’t have gone on our own.”
Read more, and take advantage of the great Oh! Gravity. pre-order deal today at Switchfoot.com
(from Sparrow Records)
Passion Conferences is hosting Passion 07, a four-day
indoor gathering for college students from around the nation and world January 1 – 4, 2007.
Leading the worship, teaching and prayer gathering will be renowned speakers Louie Giglio,
John Piper, Beth Moore, Francis Chan among others, as well as such acclaimed artist-worshipers as
Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman and more. More than 20,000 students are
expected from all across the USA and internationally, with 12 countries already represented,
including Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Australia, Brazil and Ireland.
To keep up with the swell in registrations this year, main Passion 07 gatherings will be held in two
locations, the Phillips Arena – Atlanta and the Georgia World Congress Center, both in the heart of
downtown Atlanta. The two venues will be joined via satellite and live elements will take place in
each main arena creating one massive worship gathering. Not only will students worship together in
arenas packed with thousands of faces representing campuses from every corner of the nation and
beyond, but they will also have the chance to sit and process what God is doing in their lives with a
small group of students they connect with through the smaller community groups that make up the fabric of the conference.
Similar to last January’s Passion 06 in Nashville, Passion 07 will provide smaller sessions through
Community Groups, Family Groups and Late Nights. The Community and Family groups will allow students
to unpack what they learn throughout the week in small group environments and the Late Nights give
students a chance to “hang out” after the evening session ends each night.
More than an event, Passion is a movement. The heartbeat of Passion is the glory of God through a
generation of college students living radically for His name so that campuses awaken to His fame.
“Making our lives count for what matters most is a worthy goal, but a costly proposition, one that must be thoroughly absorbed and embraced if our lives are going to be shaped for His renown,” says Louie Giglio, Passion Conferences founder/director. “Thousands of students will merge from across the nation and around the world to sink their teeth into the confession of Isaiah 2:68. First wrapping our hearts around what it means to be satisfied in Christ, we want to echo the fame of the Satisfier in everything we do.”
With registrations coming in much faster than for last year’s Passion 06, more than 15,000 students representing 48 states and 12 countries have already registered for Passion 07. Students are encouraged to register early, as space is limited. Although the venues are larger than last year, the Passion 06 conference sold out in advance, bringing together more than 18,000 in Nashville with college-age students representing every state, 1,100-plus campuses and twenty foreign countries. Registration information, schedule and conference details can be found at www.268generation.com.
In order to make Passion 07 happen, over 1000 volunteers are also needed to serve throughout the conference in various jobs. For people over the age of 25, Passion Conferences requests they attend
as a volunteer or as a leader of a group. Those interested in volunteering at Passion 07 are asked to submit a volunteer application at www.268generation.com before the Dec. 15th deadline.
(from Hoganson Media)
Best-selling, award-winning Inpop recording artist newsboys
has returned to the rock genre with an impressive 23,246 units its first week, the band’s biggest
street week since Adoration released in 2003. Newsboys’ fourteenth album,
GO, released Oct. 31 and has been applauded for its return to
the group’s signature pop/rock sound. Christian SoundScan’s Overall Contemporary Christian Albums Chart placed newsboys’ GO at No. 4
this week with total retail scans of 17,948. Direct and internet sales of GO contribute an
additional 5,298 units for a combined sales exceeding 23,000 units. The album also debuted at No. 51
on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. “It’s a great time to be involved in Inpop and newsboys,” comments Dale Bray, president of Inpop
Records. “This is Inpop’s biggest first week sales number in its eight-year history, surpassing our
previous record with Superchick’s Beauty From Pain. We are very proud to have partnered with
newsboys on this project.” “newsboys are excited about the overwhelmingly positive response to GO,” says newsboys manager,
Wes Campbell. “We appreciate all the hard work from everyone involved in this record, producer
Tedd T, Christian radio and retail, EMI CMG and the many people that have supported the band for so many years.”
Media are calling GO a welcomed return to newsboys’ familiar sound and are offering up high
praises to the group. JesusFreakHideout.com gives the album 4.5 out of 5 stars saying, “Catchy, fun,
worshipful, encouraging, and memorable, GO is liable to cause longtime fans to join me in saying,
‘Hallelujah, the newsboys are back!’” CCM Magazine lauds, “[newsboys] have returned in what’s
arguably its best creative offering since 1998’s Step Up to the Microphone. …the group achieves the rare
distinction of having a cross generational impact, maintaining its old school die-hards, while giving
the younger crew something substantial to sink their teeth into.”
And newsboys is offering its fans something extra special to “sink their teeth into” with a limited
edition version of GO, featuring three additional new tracks: “City to City,”
“I Am Free (Live)” and “Something To Believe In.” This collector’s item also includes a DVD
containing more than an hour’s worth of video in the studio as well as with each band member in their
hometown. Also putting newsboys on the radar is current single, “Wherever We Go,” which maintains
its No. 4 position on Radio & Records’ Christian Hit Radio chart. The song is also currently at No.
10 on R&R’s Adult Contemporary Indicator chart. Additionally, the band will announce plans shortly
for a major national spring tour. More details to follow.
(from Savvy Media)
On Tuesday, S/R/E Recordings/Columbia Records band Disciple released
Scars Remain, their most ambitious record to date.
The single “Regime Change” sits at # 10 with a bullet on Christian Rock Radio with no signs of
slowing. Their single “Game On” was chosen to be the theme song to a recent WWE pay-per view event.
Disciple was showcased at ringside for WWE Cyber Sunday live on pay-per view November 5th at 8pm in
Cincinnati, OH. “Game On,” the current single for sporting promotion from Scars Remain played five
times throughout the evening. This incredible opportunity was promoted on the USA Network.
Neil A. Lawi, General Manager at WWE Music Group states, “‘Game On’ by Disciple was the ideal theme
song for this year’s WWE Cyber Sunday; it had the energy and feel of what this Pay-Per-View was all
about. Additionally, with Disciple’s record dropping November 7th, WWE gave them the perfect platform
for pre-promotion over the last few weeks in a variety of opportunities on television and wwe.com.
This clearly identifies another avenue by which bands and artists can raise awareness on a global
level through a relationship with WWE.”
This follows other TV success with “Game On” which has already been heard on ESPN’s NFL Live: Plays
of the Month, FOX’s Best D*** Sports Show Period, the NFL’s Network’s Total Access show and Speed
TV’s Speed Report.
(from Big Machine Media)
On the heels of sell out shows, critical acclaim and multi-format radio hits,
Jeremy Camp is celebrating a huge first week of sales with
his latest recording, Beyond Measure. Camp’s fourth studio project sold over 30,000 scans,
placing it at No. 29 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, and No. 2 on the Top Contemporary Christian SoundScan chart.
As Camp’s Beyond Measure tour rolls across the country, Camp, along with tourmates Hawk
Nelson and Adie, are being welcomed by sold out crowds. The tour has already sold out in markets
including Ft worth, Cincinnati, Grand Rapids, Portland and Spokane, with tour dates averaging 2500/night.
"We went into this tour with the fans in mind,” stated Matt Balm, Camp’s manager. “We have a section
for 150 fans that are hand picked before the show to go down front, which has been great and creates
high energy right before the show starts. Also in most of the markets we kept tickets at $20 and
below, and I think that has helped contribute to this tour being our most succesful tour yet."
Also captivating fans are Camp’s first two radio singles from Beyond Measure. With over
4,800,000 audience impressions at AC, CHR and rock this week, “What It Means” is already Top 5 on
three charts, including #3 on R&R’s Christian AC chart, #5 on its AC Indicator chart, and # 5 on the
CHR chart. “Tonight” jumped eleven spots to #11 last week from #22.
(from The M Collective)
As Michael W. Smith celebrates the release of his
19th studio album Stand, he continues powerful
momentum on the road as one of the few touring artists seeing multiple sold-out dates this fall.
Some of these dates include: El Paso Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Center; Phoenix Celebrity Theatre;
Roseville, CA Bayside Covenant Church; Santa Rosa, CA Wells Fargo Center for the Arts; Getzville, NY
Chapel at Cross Point and Manheim, PA Lancaster County Bible Church.
“I feel a connection with each audience on this tour; the music is really touching people.
There are definite moments where we’re one voice in worship to God during the evening. It’s
absolutely amazing,” says Smith. In addition to remarkable touring leading up to the release of Stand, Smith’s AOL listening party
launches this week. Smith kicks off his annual Christmastime Symphony Tour on Nov. 24.
This tour is scheduled for 17 cities through Dec. Please visit www.michaelwsmith.com for more
information and an up-to-date tour schedule.
(from Provident Music Group)
This December marks the 10th year of Sanctus Real and
the band is ready to celebrate and show their appreciation to their hometown of Toledo, Ohio.
"For many years of support, we'll be playing TWO exclusive shows on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8TH at the
Maumee Indoor Theater. Show times are 5:30 and 8:30pm and tickets will be available shortly,"
announced the band in a blog this week. "Opening both shows will be This Beautiful Republic. Also,
that evening we're hosting an afterparty at the MILL where many other local area bands will play
throughout the night before we close with an intimate acoustic set! Stay tuned for ticket info
and mark your calendars!" Also, be sure to check out the band's most recent release The Face Of Love,
now in stores.
(from MySpace.com/SanctusReal; JFH)
Dizmas has hit the studio to begin work on their followup to their debut
On A Search In America.
"We've just gotten through a stage of the record called pre-production," informed
guitarist Jon Howard in a recent blog online. "It basically
means we take all of the songs and make them better with the input of
our producer, Steve Patrick Wilson. Usually we just use acoustic
guitars and our voices. If you were to be here with us it would be
the part of the recording process you would be most bored with. But,
it's a good thing... believe me. And honestly, in the end, we love
these songs. We really do. So, the guy in these pictures that isn't
in our band is our producer, Steve. We'll have some video of him too
to come. He is in a band called, Class of 98... Next up - drum tracking this week!"
For a few video snippets of the guys in the studio and in their apartment where
they're living while recording, visit the blog here.
(from MySpace.com/Dizmas; JFH)
The first single off Kathy Troccoli’s November 14
release, The Story of Love, has hit the R&R top 10 and has its sights set high following in the
footsteps of her 17 previous #1 radio hits. “Make My Life a Prayer to You”, which has reached #9 on the R&R inspirational radio charts, is a
cover of the Keith Green classic. “I was a big Keith Green fan and still listen to his music,” says
Kathy. “ I wanted to record this one because I loved the passion of the lyrics. I often say that
Jesus came to show us what God looks like, and what God looks like is often how people see us.”
The Story of Love is Kathy’s 19th album release and is her first regular studio recording
since 2002. She and co-producer Matt Baugher have crafted an album that emphasizes the unique timbre,
vulnerability, and passion of her voice. “This is a project that touches upon different dimensions of
love—which is God’s greatest gift,” says Kathy.
Kathy is celebrating 25 years of music ministry in 2007. She has garnered numerous accolades during
her career including record sales reaching two million units, three GRAMMY nominations, a top 5
mainstream pop hit with the song “Everything Changes”, and even a top 10 single with the Beach Boys,
entitled “I Can Hear Music.” Today Kathy travels the world as a sought-after speaker and singer. Her songs and stories that move,
mend, and motivate the heart have blessed vast audiences. “Make My Life a Prayer to You” has brought
audiences to their feet on the 2006 Women of Faith tour and various other national conferences across
the country that Kathy has ministered on this year.
(from Recah)
Canadian rockers Article One have joined the
Inpop Records roster. The band’s debut label project is scheduled to release in May.
Easily one of Canada’s most talented up-and-coming rock bands, Ontario-based Article One
combines violin, keys, and three-part vocal harmonies to create a reminiscent yet inventive sound.
Comprising founding brothers Nathan Piche (vocals/guitars/piano) and Matthew Piche (vocals/violin)
as well as Dave DeSmit (vocals/drums), Article One began playing locally in 2003 alongside the
release of a five-song EP. An immediate buzz followed the trio, and they were asked to join
The Elms’ fall tour in 2004. Shortly thereafter, the band released its first full-length CD,
self-titled, which prompted its busiest touring season to date. Among those performances was Kingdom
Bound’s International Talent Search, where Article One walked away with the winning title.
The band has played more than 50 shows in the last two months alone and was most recently nominated
for New Artist of the Year at Gospel Music Association Canada’s Covenant Music Awards.
Signing with Inpop Records is yet another victory for Article One. Lead vocalist and primary
songwriter Nathan Piche comments, “All of us in Article One are extremely excited about signing to
Inpop! We have spent the last three years developing a sound that is unique, yet accessible, for both
the Christian and secular markets. We feel honored to be joining such a talented roster of artists
and privileged to be supported by such an outstanding record company. We cannot wait to begin this
stage of our career.” “Article One provides Inpop with a fresh, unique and international pop sound,” says Dale Bray,
president of Inpop Records. “The band’s prominent use of violin in every song makes their sound
strictly their own. If you like the pop sensibilities of groups like The Fray you will love Article One.”
Produced in the band’s native Canada by local talent Siegfried Meier, Article One’s self-titled
album carries the honor of Inpop Records’ first release in 2006. The record’s first radio single
“Heaven Let Me Know” will be serviced to Christian Hit Radio in December.
For more information on Article One, visit: www.myspace.com/articleonemusic or
www.articleonemusic.com
(from Savvy Media)
To celebrate their #1 single, Stellar Kart is giving
away "Me And Jesus"! The hit single from the band's sophomore release
We Can't Stand Sitting Down spent
seven consecutive weeks at the top of the CHR chart, and currently remains in the top ten.
To thank fans for their support, the guys are giving away a free download of "Me And Jesus" for a
limited time! To download the song, click here to visit
Sony Connect.
Gospel Music Channel will also feature the World Premiere of the "Me And Jesus" video on
November 18th! You can also check out the "Activate" video on the KRTKO website, and purchase your
own bottle of Activate! For more information, visit
www.stellarkart.com
or www.myspace.com/stellarkart.
(from Word Records)
Jonezetta and Tooth & Nail Records are offering yet
another contest, this time giving you the chance to create the "Get Ready (Hot Machete)" dance and
influence dance floors across America! Head to the official YouTube Jonezetta Dance Contest group
for complete rules and information about what you could win! Check out a video about the contest
here and then get dancing!
(from MySpace.com/Jonezetta; JFH)
Once the queen of Christian rock with band The Benjamin Gate, Adie Camp
has now moved into a new royal court with her solo debut Don’t Wait,
which released earlier this fall on BEC Recordings. Adie is currently on tour with husband Jeremy
Camp and the energetic group Hawk Nelson, which has been highly received across the nation with
sold out dates. Don’t Wait is a stylistic departure from the aggressive rock roots in The Benjamin Gate.
Adie’s expressive voice on Don’t Wait makes it an unique and compelling offering for listeners.
Her solo debut is also seasoned with more introspective lyrics that stem from her duel roles as
wife and mother of two little girls. “I'm excited to be able to share a whole new chapter of things that have taken place—being married
to a strong, godly husband, having two sweet little girls and everything the Lord has done in my
life and all that he continues to do with the people I play for,” shares Adie of her debut and
performing on tour. Catch Adie on tour with Jeremy this Fall!
(from The M Collective)
Mutemath's Canadian fans can see the band FOR FREE in
an incredibly intimate environment later this week. The guys will be performing on MTV Live
THIS THURSDAY and you can catch it for free, the interview, and three live songs up close and
personal. All you have to do is call 1.888.491.6888 or email liveaudience@mtv.ca and show up
at the Masonic Temple (888 Yonge Street) in Toronto! For an event flyer, check out the band's blog
at myspace.com.
(from MySpace.com/Mutemath; JFH)
The newest addition to the Word Records roster, Jackson Waters,
is preparing to make their debut with Center Of Attention, a digital EP featuring songs
from their upcoming album Come Undone! The new album is scheduled to be released in
spring of 2007, but the band is releasing the 4-song EP online to support the first single
"Give Me Amazing Grace," which is already making a splash at radio. The EP also contains an acoustic
version of the new song. If you buy the EP at iTunes Music Store, you'll receive a free Digital
Booklet to introduce you to Jackson Waters!
To help spread the word about Jackson Waters, the band is giving away a free MP3 download of a new
song from the upcoming album not featured on the EP! Visit the band's MySpace page and sign up to
their mailing list to receive a link to download the MP3. You can also listen to "Give Me Amazing
Grace" and other songs from the EP.
Jackson Waters recently returned from New York, where they filmed a music video for "Come Undone."
The video is scheduled to debut in early 2007 to support the album of the same name.
For more information, and to receive a free MP3 download, visit www.myspace.com/jacksonwaters.
(from Word Records)
John Reuben's been hard at work on a new album that's slated for an early 2007 release.
The still untitled album will be released February 6th on Gotee Records, and features John's
latest single, "Word of Mouth." Reuben's team told JFH a bit about the record, informing us that
the album was produced by Joe Baldridge, mastered by Richard Dodd, and features a few guest
songwriters including Brandon Harris, Gary Burnette, Solomon Olds (Family Force 5), and Seth Earnest
(his current drummer), with John co-writing or writing all of the tracks. The ten song album also features
an appearance by Ben Folds' drummer who sings on a song called "Miserable Exaggeration." We'll keep
you posted as more details unfold, but keep an eye out for a new animated music video for "Word Of Mouth."
And if you haven't yet, visit www.myspace.com/johnreuben
to find out the latest on the Ohio rapper... and don't forget to become his friend!
(from John Reuben; Jesusfreakhideout.com)
Forefront Records announces the addition of Toledo, Ohio’s own five member rock outfit
This Beautiful Republic to its roster. The band will
release its national debut March 20, 2007.
Comprising lead singer Ben Olin, drummer Andy Smith, guitarist Jeremy Kunkle, bassist Brandon Paxton
and Adam Smith, also on guitar, the small-town boys produce a sound that’s anything but small. The
band’s catchy vocals, riveting guitar sound, and unshakable fan loyalty have won crowds in and around
Toledo for nearly five years. Such buzz surrounding This Beautiful Republic garnered national
attention from multiple labels, with Forefront Records landing its latest new signing.
“Forefront Records has always had a reputation for signing top-notch rock bands that have a heart for
the Church,” says Peter York, president of EMI CMG Label Group. “We have the utmost belief and
trust in these guys to carry the Forefront Records banner well and to make great music that will
impact this generation. The band’s live show is not to be missed.”
“We’re really honored to be apart of the Forefront Records/EMI family,” comments frontman Olin.
“The label has a rich legacy of artists, and we can’t wait to see what our relationship with Forefront
holds for us in the future.” Releasing March 20, 2007, the band’s first album will be produced by Allen Salmon (most noted for
engineering records by Sanctus Real and Mute Math). Celebrated mix engineer Mark Needham
(The Killers, Fleetwood Mac, Michelle Branch) will additionally lend his talents to the project.
The band’s first radio single “Jesus to the World” goes for adds at both the Christian Hit Radio and
Christian Adult Contemporary formats on Nov. 10.
The band has signed an exclusive booking agreement with Creative Artists Agency. John Huie, CAA agent
and head of the Nashville office, remarks, “It’s been a long time since we’ve been as excited about a
new band as we are about This Beautiful Republic. I think they’re going to be big on CHR, Rock, and AC
radio; a combination that is rare and even better... these guys have the live show to back it up. We
expect big things from this band.”
For more information, visit: www.thisbeautifulrepublic.com or www.myspace.com/thisbeautifulrepublic.
(from Savvy Media)
Congratulations to Pillar's guitarist Noah Henson who is celebrating the recent birth of his baby
girl! Up until the moment she was born, the Hensons were expecting to welcome in a baby boy, but
Noah reflected in a Pillar newsletter this morning about how God had other plans,
"God is amazing, and I'll tell you this, God had different plans for me and Lindsey. After
months of anticipation and planning and buying boy clothes and thinking about what I was going to do
with my new boy and the football games and the wrestling and playing cowboys and indians and cops and
robbers, etc...etc... From the minute she was born to even these minutes as I write this entry, I
realize just how awesome God is and how his plans for us are so very different than we think they
should be. Every moment I spend holding my daughter, looking into her eyes and staring in amazement,
I realize that she is everything I ever needed and more. I can't imagine anything else or the thought
of not having her here. Gosh, I just can't describe the blessing she has been in our lives. I have
cried more in the past week than I have in the last 5 years, because i am so overwhelmed that God
would give me everything I could dream and more.... Our daughter's name is Hannah Elizabeth Henson.
She was born at 6:33a.m. October 19th, and she weighed 6lbs 2oz, and was 20.25 inches long."
Let's keep the Hensons in our prayers as they enter this exciting new chapter of their lives! Congrats guys!
(from Pillar; JFH)
Artist / producer / composer Bebo Norman has found his
way to the head of the class. CBS’ new hit comedy, “The Class”, that is. Norman’s song, “To Find
My Way To You,” from his current release, Between the Dreaming and the Coming True, is scheduled as the feature music for scheduled promotional television spots for the show, which airs Mondays on CBS at 8:30 PM ET.
Norman is currently on the road in the middle of his “The Dreaming True Tour” with Brandon Heath
and Aaron Shust, which began in September and has seen multiple sellouts to-date. The tour is
scheduled to conclude mid-November with dates remaining in Tex., Okla., Ark., and Mo. Information
about upcoming tour dates can be viewed at www.bebonorman.com.
Between the Dreaming and the Coming True, Norman’s fifth major studio project, released
September 19 of this year. “The title, Between the Dreaming and the Coming True, was inspired
by a book by Robert Benson with the same name,” explains Norman. “It was so poignant to me because
this really is where life as a believer is lived. I’ve never written a group of songs that expressed
more intently life lived in the real and in the everyday. It is about hope eternal played out against
the backdrop of a difficult world and a sometimes dark age.” For all tour dates and additional
information on Bebo Norman, visit www.bebonorman.com.
(from Provident Music Group)
Centricity recording artist Downhere took home three
trophies at GMA Canada’s 28th Annual Covenant Awards, held October 27. The Canadian melodic
alt-rockers’ 2006 critically-acclaimed release, Wide-Eyed and Mystified,
was named Rock Album of the Year. In addition, the project’s top 10 AC smash “A Better Way”
received the Covenant Award for Recorded Song of the Year, while the CHR hit “The More” was named
Rock Song of the Year. Both songs were written by Downhere’s Marc Martel and Jason Germain.
“This year's CGMA's were definitely a highlight of my year,” said Downhere’s Marc Martel.
“My favorite thing about the event was the community that it brings out. It was amazing to see the
growing sense that we're all doing this together with excellence as Canadian artists, with one spirit
and one mind, as artistically varied as that may be. We put a lot of hard work into Wide-Eyed And
Mystified, and now seeing people respond to the music and the things we're saying on this
record— in such a deliberate way— is an enormous encouragement. It's these mile-markers that keep
us going as a band seeking out the mysteries of God and life, through the joy and the pain, with our music.”
"Winning three Covenant Awards was so encouraging for Downhere, especially since they grew up in
Canada,” said John Mays, vice president, A&R, Centricity Records. “We couldn't be more proud of the
band, and knowing how hard they worked on the record, we are so happy to see them recognized for a job well done."
Downhere’s Covenant Award-winning single, “A Better Way,” is #12 on CRW’s Signature AC chart, according to the publication’s November 6 issue. The group is currently featured on BarlowGirl’s 30-city “The Don’t Conform” Tour, along with Matthew West.
The 28th Annual Covenant Awards, recognized as Canada’s longest-standing Christian music awards, were held in conjunction with the Canada Christian Music Conference.
(from Turning Point PR)
Speaking of the Covenant Awards, congratulations are in order also for Starfield.
The pop/rock and worship band won four Covenant Awards last Friday presented by the Gospel Music
Association Canada. Their honors include Album of the Year
(Beauty In The Broken), Song of the Year,
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year, and Group of the Year.
Available now from Sparrow Records in the United States, Beauty In The Broken features the
hits “My Generation” and the Covenant Award winning Song of the Year, “Son Of God.”
(from Sparrow Records)
Amy Grant has been confirmed as a performer on the
40th Annual CMA Awards. Along with her husband Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow and Gill’s daughter Jenny,
Grant will perform guest vocals on "What You Give Away" from Gill’s MCA Nashville release These Days.
The 40th Annual CMA Awards will air live on the ABC Television Network, Monday, Nov. 6
(8:00-11:00 PM/ET) from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville.
Grant recently released her first live project in 25 years, the retrospective CD and also DVD,
Time Again Amy Grant Live. In addition,
after selling over 25 million albums worldwide, winning numerous GRAMMY® Awards and countless other
career milestones, Amy Grant was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 19th.
(from The M Collective)
 Lauren Daigle to Perform During Super Bowl LIX Pre-GameThu, 29 Nov 2024 22:10:00 EST |
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| TRIBL Records Celebrates 17 2024 Billboard Music Awards Nominations Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:50:00 EST |
| Eddy Mann Launches Four-Part "Monday with the Mann's" Livestream Event Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:30:00 EST |
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