News Update-- Week Ending 2-24
Rise Records Announces Showcase at Cornerstone '08
Rise Records has announced that they will be one of the sponsors of this Summer’s legendary Cornerstone Festival, on July 5th in Bushnell, IL. The label has been quite busy over the past year bulking up their roster with a ton of buzz-worthy, scene-making bands, and will be showcasing five of the newest on the Encore 2 Stage at Cornerstone! The showcase will feature Emarosa, Before Their Eyes, Here I Come Falling (HICF), Burden of A Day (BOAD), and Oceana. All of the bands will be quite busy for the months leading up to Cornerstone. Emarosa is about to step into the studio in March with Kris Crummett (Drop Dead Gorgeous, Dance Gavin Dance, Kaddisfly), to record their debut full length for Rise. The band has built up a ton of underground buzz through the internet and touring the country with bands such as The Devil Wears Prada. Before Their Eyes has also built their fan base through non-stop touring, going out over the past year with Escape the Fate and Love Hate Hero to name a few. They will be on the upcoming Artery Foundation Tour with A Skylit Drive, Dance Gavin Dance, and Four Letter Lie. Upon returning, they will head into the studio with Joey Sturgis (The Devil Wears Prada, At the Throne of Judgment) to record their sophomore release for Rise. Springfield, MO based HICF have made a serious name for themselves in the Christian metal scene through their dissonant screamo laced passages mixed with technical metal fury, electronic elements and soaring melodic sections. They display all of this on their debut Oh Grave Where is Thy Victory which earned them a ton of praise. Popular music and lifestyle portal About.com saying “Oh Grave, Where Is Thy Victory has a lot of melody, and there are keyboards and electronics that add depth and texture to the band's sound. There are some mellow moments along with the aggressive, pummeling guitars.” The band is about to head out on the road on with Inhale Exhale and Gwen Stacy, and just finished up a string of dates with label mates Oceana. Averaging in at a tender 17-19 years old, Oceana create complex musical soundscapes on their debut The Tide, which is packed with waves of technical metal composition, thick melodic sections and textures of noise throughout. The band will be heading out on the Rise Vs Tragic Hero Tour with A Kiss for Jersey, A Different Breed of Killer, and Knives Exchanging Hands in March, but will complete a tour with Burden of A Day in the next few weeks. Set to release their debut Rise Records release Blessed Be Our Ever After on March 4th Burden of a Day is excited to unleash their medley of post-hardcore and screamo, heartfelt and melodic lyrics, and many a breakdown upon the world, ready or not. The album touches upon themes in the fairy tales and the moral thread that runs through society, but is a fun sing-a-long record at the same time. The band loves to play live, and has toured in the past with Inked in Blood, A Plea For Purging, War of Ages, Oh, Sleeper, My Children My Bride, With Blood Comes Cleansing, and Gwen Stacy. All of the bands are psyched about their Cornerstone 08 appearance, so stay tuned to riserecords.com for updates and details.
August Burns Red On Tour
August Burns Red tour dates announced with Misery Signals and Emmure
March 2008
28th Karlsruhe, GER - Die Stadtmitte
29th Trier, GER - Exhaus
30th Paris, FRA - Batofar
31st Plymouth, UK - White Rabbit
April 2008
1st Manchester, UK - Music Box
2nd Glasgow, UK - Ivory Blacks
3rd Nottingham, UK - Jumition 7
4th Yeovil, UK - The Orange Box
5th Luton, UK – Student Union
6th London, UK – Underwold
7th Giessen, GER - MUK
8th Bremen, GER - Schlacthof
9th Orebro, SWE - Kulturhuset
10th Berlin, GER - Magent
11th Leipzig, GER - Conne Island
12th Warsaw, POL – Progresja Club
13th Prague, CZE - 0.0.7
14th Munchen, GER - Feierwerk
15th Enns, HUN – Club Hort
16th Wien, AUT - Arena
17th Bologna, ITA - Sottetetto
18th Oberentfelden, SWI - Porom Pom Pom
19th Schaffen, BEL - Rockfest
20th Bochum, GER – Matrix
SONSHINE FESTIVAL '08
Rapidly Growing Festival Announces 2008 Line Up And Affordable Ticket Prices For Four Days Of Family-Friendly Christian Entertainment. In celebration of its 27th year, Sonshine Festival is pleased to announce the addition of a fourth night of entertainment to its already outstanding, three-day line-up of events. The now four-day music festival will be held July 16th-19th at the Willmar Civic Center in Willmar, MN. With the goal of being an affordable, family-friendly event, Early Bird weekend passes are available now for $65 through iTickets.com and can be purchased until March 31st. For no extra charge, attendees are provided camping, parking, and hot showers. Additionally, the Wednesday night concert, featuring fan-favorite Jars of Clay, will be free and open to the public as well as Sonshine ticket holders. “I feel that adding the Wednesday program with a free Jars of Clay concert is just one way we can say ‘Thank You’ to the people who have been attending for years and have helped make Sonshine one of the best festivals of the summer,” explains Michael W. Scanland, Sonshine Festival co-founder. “We have an amazing Festival planned for 2008 and are looking forward to all that this year has in store for those attending.” A festival for music lovers of all ages and music styles, Sonshine features a variety of performers on four different stages. The 2008 line-up includes:
Main-Stage: Third Day, TobyMac, Newsboys, Jeremy Camp, David Crowder Band, Flyleaf,
Superchick, Stellar Kart, Hawk Nelson, Barlow Girl, Skillet, and Kutless.
Stage 2: The Wedding, Pillar, Run Kid Run, Spoken, Thousand Foot Krutch, John Reuben,
KJ-52, Dizmas, and Eleventy-Seven.
HM Stage: Haste the Day, The Chariot, August Burns Red, Project 86, Maylene and the Sons
of Disaster, As I Lay Dying, Inhale Exhale, and Flatfoot 56.
Hip-Hop Stage: Artist line-up to be announced soon
Sonshine not only presents top Christian artists, but the Festival also features a Sports Arena Stage, showcasing acts such as World Impact Wrestling, Chaos on Wheels, and The Power Team. Randy Christensen and Friends will be entertaining children at The Big Top Stage with magic, music, puppets, juggling, uni-cycling, crafts, and more. Not only about entertaining through music and fun activities, Sonshine also has a goal of impacting and changing lives. To that end, featured speakers for the weekend include Bob Lenz and Jeremy Kingsley.“For the 27th year in a row, the Sonshine Music Festival will be held in Willmar, MN and will be nothing short of a lifetime memory”, comments festival co-founder, Bob Poe. “What could be better than the best in the Christian music world – in one place – for three days? Maybe it is hanging out with friends or making new ones. Maybe it’s the skate park, the kids’ ministry or the new sports arena stage. Maybe it is Main Stage, Stage 2, HM Stage or the Hip Hop Stage. Maybe it’s the 20,000 people attendees will worship with each day or a personal encounter with the One we worship. One thing is for sure, Sonshine 2008 is for you!”
About Sonshine Festival:
Launched in 1982 by local Willmar, MN youth pastor, Bob Poe, Sonshine Festival has grown from 1,800 attendees in its first year to 25,000 in 2007. The Willmar Community College Campus played host to the event for the first four years and after outgrowing the venue, Sonshine relocated to the Willmar Civic Center in 1987, where it has remained for the past 22 years, in part to the construction of the Willmar High School facility next door. Throughout its 26-year history, Sonshine has featured nearly every major artist in the Christian music world and remains true to its commitment to deliver the hottest artists as well as encourage young people to become or continue to be a life-long follower of Jesus. Poe and the original steering committee are still organizing and providing leadership for the Music Festival. Sonshine belongs to the Christian Festival Association, a membership organization representing the premier Christian Music Festivals across the country, collectively hosting more than 1.4 million attendees nationwide. For more information about the Sonshine Festival, to view the complete program or for information on purchasing tickets to the event please visit sonshinefestival.com.
Haste The Day Concert on Woozyfly.com
Check out the January 22, 2008 sold out performance of Haste The Day, at the Blender Theater in NYC exclusively at woozyfly.com/hastetheday.The Metalcore band performed their stand out tracks such as Stitches, The Minor Prophets and White Collar. The concert was part of The VS Tour. Joining Brennan, Devin, Jason, Mike and Stephen is fellow Indianapolis band Gwen Stacy and Scary Kids Scaring Kids.
Leeland Visits KLove And Focus On The Family
Grammy-nominated, progressive rock band Leeland spent Thursday morning at Jon and Sherry Rivers’ ranch, where the guys were in-studio guests for KLOVE’s morning show. The band performed the following songs while in the studio: “Count Me In,” “Opposite Way,” “Yes You Have” and “Carried to the Table.” Additionally, during Leeland’s recent tour-date in Colorado Springs, Colo., the band stopped in to the Focus on the Family Campus for interviews and to visit with staff. Leeland’s new album, Opposite Way, will be in stores February 26.
Fireflight Soars to No. 1 On Christian Rock Radio
After seven weeks on the charts, Fireflight’s hit single “Unbreakable” reaches No. 1 on Rock Radio. Fireflight’s highly anticipated sophomore album Unbreakable will release March 4.
Pillar Walks Grammy Red Carpet
Grammy-nominated, rock band Pillar were in the middle of “music’s biggest night,” last Sunday in Los Angeles. Pillar was nominated in the category Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album for its album, The Reckoning. Pillar’s highly-anticipated, fifth album, For the Love of the Game, will be in stores February 26. On February 22, Pillar’s ninth, headlining tour kicks off in Chicago (Palos Heights), Ill. The full tour line-up is: Pillar, Building 429, Wavorly and introducing Brooke Barrettsmith. For a complete schedule, visit pillartour.com.
New Fireflight And Leeland Videos
A news-piece is currently airing on Gospel Music Channel that highlights the making-of brand-new music videos from both Fireflight (“Unbreakable”) and Leeland (“Count Me In”). The preview piece will continue running throughout the next week on Gospel Music Channel, and can be viewed at: gospelmusicchannel.com.
Third Day Shows Support For Troops
Veteran rock band Third Day started 2008 off on a positive patriotic note with visits to members of the armed forces, both here in the U.S. and the Middle East. The entire band traveled to Kuwait and Iraq in mid-January to meet and perform with servicemen and women at several bases in the area. No, the previous sentence is not awkwardly constructed, as the band invited several members of the audience to perform with the band during its show at Contingency Operating Base Speicher (pronounced “spiker”) outside Tikrit in Iraq. Sgt. Chad E. “Sticks” Cooke, of Company D, 2-1 GSAB, was among those who joined Third Day for a rendition of the band’s hit “Consuming Fire,” and got positive reinforcement (and maybe a post-service job offer) from lead singer Mac Powell. “Looks like David Carr will be looking for another line of work, ‘Sticks’ did a real good job,” Powell said after the performance. The band’s trip, part of the USO’s activities in the area, also included performances at Camp Arijan in Kuwait and Camp Liberty in Baghdad. Upon return, the band received a letter from Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, commanding general of Task Force Iron at C.O.B. Speicher, thanking them for their visit. “Your superb concert…not only entertained our deployed service members and civilians, but also enhanced our combat readiness and soldier spiritual fitness.” Back at home, Third Day guitarist Brad Avery performed his song “Thank You,” dedicated to America’s armed forces personnel, as part of the America Supports You Summit on January 25. The event brought together representatives from more than 100 organizations working under the America Supports You, a Department of Defense program that connects individuals, organizations and companies to hundreds of homefront groups offering a variety of support to the military community. Avery performed the song, along with co-writer Scott Thomas Laughridge and guitarist Sonny Lallerstedt, following a speech from Defense Secretary Robert Gates. “America Supports You is a fabulous organization that is growing and expanding its reach,” Avery said. “We are glad to be a part of a network which helps our soldiers and veterans realize that there are people in this great nation that not only love and appreciate them, but also are here to help in so many different ways.” For more information about the America Supports You program, please visit www.americasupportsyou.mil. Following a busy January, the members of Third Day are jumping back into the studio, continuing work on its upcoming studio album due this summer, and making preparations for the first leg of its 2008 touring schedule, together with special guests Sanctus Real, DecembeRadio and Revive. For more information go to www.ThirdDay.com.
Third Day Live Spring 2008 with Sanctus Real and DecembeRadio Introducing Revive
*Dates and markets subject to change without notice.
3/6 - Charleston, SC
3/7 - Decatur, AL
3/8 - Columbus, GA
3/9 - Augusta, GA
3/13 - Sioux Falls, SD
3/14 - Duluth, MN
3/15 - Waterloo, IA
3/16 - Davenport, IA
3/19 - Monroe, LA
3/20 - New Orleans, LA
3/21 - Athens, GA
3/27 - Oklahoma City, OK
3/28 - Kansas City, MO
3/29- Salina, KS
3/30- Dodge City, KS
4/3 - Poughkeepsie, NY
4/4 - Albany, NY
4/5 - Syracuse, NY
4/6 - Cedarville, OH
Secret and Whisper E-Card!
Check out the new Secret and Whisper "Great White Whale" E-Card! Listen to the new album, read info about the band, check out upcoming tour dates, download desktop wallpapers and buddy icons, and much more!
Jars Of Clay Releases Greatest Hits CD
Tracing a career path that features both millions of records sold and millions of lives touched, Jars of Clay's new Greatest Hits compilation showcases songs that have become favorites of fans around the world, as well as the brand-new track "Love Is The Protest." Since springing onto the pop music landscape in 1995 with its self-titled debut album, Jars of Clay has been a textbook example of creative growth, never shrinking from the challenge of expanding both individual and collective musical horizons. Emerging from the tiny campus of Greenville College in Illinois, fostering its sound within the supportive community that Nashville provides, and honing its signature style and substance via countless miles traveled and hundreds of shows performed, Jars of Clay built for itself critical and commercial success, a fervent fan base and an impressive catalog of songs.But through the nearly decade-and-a-half existence of the band, the creative core has remained the same, something rarely seen in the rigors of today's music industry. Charlie Lowell, Matt Odmark, Stephen Mason and Dan Haseltine have weathered the personal and professional storms of being in the pop culture eye, and continue to be committed to the music this unique partnership engenders. Jars of Clay Greatest Hits features digitally remastered tracks and kicks off with the massive international hit "Flood," which propelled the band into the forefront of public awareness. The project goes on to chronologically chart the band's willingness to tackle issues both musically and lyrically, simultaneously showing vulnerability (on songs like "Frail," "I Need You," "Like A Child") and strength ("Crazy Times," "Show You Love," "Work"). With the brand new track "Love Is The Protest," Jars of Clay points toward a vital and vibrant future for the band, flexing that creative muscle that 15 years of making music together provides. "We wanted to write a rock 'n' roll song that brought light to what it means to err on the side of love rather than judgment," Haseltine says. The Essential Records project releases to both retail and digital outlets Tuesday, April 1. Jars of Clay Greatest Hits Track Listing Flood Love Song For A Savior Like A Child Worlds Apart Crazy Times Frail Unforgetful You I Need You Show You Love Amazing Grace God Will Lift Up Your Head Dead Man (Carry Me) Work Love Is The Protest (NEW) Jars of Clay launched its career with the universal hit, "Flood," in 1995. Since then, the band has amassed more than five million in career sales along with several RIAA certifications (5 Gold, 2 Platinum and 1 Double Platinum) an American Music Award nomination, 17 No.1 radio hits, and numerous film credits and BMI honors for songwriting and performing. While celebrated for its music and writing, Jars of Clay is most concerned with the needs in Africa. Compelled to make a difference, members Dan Haseltine, Stephen Mason, Matt Odmark and Charlie Lowell founded the Blood:Water Mission in early 2002. The first effort of this non-profit was the "1000 Wells Project" with a goal of raising funds to build, rebuild and repair 1000 wells in urban and rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. To date, 200 wells have been constructed bringing clean water to more than 100,000 people.For more information on Jars of Clay, visit jarsofclay.com.
PHIL KEAGGY KICKS OFF TOUR
Legendary guitarist, singer/songwriter and GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame member Phil Keaggy will kick off "The Master and The Musician: 30 Years Later" Tour on February 8, 2008, at Landmark Baptist Temple in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hitting 19 cities this spring, the tour celebrates the 30th anniversary of the release of Keaggy's 1978 acclaimed instrumental album, The Master and The Musician. Keaggy will be joined on the tour by drummer John Sferra, guitarist Ric Hordinski, multi-instrumentalist Tom Shinness, flutist Melissa Lautenbach, pianist Bryan J. Lautenbach and bassist Joel Jimenez. Unlike anything he has done before on tour, Keaggy will replicate live the intimacy of the studio from 30 years ago in this special concert experience. Every concert on the tour will be full of amazing musicianship, soulful storytelling and the usual humor and humanity of the night's host. A two-part concert experience, the first set of each show will showcase some of Keaggy's favorite vocal songs chosen from the span of his career and will also highlight the musicianship of each of the ensemble members. The second set will bring the classic The Master and The Musician album to life as each of the seven musicians will play multiple string, percussion and reed instruments to capture the sonic palette of the album. There will also be a special vocal song tribute to the life-changing work of Compassion International, with whom Keaggy has long been affiliated. Released in 1978, The Master and The Musician is considered the best-selling and most influential album of Keaggy's lengthy career, which spans nearly 40 years. The album is a fusion of English and Celtic folk, rock, jazz and neo-classical influences. Worshipful without lyrics, the album challenged late-1970's preconceptions of what Christian music should sound like. The Master and The Musician would become the first in a long line of instrumental work for Keaggy, his most recent work being 2007's The Song Within on Autumn Records. One of the world's and Christian music's most beloved master musicians, Phil Keaggy has enjoyed immense success over the course of his career. Having first entered the music scene as the co-founder and guitarist for '70s power group Glass Harp, Keaggy has since released close to 50 albums and has made appearances on countless others. Widely recognized for his phenomenal guitar playing as well as his vocal and songwriting prowess, he has received numerous accolades and awards for his music, including seven Dove Awards and a GRAMMY nomination. Keaggy was inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2007, and he continues to sell out concerts all over the US with his ever-changing style, ranging from rock 'n' roll to fully orchestrated instrumental compositions. For more information on Phil Keaggy and "The Master and The Musician: 30 Years Later" Tour, visit Keaggy's website at philkeaggy.com.
Greeley Estates Releases New Album
Post hardcore heroes Greeley Estates will return May 6 with their third full-length studio album via Science. Produced by Cory Spotts (Job For A Cowboy, blessthefall), Go West Young Man, Let The Evil Go East builds on the approaches that made 2004's Outside of This and 2006's Far From The Lies genre favorites. A spring U.S. tour is in the works and the band is confirmed to perform on the Hurley stage all summer long on the Vans Warped Tour 2008. Upholding its noble reputation as a raw, roaring wrecking machine on prominent stages like Taste of Chaos and Vans Warped Tour, the Phoenix-based foursome consisting of vocalist Ryan Zimmerman, drummer Brian Champ, guitarists Alex Torres and Brandon Hackenson--worked diligently to make Go West Young Man… more exhilarating than anything they have ever crafted. "On every inch of this album, musically and vocally, we tried to go outside from what we did in the past, and take it to a whole new level," says Zimmerman. "It was great because there's a lot less pressure when you do exactly what you feel and want." From the cathartic opening notes of “Blue Morning” to the last drops of musical blood that trickle off of “You’re Just Somebody I Used To Know,” Greeley Estates have delivered a commanding and intricate song cycle. Go West Young Man, Let The Evil Go East finds the band inflecting guitar driven anthems like “If We’re Going Out, Let’s Go Out In Style” and “There’s Something Wrong With The World Today” with imaginative rhythms. "It's more aggressive and the lyric content is darker," Zimmerman continues. "We like playing heavy songs live, so it just made sense to make an album that's heavier. This is a great direction for us. It feels good, for sure." Balancing the ferocity of tracks like “If She Only Knew,” “Mother Nature Is A Terrorist” and the disc’s blistering namesake, with the melodic allure of “If I Could Be Frank, You’re Ugly,” Greeley Estates not only offers a slight reprieve from its dark, weighty signature sound, it puts the foursome’s depth on display. “We’re all really happy and proud of what we’ve done,” Zimmerman concludes. “This is the album to perfectly represent Greeley Estates.” To hear Greeley Estates, visit: myspace.com/greeleyestates. For more information visit: sciencerecords.net.
Virgin Black Releases Requiem-Mezzo-Fortissimo
On their latest album - the second instalment of a trilogy - Virgin Black exhumes the death/doom vibe of early Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride albums. This is by far the band's rawest and heaviest work to date. The album's cover art was created by esteemed fashion photographer Andrew Dunbar who's work will be seen throughout the series. For more info check out: virginblack.com and myspace.com/virginblackofficial.
Big Idea Presents VeggieTales-Greatest Hits
Big Idea, Inc., announced the release of VeggieTales-Greatest Hits, a new CD collection of everyone’s favorite Silly Songs and toe-tapping Veggie tunes. This must-have compilation features 15 of the most beloved VeggieTales songs – available for the first time on one CD – performed by Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber and a bushelful of their loveable Veggie pals. VeggieTales-Greatest Hits is priced at $12.99 SRP and lands on store shelves March 11 through EMI CMG Distribution. Chocked full of laugh-out-loud classics like “The Hairbrush Song” and “His Cheeseburger,” along with the touching “My Day” and “Big Things, Too!,” VeggieTales-Greatest Hits delivers track after track of fun-filled favorites. Other CD highlights include “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything,” the title track from Universal Pictures’ and Big Idea’s 2008 film, The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything—A VeggieTales Movie, and the bonus song, “Foreign Exchange Veggies,” which includes international takes on well-loved Veggie tunes. The disc also boasts two fully-animated music videos, The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps and The Dance of the Cucumber. “This collection marks a milestone for VeggieTales, as it includes 15 of the best songs of all time from our extensive catalog,” states Kurt Heinecke, Director of Music, Big Idea. “The CD packaging includes a behind-the-scenes look at the origin of the songs, the inspiration for the writers, and more. This is a real fan piece.” Since its first music project, VeggieTunesÒ, released in 1995, VeggieTales has sold 7+ million albums and won 6 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards for Children’s Music Album of the Year. Additionally, VeggieTales earned RIAA Gold Award certification for its original album, VeggieTunes, as well as multiple RIAA Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum Award certifications for its music videos.
VeggieTales-Greatest Hits Track Listing:
VeggieTales Theme Song
The Song of the Cebu
God Is Bigger
His Cheeseburger
The Water Buffalo Song
Thankfulness Song
The Hairbrush Song
My Day
I Can Be Your Friend
Belly Button
Stand!
What We Have Learned
The New & Improved Bunny Song
Bonus Song: Foreign Exchange Veggies
Big Things, Too
Bonus Video: The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps
The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything
Bonus Video: The Dance of the Cucumber
Comedian Anita Renfroe Completes Newest DVD Project
Comedian and YouTube “Phe-mom” Anita Renfroe, as she’s affectionately known to her 15+ million “Momsense” viewers, is creating another stir with the completion of her fifth DVD project entitled, “It’s Probably Just My Thyroid.” Recently taped during a live performance in front of a sold-out crowd in Atlanta, the new DVD hits store shelves April 29, 2008 through Word Distribution. Described as “a dose of estrogen flavored musical comedy,” Anita Renfroe’s brand new DVD is chock full of laughs, off-the-wall insights and music, including her hilarious parody of Carrie Underwood’s No. 1 smash hit “Before He Cheats” cleverly retitled “Before I Eat.” With the upcoming release of “It’s Probably Just My Thyroid,” Renfroe proves that her fame extends well beyond her ability to perform her 2 minute 55 second rendition of the “William Tell Overture” from her critically acclaimed “Momsense” video that thrust her into the national spotlight. As a regular featured comedian on “ABC’s Good Morning America,” Renfroe is next scheduled to appear on the show Friday, February 15. In addition to “Good Morning America,” Renfroe’s talent has been embraced by such top media outlets as “Dr.Phil,” CBS’s “The Early Show,” Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends,” XM Satellite Radio Network’s “Oprah & Friends,” Inside Edition, and others. Renfroe, who performed in front of more than 400,000 women during the 2007 Women of Faith’s Amazing Freedom conferences, will be a featured speaker during this year’s Women of Faith 2008 Infinite Grace conferences hitting 29 cities across the U.S. (See below for her current tour itinerary.) Anita Renfroe is a multifaceted creative artist combining comedy, music, speaking and writing. She is the author of five books, Songs in the Key of Solomon, (co-authored w/ her husband John), If You Can't Lose it, Decorate It, If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother, The Purse-Driven Life and The Purse-Driven Christmas. She also has four comedy videos and vocal CDs to her credit, including her current project, Total Momsense, and is featured in an Emmy Award winning episode of Bananas. Renfroe and her husband live in Atlanta and have three children, Calvin, Austin and Elyse. For more information, visit anitarenfroe.com.
Anita Renfroe 2008 Tour Dates:
2/7/08 Shreveport, LA
2/8-2/9/08 San Antonio, TX
2/23/08 Pompano Beach, FL
2/24-3/1/08 KT Cruise, FL
3/7/08 Redmond, WA
3/28/08 Omaha, NE
4/4/08 Terre Haute, IN
4/4/08 Little Rock, AR
4/11/08 Fresno, CA
4/12/08 Portland, OR
4/18/08 Spokane, WA
4/19/08 Redmond, WA
4/21-4/23/08 Dallas, TX
4/25/08 Columbus, OH
4/30/08 Danvers, MA
5/1/08 Bethel, CT
5/2/08 Cromwell, CT
5/3/08 Lanthrop, CA
5/9-5/18/08 South Africa
6/1-6/3/08 Los Angeles, CA
6/6/08 Rochester, NY
6/11/08 Milwaukee, WI
6/13/08 St. Louis, MO
6/27/08 Seattle, WA
Faith Factor Is In The Studio
Faith Factor has entered the studio, to record their first full lenth cd Against A Darkened Sky. It will feature 8 new songs as well as 3 remastered songs from their EP 777 it will be released on Metalic Arch Angel Records on November 1, 2008. They will also be playing Cornerstone '08 Saturday night at 11 pm,in the Sanctuary Tent.
Blind Boys Of Alabama Release New Album
Four-Time Grammy Winners Blind Boys of Alabama Get Down In New Orleans On Their New Album. They may be from Alabama but they've been spending time in the Crescent City! The Blind Boys of Alabama's new album, Down In New Orleans, was released on Tuesday Jan. 29. Recording for the first time in New Orleans, the Blind Boys are backed by a trio of world-class Crescent City musicians: David Torkanowsky (piano), Roland Guerin (bass) and Shannon Powell (drums). Other guests include legendary pianist/producer and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Allen Toussaint, icons The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and the horn-heavy Hot 8 Brass Band, one of the city's most vital young acts. But the band's deeply soulful and natural voices remain in the spotlight on Down In New Orleans. On the CD the Blind Boys pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr by covering the traditional spiritual 'Free At Last' as New Orleans second-line funk.
©2008 HM Magazine - All Rights Reserved
More news from last week:
Thrice Releases The Alchemy Index, Vols. III &IV
Vols. III and IV: Earth and Air from The Alchemy Index will hit stores April 15th. A departure from songwriting tactics used on all prior releases, The Alchemy Index was done in the band’s own studio and engineered by guitarist Teppei Teranishi, without the assistance of an outside producer. Armed with completely open minds and lacking any conceptions as to what this release would bring the newest collection of songs from Thrice is a passionate and beaming follow-up to their celebrated, Fire & Water. From the introductory notes of “Digging My Own Grave,” on the Earth disc, to the sprawling echoed chords of “Come All You Weary,” Thrice have ventured into and conquered a new land in paramount proportions. Kensrue took the elemental theme still further by composing an original sonnet for each EP, set to music, yet organized in the traditional English structure and rhythmic fashion. These passages (“Child of Dust” on Earth; and “Silver Wings” for Air) offer powerful sentiments that serve as thought-provoking closers for each EP’s respective journey. “Each sonnet is written from the point of view of the personified element, speaking to mankind, and lamenting our various failings,” explains Kensrue. Thrice will be headlining their first Canadian this month with Say Anything and I will soon be announcing the dates for their U.S. headlining tour starting in mid-April with good friends, Circa Survive and Pelican.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on these two records. For all things Thrice, check out: thrice.net.
P.O.D. Is Back!
The band reunites with guitarist Marcos Curiel and inks a new deal with INO/Columbia. The lineup that took P.O.D. to multiple platinum success with The Fundamental Elements of Southtown and Satellite (featuring “Youth of a Nation,” “Alive,” “Boom,” and "Satellite") is back to reclaim their place atop the rock scene with their Columbia Records debut, When Angels and Serpents Dance on April 8, 2008! “Our fans are excited and we’re having a lot of fun,” says vocalist Sonny Sandoval. “After four years Marcos is back in the band and we’ve got new music. Things are exciting again. When the four of us are in a room making music it’s definitely right and Marcos brings that passion for music into the band.” The quartet’s renewed vigor is evident throughout When Angels and Serpents Dance from the searing guitar which kicks off the hard-rocking first single, “Addicted” and the striking and poignant, “End Of The World” (complete with gospel choir!); to the album’s most ferocious track, the savage “Like Old Times.” "Like Old TImes" was the first song written by the reunited incarnation of the quartet. “I think that was the first riff Marcos showed us." Sonny says of the song. "The working title was called 'Seems Like Old Times'. He started writing a riff and the way we remembered it as our first riff together was to call it that!" "It's just great to get back to basics and give it another whirl & tap into our souls." says an inspired Marcos. "This band is a supernatural experience to me! It has literally surpassed many of my vivid dreams...I'm blessed and excited to reconnect with family & friends. I hope to pursue & establish the passion that began in 1992 with 4 brothers who just followed God, dreams & our music." But as Sonny pointed out earlier, this is P.O.D. four years later; and more for the classic lineup. The band that recorded 1999’s platinum The Fundamental Elements of Southtown and 2001’s triple-platinum Satellite has changed. “Age has a lot to do with it, getting older. I’m married with kids now and we’re not 18 in the garage anymore playing hardcore punk. We don’t sound like those guys down in the garage,” he says. Does this mean that P.O.D. has gone soft? Hardly. P.O.D. is just showing its range. There is a slightly softer side which comes through in the album’s versatility. From the politically charged ballad “Tell Me Why,” (a poignant track in which Sonny asks in the chorus, “Why must we fight, why must we kill in the name of what we think is right?”); to the bluesy hard rock feel at the outset of “Rain Everyday,” through to the pop-awareness in the chorus in the infectious “Shine With Me,” the band is finding that fans are responding positively to the different sound, which Sonny believes will give P.O.D. a chance to expand their already diverse live concerts. As has always been the case with P.O.D. the band looked to those that inspired them rather than the hot artist of the moment for guests on the album. “That’s what we do on our records, we bring in people that influenced us.” Joining in the fun was Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies, who guests on the track “Kaliforn-Eye-A,” and The Marley Sisters (the daughters of Bob Marley), who lend their vocal prowess to what Sonny calls “Our reggae track (I’ll Be Ready).” Helmet’s Paige Hamilton sings on “God Forbid,” which Sonny calls “probably our heaviest song.” When Angels and Serpents Dance (produced by Jay Baumgardner: Evanescence, etc.) is ultimately a record of P.O.D. in 2008. “As far as P.O.D. goes it’s always for the moment,” Sonny says. “I just kind of go through it and whatever the song brings out in us that’s it. There’s a lot of passion on this record.” Indeed, When Angels and Serpents Dance is the sound of a rejuvenated band: passionate, aggressive and with a message for our times. This is P.O.D. in 2008: Wuv (Drums), Sonny (Vocals), Traa (Bass), Marcos (Guitar). A national tour will follow the release of When Angels and Serpents Dance . Cities and Dates to be announced soon!
A Road Less Traveled Wins CCM Award
ARLT was named 'Best Independent Band of 2007' in CCM Magazine's Reader's Choice Awards. Over 40,000 voters chose the indie rock band in the magazine's annual Readers Choice Awards. ARLT accredits their recent success and attention-demanding buzz to the unwavering support of their widespead fan base, referred to by ARLT as "Roadies." A Road Less Traveled has noted appearances along-side numerous major acts such as Kutless, Seventh Day, Family Force 5, Tait, Pillar, Superchick, Building 429, Barlow Girl and Jeremy Camp. Whether it is a major festival, local bowling alley or church these five bring the same energy and always leave people feeling blessed and entertained. For more information on A Road Less Traveled, log onto their official myspace page, myspace.com/aroadlesstraveled.
Delirious? Drummer Moving On
A Message to Delirious? Fans, Friends and Family Members from Stew Smith
A little over twelve years ago Delirious? set sail on what was to be the most adventurous and exciting journey of my life. Five guys from the small town of Littlehampton – a seaside town only ever made famous by ‘The Body Shop’ - dreamt of one day filling stadiums with the ‘sound of Heaven.’ As I sit and replay the past years I have had so many highlights - so many times when a dream has become a reality - that it seems unreal to be thinking of a different future. But I am, and as of the May 1st 2008, I will embark on a new and exciting journey. I will no longer be the drummer who has seen so many things and loved every minute of life within Delirious?. For me and my family, I am excited about starting a new career and a new future; Smeezer the Designologist will come into the world. I’m going to be taking all of the many experiences I’ve had and the skills I’ve picked up to launch a new creative agency. I can hear you wanting to know the reasons why. Why would I want to move on? I have found the touring an increasing pressure on both me and my family. We function better as a complete unit than when we are separated for so many months of the year, and I wish to be at home, to be around and be far more local. I wish to develop myself further within the design business world allowing all of the gifting that I have been blessed with to explode out of me. As you know I have had the chance over the last 12 years to continue developing my previous career within design as Creative Director with Delirious? and Furious? Records. I’m also really looking forward to getting stuck into Church life back home - Arun Community Church has been our home for the past 20years and I cannot wait to see what emerges within a vibrant and dynamic Church. I also feel that I need to push myself; I could so easily continue playing drums within Delirious? and I could see myself in ten years time behind the kit continuing to pull the Stew Smee faces, but feel that I need to make myself vulnerable, allowing God to get a hold of me and sharpen me once again. I am so excited for Delirious?. A fantastic future lies ahead of them and I will continue to be very much involved, both as a friend and creatively. Please join me at my last UK show on the 29th of March at the Indigo Club in London and celebrate a journey that I would not have missed for the world. [Stew will be touring with Delirious? in the US through May.] Thank you to my family, Sarah, Abi and Jemimah for your incredible support and devotion. To my four amazing friends Martin [Smith], Stu G, Jon [Thatcher] and Tim [Jupp] for what can only be described as the ride of a lifetime. And all of you around the world that have not only sung the songs but are decided to a life of being true ‘History Makers.’ I am deeply proud to have been a part of this moment in history.
Love,
Stew Smith
More information about the band can be found at: delirious.co.uk and myspace.com/delirious.
The Afters Announce They Are Never Going Back To OK
INO/Columbia Record’s rock pop band The Afters are preparing to release their highly anticipated sophomore project “Never Going Back to OK” on Feb. 26, which has already garnered a top 5 track at Christian CHR and Rock for the self-titled first single, and will soon see the charming and entertaining “MySpace Girl” viral video premiere on MySpace.com’s Main Page and shortly following at Seventeen.com. In the viral video for the cute, catchy (yet true story) song “MySpace Girl”, fans will see The Afters’ cartoon counter parts re-enact the story of the song about a guy meeting his future wife at a drive thru and following up with her via myspace. In addition, actual “friends” were chosen from the band’s MySpace page to be a part of the video. The popular social networking site MySpace will premiere the video starting Feb. 13 on their homepage as well as the site’s music video page. One week later, Seventeen.com will be catching in on the excitement and posting the video for two weeks starting on or near Feb. 19th. Confirmed for one of the last two cover stories of CCM Magazine (March), with the title track single headed toward No. 1 on the Christian CHR charts having already hit No. 5 on the Christian Rock charts, “Never Going Back to OK” has received a ground swell of radio airplay and was targeted early on as a hit by a majority of key market stations nationwide including the AIR-1 Network, WONU/Chicago, Radio-U/Columbus, YES-FM/Toledo, WNAZ/Nashville, KVRK/Dallas, WMKL/Miami and many more. The Afters first Christian AC single, "Keeping Me Alive" goes for adds this week on February 8th. The Afters’ second album is a culmination of all the buzz and excitement of the past three years for this emerging band. After receiving a Gospel Music Award for “Best New Artist of 2006” and having the most downloaded inspirational track (“Beautiful Love”) of the same year on the iTunes charts, the band is back with a diverse record in “Never Going Back to Okay” that includes pensive ballads such as “Ocean Wide,” potent tracks like “Keeping Me Alive,” lighter songs such as “MySpace Girl” and a catchy rock title track. “On the last record there was a common thread of hope that came out in all the songs,” vocalist/guitarist Brad Wigg says of “I Wish We All Could Win.” “This album seems to reflect transformation. I think a lot of the songs are talking about moving forward, of becoming who we are meant to be.” Though weeks from its release date, “Never Going Back to OK” has received early immense acclaim including:
“The result is an edgier band that manages to maintain secure melodic footing … its clear there’s a music statement being played just as loud as the lyrics … this album is better in every way.” 4 ½ stars!! - CCM Magazine
“This upcoming release is really going to blow you away … a breakthrough album … I hope the fans don’t waste any time getting their hands on this album.” - GospelMusicChannel.com
“The Afters’ sophomore effort is a bright, hopeful, melodic burst of sound.” - HM Magazine
“This is a very good effort by The Afters—far from OK—and a recommended pick for 2008." - Christian Retailing
“With ‘Never Going Back To OK’, The Afters present a dynamic collection of inspiring power-pop anthems and pensive ballads that reach well beyond the scope of their influences … The Afters’ musical depth and lyrical poignancy assure them a place among the genre’s elite.” - Stereo Subversion
“The ballads show more depth than they have before, and you get that when you really listen to “Ocean Wide” and “Beautiful Words” … “Falling Into Place” has multiple layers lyrically and musically. The Afters continue to explore the bounds of earthly and heavenly relationships. And they get a little better with every step.” - CBNMusic.com
“They’re ready to take off, and Never Going Back to OK just might be the vehicle that puts them over … The Afters’ Never Going Back to OK is ‘more than just OK.’” - Phantom Tollbooth
The Afters will also be touring across the country throughout 2008 including headlining their own dates this spring and hitting the major summer festivals. All tour dates listed below are subject to change. Releasing their debut project “I Wish We All Could Win” in 2005, The Afters received top attention from their fans and media outlets. The Afters’ music has appeared on the networks of MTV, mtvU, ABC Family and E! News as well as on HOT AC and VH-1 radio along with outlets such as Billboard, BOP and Popstar. The MTV college network and mtvU have been strong supporters of the band as their music video for “Beautiful Love” was awarded with an mtvU Award for Best Streaming Video in 2005. The Afters were awarded the Dove Award for “New Artist of the Year” (2006), and had the most downloaded single on the iTunes inspirational charts in 2006 with more than a 100,000 downloads. The foursome composed of Josh Havens, Matt Fuqua, Brad Wiggs and Mark Dodd, met while working at a Starbucks in Mesquite, Texas and was later discovered by MercyMe front man Bart Millard. Check out more information at theafters.com and myspace.com/theafters.
Win An iPod Nano From Ivoryline
Enter The Ivoryline MySpace Contest and you could win a 4GB ipod nano, ivoryline T-shirt, autographed CD and autographed poster! All you have to do is one of five quick things to help spread the word about Ivoryline on MySpace and send us your contact info! Head over to the contest page for the the official rules and how to enter. There Came A Lion is in stores and online now! Pick up your copy at Best Buy, FYE, Hastings and online at iTunes for just $7.99! Be sure to check out the
With Blood Comes Cleansing Voted In Top 4
With Blood Comes Cleansing has been picked out of the top 4 bands to watch out for this year in Alternative Press! They will be supporting Bury Your Dead for the whole month of March and then for April and May supporting Himsa for over 37 dates (full U.S.)!! February-March Tour Dates:
Feb 14 7:00P Billiards Blue Room Springfield, MO
Feb 15 7:00P Club UR St Louis, MO
Feb 16 7:00P Shorewood Legion Hall Milwaukee, WI
Feb 17 7:00P Mojoes Rock House Tinley Park, IL
Feb 18 7:00P The Vault Buffalo, MN
Feb 19 7:00P What’s Up Lounge Mankato, MN
Feb 20 7:00P Eagles Lodge Wichita, KS
Feb 21 7:00P The Crossing Denison, TX
Feb 22 7:00P Fat Daddy’s Sound Shack Lewisville, TX
Feb 23 7:00P The Compound Corpus Christi, TX
Feb 24 7:00P Rock Bottom San Antonio, TX
Feb 25 7:00P Java Jazz Houston, TX
Feb 26 7:00P Mainstream Houma, LA
Feb 27 7:00P The Attic Hot Springs, AR
Feb 28 7:00P Musician’s Playground Tupelo, MS
Feb 29 7:00P New Heights Baptist Church Summit, MS
U.S. TOUR WITH BURY YOUR DEAD, THE WARRIORS & EMMURE
Mar 4 7:00P The Factory Oklahoma City, OK
Mar 5 7:00P The Foundry Joplin, MO
Mar 7 7:00P Mishawaka VFW Mishawaka, IN
Mar 8 7:00P The Rock Box Rockford, IL
Mar 9 7:00P The Mad Hatter Covington, KY
Mar 10 7:00P The School Pittsburgh, PA
Mar 11 7:00P Valentine’s Albany, NY
Mar 14 7:00P The Palladium Worcester, MA
Mar 15 7:00P Harmony Grange Wilmington, DE
Mar 16 7:00P Crocodile Rock Allentown, PA
Mar 18 7:00P The Brewery Raleigh, NC
Mar 20 7:00P The Capitol Ocala, FL
Mar 21 7:00P The Crowbar Tampa, FL
Mar 22 7:00P Fuel Coffeehouse Jacksonville, FL
Mar 23 7:00P The 7 Venue Douglasville, GA
At&T To Sponsor TobyMac and Jeremy Camp Tour
EMI CMG today announced that AT&T will be the presenting sponsor of the “BOOMIN’ BEYOND MEASURE” tour with multi-platinum and award-winning BEC Recordings and ForeFront records’ artists Jeremy Camp and TobyMac. Kicking off this week, February 6th in San Antonio, the tour will also feature special guest, Sparrow Recording artist Matthew West Head on over to the bands myspace profile and check it out. Their Facedown debut Armada On Mercury will hit stores on March 18. They did an amazing job on this album with producer Joey Sturgis (The Devil Wears Prada) and we are sure you'll like it as much as we do! The AT&T Experience will make stops in select cities along the “Boomin' Beyond Measure” tour where fans will have the opportunity to test out the latest AT&T handsets and download exclusive music content. This will also be the place for an exclusive preview of TobyMac's “Alive and Transported” concert being released on DVD and CD on May 27th, and Camp’s smash single video "Give You Glory" beginning in March. In addition, live performance highlights from the “Boomin' Beyond Measure” tour will be available on AT&T Cellular Video as well as ringtone and answertone content from the tour exclusively to AT&T customers. In addition, AT&T is providing text-technology enhancements for all tour venues. Fans will be able to send text-to-screen messages throughout the concert for the entire audience to see, and can send shout-outs to friends in the audience or let everyone know their favorite Jeremy Camp, TobyMac or Matthew West song. Current AT&T users can also get TobyMac, Jeremy Camp and Matthew West content available for purchase by texting “BBM” to 386. In select cities, AT&T will also have an enhanced text-messaging program. All AT&T customers that submit text-to-screen messages have a chance to win a VIP seat upgrade to the only place better than the front row, which is right from the stage! The AT&T customers also have the opportunity to win backstage meet and greet passes. Lastly, KLOVE, AIR 1, AT&T and EMI Christian Music Group are partnering together to send three winners and a guest to Six Flags over Texas on March 21st to see the tour. On top of seeing the show, winners will enjoy a day at the theme park, and ride a rollercoaster with TobyMac, Jeremy Camp and Matthew West. Each winner will receive round trip airfare for them and a guest, hotel accomodations, park passes concert tickets and more. Fans can enter via the KLOVE and Air1 websites, AT&T mobile phone handsets, or at AT&T’s Media Mall site(www.mediamall.wireless.att.com) With sales of over 2 million units, radio hits, media and touring, Dove-Award winner and American Music Award nominee Jeremy Camp is continuing to make a definitive mark in the industry with his hit songs and ability to capture audiences of all ages. Being named “Songwriter of the Year” in 2006, and awarded in 2005 and 2006 for “Song of the Year”, at the 28th Annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards, Camp has marked his place in the Christian Music Industry. With an amazing 13 No. 1 back to back radio hits under his belt, including his first three releases from BEYOND MEASURE, “Tonight” (CHR), “What It Means” (AC) and “Give You Glory”, Camp has graced the covers of Pollstar, CCM, Breakaway and Christian Music Planet, and has also garnered consistent praise from such publications as Billboard, CCM, CRW and R&R with each recording. CCM magazine named him 2005’s Reader’s Choice for Favorite Artist and Favorite Male Artist, and most recently Camp was nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Inspirational Artist. With over 8 million career scans, the GRAMMY-nominated "Portable Sounds" is TobyMac's latest and highest solo debut ever on the Billboard Top 200 chart (No. 10), and after hitting No. 1 on SoundScan’s Contemporary Christian Overall chart in its first week as well, the project has scanned over 300,000 units and is still solidly in the top 20 after 48 weeks of release. Along with this sales success, TobyMac was named R&R’s Christian CHR Artist of the Year, while over 100 Christian radio stations played his smash hit singles "I'm For You" and "Made to Love", and his video for his rock hit “Boomin’”was named the Gospel Music Channel’s Video of the Year and CCM magazine reader’s Best Music VIdeo for 2007. TobyMac released his solo debut ("Momentum" 2001) followed by the critically acclaimed "Welcome to Diverse City" (2004), both of which received GRAMMY nominations, and most recently were awarded RIAA Gold Certification. As a solo artist, in addition to rave reviews and a favorite in magazine and internet Reader's Choice polls each year, including 2007’s CCM magazine Best Male Artist of the Year, TobyMac has also won seven Dove Awards, received nine GMA Music/Dove Award nominations, and was recently nominated for an American Music Award as Favorite Inspirational Artist. Sparrow Records recording artist Matthew West catapulted onto the Christian music scene in 2003 with his debut single, "More,” which became the most played Christian AC song of 2004, according to R&R. Since that time, West’s two critically-acclaimed studio recordings, Happy (2003) and History (2005), have yielded such hits as “Only Grace,” “History” and “Next Thing You Know”. West’s latest recording, “Something To Say,” featuring the multi-format Christian radio hit “You Are Everything,” released January 15 and debuted at #7 on Nielsen SoundScan’s Christian Retail chart, marking the highest debut for the week. A sought-after songwriter, West’s cuts have been recorded by Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus, Natalie Grant, and Mandisa, among many others. For more information check out the bands' websites at: tobymac.com, jeremycamp.com, matthewwest.com .
BOOMIN’ BEYOND MEASURE TOUR DATES (*all dates subject to change)
2/6 San Antonio, TX/ San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
2/8 Phoenix, AZ/ Dodge Theatre
2/9 Los Angeles, CA/ Gibson Amp
2/11 Sacramento, CA/ UC Davis
2/12 Fresno, CA/ Warnor's Theatre
2/14 Medford, OR/ Jackson County Expo
2/15 Salem, OR/ OR State Fair Pavilion
2/16 Seattle, WA/ Overlake Christian Center
2/17 Kennewick, WA/ Toyota Center
2/21 Denver, CO/ Wells Fargo Theater
2/22 Omaha, NE/Quest Center
2/23 Moline, IL/ i wireless Center
2/24 Canton, OH/ Canton Civic Center
2/28 Indianapolis, IN/ Conseco Fieldhouse
2/29 Chicago, IL/ Congress Theater
3/1 Minneapolis, MN/ Target Center
3/2 Grand Forks, ND/Alerius Center
3/6 Hershey, PA/ Hershey Arena
3/7 Lowell, MA/Lowell Auditorium
3/8 Elmira, NY/ First Arena
3/13 Fairfax, VA/ Patriot Center
3/14 Florence, SC
3/15 Valdosta, GA/ Wild Adventure Theme Park
3/16 Tampa, FL/ Ford Amphitheatre
3/21 Arlington, TX/ Six Flags Over TX
Vote For Kekal
KEKAL's 6th album "The Habit of Fire" has been nominated by Metal Storm members for Best Avantgarde Metal Album 2007 (among 9 other albums as nominees). Please vote for KEKAL, click here to vote: metalstorm.ee. Click here to put Kekal songs on your Facebook profile.
Delirious? Releases New Album
Their 9th studio album questions everything, from cancer to consumerism, five star dreams to slums and poverty. It is an album that calls for sacrifice, social justice and love. The result is their most risky and real album to date in that it acts more like a catalyst than a lullaby to one’s ears, and calls for sparks and fire to refine one’s faith. The inspiration for the new recording releasing April 1 on Sparrow Records, Kingdom of Comfort, came from traveling to Cambodia, India, Rwanda and other places across the world, where Delirious? members found themselves staying in 5-star hotels and then encountering life in the slums. The dichotomy of the experience hurt them to the core. It became personal, and challenged and compelled them to never be the same, and they want to give back more than ever before. The RIAA Certified Gold selling worldwide band, Delirious?, has closed for the Pope in front of a million people in Germany, played for 1.2 million in India, toured with Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams and more. Receiving its second Gospel Music Association International Award last year, Delirious? traveled to at least 25 countries in 2007 alone. Circumventing the globe to inspire music lovers world wide, Delirious? will hit Houston, Phoenix, Dallas, Detroit, Sacramento, Winston-Salem, and many other cities in the US this year as they carry on the tradition of spiritually challenging lyrics, while pointing people to see the wonders of what God has done for them. For all the latest information about the band, check out its newly designed website at delirious.co.uk.
Suicide Squeeze Records Announces 7” Series for 2008
The time has come once again to dust off your turntables, replace your rusty needles and get ready to spin some jamming tunes because Suicide Squeeze Records is proud to announce the continuation of their limited edition 7”series. Dave Bazan will be featured once again on this year's series. This will be Dave's 5th Christmas single in our ongoing series. All releases are limited to 2,000 copies and will be available via the Suicide Squeeze online store as well as mom and pop shops throughout the U.S.
Sanctus Real Lands 6th No. 1 Radio Single
One of the top Christian rock bands today, Sanctus Real captures its sixth No. 1 radio single with the title track to its highly anticipated fourth studio release, We Need Each Other, releasing on Sparrow Records Feb. 12. Hitting the top of the R&R and CRW CHR charts, We Need Each Other follows an impressive 11 Sanctus Real songs that have broken into the Top 5, including such top charting hits as “The Face of Love,” “I’m Not Alright,” “Don’t Give Up” and “Everything About You.” We Need Each Other follows Sanctus Real’s most successful album to date, The Face of Love, which gathered numerous accolades and continued a string of radio hits, including the No. 1 songs, “I’m Not Alright” and “Don’t Give Up.” While The Face of Love was inspired by real-life heartache and rediscovered joy, the band’s fourth studio release, We Need Each Other, marks a completion of that healing process and is a call for unity.
For all the latest Sanctus Real news, including tour updates, go to sanctusreal.com, myspace.com/sanctusreal, and emicmg.com.
Day Of Fire On Tour
Day Of Fire is on tour with the band Ligion through February and March! They have a new single out, “When I See You” co-written by the band and Daughtry and one of his band members.
Christian Music Talent Search
The Christian Festival Association, a coalition of nearly two dozen Christian music festivals across the country, announced plans for its 2008 National Talent Search. The organization is partnering with Provident Label Group, which will provide a development deal for the winner of the nationwide search for the next wave of Christian music artists. “The purpose of this exciting new venture is to identify and provide a platform for new artists who can communicate a God-centered worldview in the language of contemporary culture so that the next generation can see, hear and know God,” said CFA President Bob Thompson. “The Christian Festival Association is delighted to partner with Provident Label Group to provide this unique new platform for aspiring Christian artists.” Regional competitions will take place at 12 CFA-affiliated festivals this summer (see lists of participating festivals below), and a regional winner will be determined at each festival. Those 12 winners will be invited to Nashville in September to participate in the national finals. The overall winner will receive a development deal with the Provident Label Group family of labels, which includes Reunion Records, Essential Records and Flicker Records. “After a long-standing relationship with Bob and CFA, we look forward to partnering in this unique A&R endeavor. We believe there’s a lot of great talent in the markets we’ll be hitting. Many of these individuals simply need an opportunity to demonstrate their talent,” shares Blaine Barcus, VP of A&R, Provident Label Group. “From the label’s standpoint, we’re hoping to find an artist or band that has a heart for communicating the Gospel through great music, and further help them develop a platform on a national level.” For more information concerning the National Talent Search, including registration information and deadlines, please visit the individual websites of the participating festivals. They can be reached by visiting the Christian Festival Association’s website at christianfestivals.org. Participating Festivals include:
Spirit West Coast Del Mar, CA May 23-25
Ichthus Festival Wilmore, KY June 11-14
Crossover Festival Lake of the Ozarks, MO June 12-14
Alive Festival Canal Fulton, OH June 17-21
Atlanta Fest Atlanta, GA June 19-21
Lifest Oshkosh, WI July 9-13
Sonshine Festival Wilmar, MN July 17-19
Hills Alive Rapid City, SD July 19-20
Spirit West Coast Monterey, CA July 31-Aug 2
Kingdom Bound Darien Lake, NY Aug 3-6
Rock The Desert Midland, TX Aug 8 & 9
Rock The Light Kansas City, MO Aug 29 & 30
LifeLight Festival Sioux Falls, SD Aug 29-31
The Christian Festival Association is composed of 22 of the nation’s leading Christian music festivals from coast to coast. Its mission is to help member festivals grow both spiritually and fiscally, so that more lives can be changed for the glory of God. More than 22 million Christian music fans each year attend live events in venues ranging from small church gatherings to huge arena-based shows. Participating CFA member music festivals attract more than 1.4 million of these fans each summer to their multi-day Christian music festivals offered coast to coast. For more information on CFA, including a list of participating festivals, visit www.christianfestivals.org. Provident Label Group is a division of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT’s Provident Music Group, one of the world’s top Christian music companies. Provident Music Group operates under the umbrella of Sony BMG Nashville. SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America.
Gwen Stacy's Debut Album Out Now
Gwen Stacy's debut album on Ferret Music The Life I Know is available now. Check it out on Itunes, at Hot Topic or other record stores near you. Or, cruise over to ferretstyle.com/
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Comments
Can't wait to see Fireflight's video...I'm sure it'll be great!
Can't wait to see Fireflight's video...I'm sure it'll be great!
Living Sacrifice is back?!! WOW! I love this band! I can't wait to hear what they have to offer in 2008! Lance's Soul Embraced is suppose to release a new one too! This is awesome! LS Rules!
