Big gigs in January

PARACHUTE PRESENTS TWO AUSSIE SHOWS
Christian music fans in Sydney and Brisbane have the opportunity to experience three incredible US acts this month.
Three-time Grammy nominated band Leeland, plus Family Force 5 and NewWorldSon are heading to Australia for shows at Brisbane’s Citipointe Church on January 26 and C3 Oxford Falls on January 28. That’s ahead of massive shows at Parachute 2010 in New Zealand.
Headlining the Kiwi festival are Switchfoot, Underoath, Hillsong United, Falling Up, Parachute Band, and Rapture Ruckus.
Australia’s Original Liberty, New Empire, and Citipointe Live will join some of NZ’s best talent including the Glory Sea, Edwin Derricutt and juliagrace to perform at the event which attracts around 25 000 punters each year.
The Parachute Festival will held at Hamilton’s Mystery Creek January 29 to February 1.


GRAMMY UPDATE, THIRD DAY TOPS GOSPEL NODS
Third Day has topped the nominations in the Gospel categories of the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards announced by The Recording Academy.
Third Day scored three nods for:
Best Gospel Performance for Born Again. [Francesca Battistelli’s Free To Be Me was also nominated in this category.]
Born Again in the Best Gospel Song category [along with MaryMary’s God In Me, and tobyMac’s City On Our Knees], and
Live Revelations in the Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album category. [Red and Decyfer Down were also nominated.]
In the Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album – probably the main section for contemporary Christian music - the nominations were Speaking Louder Than Before (Jeremy Camp), The Power Of One (Israel Houghton), The Long Fall Back To Earth (Jars Of Clay), Love Is On The Move (Leeland), and Freedom (Mandisa).
The Grammy ceremony will be held 31 January 2010.
More details: www.grammy.com


FINAL CURTAIN FOR DELIRIOUS?
UK band Delirious has played its final farewell concert in London.
Known as the forerunners of the modern worship movement, and as one of the sector’s best live bands, Delirious’ highlights include playing for the Pope in front of a million people in Germany, performing to hundreds of thousands of people in India, and headlining the 2004 Olympic Celebrations in Athens.
Over the years the group has toured with Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams and Matchbox 20, and has scored a string of mainstream hits in the UK.
Since the early 90s, it has released 14 albums and sold nearly three million records.
A DVD of the final concert is scheduled for release after Easter.


AUSSIE IDOL FOR EASTERFEST
Easterfest has secured the 2009 Australian Idol winner Stan Walker for an exclusive appearance at Australia's largest Christian festival, Easterfest 2010.
The 19 year old R&B singer who stole the hearts of millions of Australians and stunned audiences with the depth of his talent and his mature soulful voice will appear at the Mainstage on Easter Saturday night.
Stan’s appearance at Easterfest will mark the first Australian Idol winner to perform at the festival since Guy Sebastian in 2004.
Easterfest will be held in Toowoomba 2-4 April 2010.
More details: http://www.easterfest.com.au/


SONGS THAT UNITE
Entries close soon for Songs that Unite, the song writing competition of the Uniting Church in Australia that is seeking to encourage and develop Australian Christian music.
The focus of the competition is congregational singing, rather than songs for individual performance.
Judges are seeking contemporary music (both music and lyrics) that:
o Gathers the people (praise and adoration, confession)
o Opens people to God (in the Scriptures, through the Holy Spirit)
o Responds to God (discipleship, mission, service, intercession, etc.) and
o Sends (blessing).
More details are available on the Assembly website
Please note the clause on copyright.
Entries close on 26 February 2010


OWL CITY, PRICELESS CONNECTION
As 2009 draws to a close, Owl City’s album Ocean Eyes has been certified gold making this year a HUGE success for Minnesota’s Adam Young.
What started as a project in the basement of his parent’s house has turned into an international phenomenon, sending Adam to the top of the charts, and playing to energetic crowds in renowned venues across the US, China, and Japan!
Not only has Ocean Eyes gone gold, but the album's lead single Fireflies – which features Matt Thiessen from Relient K - has reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 twice! It’s already sold more than 2 million downloads.
Young says he’s “overwhelmed” by the response.
“I’m just totally thrilled and overjoyed to be able to sit back and kind of watch things happen on their own,” Young says. “And as an artist, the knowledge of knowing that people are out there listening [to] the art you work so hard at – poured your heart and soul into [and it] is connecting with people -that’s priceless. It’s entirely breathtaking.”
Owl City will be in Australia and New Zealand in March.


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