The Tyler, Texas, band Eisley will perform for free at the Glenn Miller Ballroom *(UMC) on the CU-Boulder Campus. 1669 Euclid Ave. Doors are at 7 p.m., starts at 7:30 p.m.
Also performing are Daniella Cotto and DJ Rekha. The free event is part of the Miramontes Festival.
And thanks Taylor for the heads up.
Jonny Diaz wants you to create a video for his new single, “Stand For You.” He gave up a career as a baseball player to concentrate on music. (Photo special to The Denver Post)
Are you a closet videographer? A movie-maker? Get your creative juices flowing by putting your ideas to film for Dove Award nominee Jonny Diaz.
Diaz, who is up for the New Artist of the Year Award, wants YOU to create a video for his new single “Stand For You.” Here’s a link to his website and how to enter the contest.
Jonny also has a YouTube video about the meaning of the song. Basically it’s that, “We live in an amazing country that was founded on Christian principles that can be found in the word of God,” and that those values have been watered down. And that as Christians we must be bold and stand up for our country and those values.
Diaz’s first single — “More Beautiful You” – off his first CD with INO Records is making its rounds on mainstream radio and the Internet and has hit the top 30 on the Billboard mainstream AC charts.
I had an opportunity to chat with Jonny last spring at the Dove Awards and here’s a link to a story I posted on the former baseball player.
Ten Arvada churches are getting together to hold a food bank fundraiser on Saturday, March 13 at the Arvada United Methodist Church.
The featured artist is international star Alex Boye, who is a soloist with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Boye, who, according to his website, joined the LDS when he was 16, got his start in England with the boy band “Awesome,” and performed with Mary J. Blige, The Smashing Pumpkins and Missy Elliott, just to name a few.
Boye became disenchanted with the industry and moved to Utah to concentrate on Gospel music. “I was climbing the ladder of success but when i got to the top, i found myself leaning on the wrong side of the wall,” he said on his website.
The fundraiser will also feature conductors and singers from 10 Arvada churches.
Cost is a donation of non-perishable food and $3 per person or $10 for a family. Arvada United Methodist is located at 6750 Carr St.
Jon Foreman and Switchfoot ended their current tour at the Ogden Theatre in Denver last weekend. Photos by Eliza Marie Somers
Fellow Postie Kyle Wagner took in the Switchfoot show at the Ogden Theatre this past weekend, and she captured the concert in fine detail in her posting on Reverb. Below are a few snaps from the evening.
Jon Foreman likes to mix it up with the crowd.
Jon dedicated the song Always to his mom and Led Zeppelin. Jon and his brother Tim were in a Zep cover band in junior high and the influences come out in Hello Hurricane.
A little guitar duel.
Country and Christian music stars converge to help Haiti with the “Healing 4 Haiti” music project.
Vince Gill, Wyonna and the Oak Ridge Boys joined forces with Michael W. Smith, The Afters, Amy Grant and Hawk Nelson, just to name a few of the artists, to produce a 15 song CD. The CD is available on iTunes and will be in stores March 16.
At least $5 of every record sold will be donated to Samaratian’s Purse and the Red Cross for Haiti earthquake relief to provide water, medical care, shelter and other aid. Money will also go to Bill Graham Evangelistic Association’s Rapid Response Team, which provides emotional and spiritual support.
Jon Foreman, Switchfoot lead singer, signs a guitar for a fan before a show at the Ogden Theatre in Denver. Photo by Eliza Marie Somers.
Before the Switchfoot show in Denver last weekend, about 50 lucky fans got an up close and personal view of the San Diego based band and its mates with a invite to the soundcheck at the Ogden Theatre.
And a dream came true for a couple of teens, who were able to get lead singer Jon Foreman and the band to sign their guitar and bongo “box.”
As an added bonus during soundcheck, Switchfoot worked on two new songs, although we could not hear the lyrics, we got to jam with the band.
Also I had a chance to chat with Jon about the band’s latest offering, which is a big departure from its previous albums. So keep an eye on this site for a look behind the music.
Switchfoot ended its current tour in Colorado with a show in Colorado Springs and Denver this past weekend.
Jars of Clay broke out of its box this past year. Its “Two Hands” is nominated for Song of the Year. Photo special to The Denver Post
Four artists from wide-ranging backgrounds garnered six Dove Award nominations Thursday.
Heavy rockers Skillet, alternative band Jars of Clay, worship artist Matt Maher and country crooner Jason Crabb were all nominated in six categories in the Gospel Music Association’s annual music awards.
Producer Bernie Herms leads with eight nominations, including Producer of the Year.
Artist of the Year nominees: Casting Crowns, tobyMac, Mary Mary, Jars of Clay, Francesca Battistelli, Skillet and Jason Crabb.
Group of the Year: Casting Crowns, Gaither Vocal Band, Jars of Clay, Hezekiah Walker and The Love Fellowship Crusade Choir, NEEDTOBREATHE, and Tenth Avenue North.
Only 23 of the 43 categories were announced in Nashville. For a list of the 23 click here.
This is kinda quirky. It took a month but Phillip Carter & SOV received some good news — they won a Stellar Award. Because of a “technical issue” Carter and the choir were not informed of their Fan Favorite Choir of the Year Award for “Songs from the Storm” until this past week.
Carter said he was humbled and joyful for the award because of the fans’ support. “When the people vote for you, that means you have reached the people and that’s what real ministry entails,” he said in a news release. “This whole album is a choir director’s dream because the music is teachable and easy for choirs and congregations to connect.”
Well, here’s a long due CONGRATS.
Brandon Heath, who won numerous Dove Awards this past year, is in space, with his song “Give Me Your Eyes” riding along with the Endeavor crew. Photo by Eliza Marie Somers
Brandon Heath is out of this world, literally.
Terry Virts, the pilot of the shuttle Endeavor, is a fan of Heath and on his first shuttle mission the astronaut picked Heath’s song “Give Me Your Eyes” to wake up the crew on its second day in space. Here’s the link to the NASA wake-up call. Heath was also at the night launch of the shuttle with the Virts’ family.
“I’m still geeking out over this, it’s the coolest thing ever,” Heath said in a statement.
Along with the space tribute, the multiple Dove Award winner and Grammy nominee received an Emmy Award this week for “Give Me Your Eyes,” which was used in Nashville’s Rescue Mission’s Hunger for Hope 2009 PSA campaign.
Congrats, Brandon.
Israel Houghton won a Grammy Award on Sunday for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album with his “The Power of One” CD. Photo by Eliza Marie Somers.
Third Day took home a Grammy Award on Sunday when the Atlanta-based band won the Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album for its “Live Revelations” CD.
Israel Houghton won a Grammy for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album with “The Power of One” CD.
Jason Crabb’s self-titled CD grabbed the Grammy for Best Southern/Country/Bluegrass Album. A huge honor for his first solo effort.
In Best Traditional Gospel Album category, a compilation of artists took the Grammy with “Oh Happy Day.” And the best Gospel Performance Grammy went to Donnie McClurkin and Karen Clark Sheard for “Wait on the Lord.”
Heather Headley’s “Audience of One” snagged the award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album.
Best Gospel Song was “God In Me,” written by Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell and performed by Mary Mary. Check out the video.
Jeremy Camp’s soulful, rock sound is back in the Mile High City. Catch Camp on Friday at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, along with The Afters, Chasen and Jason Gray.
WAY-FM is sponsoring the concert, and you can get tickets by this link. If you haven’t seen Camp in concert, I urge you to go. He brings a fun, fast-paced energy to his shows, and his breathy vocals reveal his passion for his music and God. It’s a worship service that both teens and parents can both enjoy, with the “There Will Be A Day” and “Walk By Faith” to the high-energy “Speaking Louder Than Before.”
Heaven Fest organizers are expecting 30,000 fans to the July 31 event and are looking for a new space, specifically Longmont’s Union Reservoir. But the Christian music festival is generating some backlash from local residents. Here’s a link to the story that appeared in Monday’s Post and on denverpost.com.
What I find interesting is the comments. Check them out. Some are because of the Christian content, others are about the site. Some just show how unaware people are of Christian rock, such as The Fray comment. Do they know that The Fray started by playing in Denver metro area churches? If you are one of those unacquainted with this genre, check out Skillet, TobyMac, Switchfoot, Decyfer Down,
Red. Just to name a few.
More than 150 Gospel music artists came together to record, “Are You Listening: A Love Song for Haiti,” to raise funds for the island nation ravaged by a 7.1 earthquake.
The Gospel Music Channel is producing the official music video and will air it Friday (Jan. 21) at 5 p.m. Mountain time, right before GMC’s “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon. The special will also air Saturday at 4 p.m. Mountain
Some of the musicians who participated in what Kirk Franklin, who organized the event, called the Gospel music industry’s answer to “We Are the World,” include BeBe & CeCe Winans, Yolanda Adams, Marvin Sapp, Natalie Grant, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, Shirley Caesar, Jeremy Camp, Marvin Winans, J. Moss, Smokie Norful, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Karen Clark-Sheard, Kiki Sheard, Donald Lawrence.
TobyMac enjoys a brisk game of basketball before hitting the stage. Photo by Eliza Marie Somers
A little Q& A with Christian Hip-hop artist TobyMac, 44, from the archives.
Q: You bring a lot of energy to a show. How do you keep it up?
A: The music we play is energetic, and we feed off of that. My
concerts are a big-party atmosphere. I love an intense concert, and
if I don’t soak two T‑shirts I don’t feel like it was a good show.
Q: You were just in Denver this past spring. What are you bringing
that’s different for your fans?
A: We have different acts this time, and we will be a little more
focused on the holidays. We’ll play songs that we are known for and
mix in some Christmas songs. Reliant K just put out a Christmas
album, so they will be doing touches of that.
Q: Your music has been picked up by ESPN, the telecast for the 2006
Olympic Games, trailers for movies (“Underdog,” “Hancock” to
name a few). How does that make you feel?
A: It’s different. Obviously, Hollywood is buying into it. The
music is relevant. It’s happening more and more. … I went to the
(Tennessee) Titans’ Monday-night football game. And I’m sitting way
up in the cheap seats with 70,000 people and my song “Boomin“ ‘
comes on and the cheerleaders are dancing to it. They played a full
chorus. I was like “This is crazy.” My face was all red and no
one knows.
Q: You co-founded the E.R.A.C.E. Foundation (Eliminating Racism and
Creating Equality). How does that work?
A: Our goal is to get people to dialogue about race relations. To
come together as one people even though we are all different. We do
fundraising for organizations that help foster that ideal. We run
into a lot of people who don’t see it (discrimination) but if we
can begin to communicate we can correct that … to come together.
Q: You’re a father of five, a husband, own a recording studio. How
do you find time to write music?
A: I go to bed early, wake up to take the little guy to school.
It’s well worth it to me being involved with my family. … I’ll
write some music when we’re on tour. … I write about my
relationships, and my struggles and success with those
relationships. And people can relate to them.
Q: Some of your favorite songs?
A: “Made to Love.” I’m completely passionate about it. It’s
really special to me. And “Lose My Soul” seems to resonate with a
lot of people.
Q: What bands do you listen to and are influenced by?
A: I love so much music. The Police. Reggae. Bob Marley. I love
hip-hop, Black Eyed Peas. I don’t agree with some of their
philosophies sometimes. I have to go to Wal-Mart and buy the family
versions (chuckles). But I love that stuff.
Q: Is it frustrating to be classified as a “Christian” artist?
A: Absolutely, it’s frustrating. Sometimes the Christian audience
questions your faith when you branch out. But that is so far from
the truth. My faith means so much to me. And then some people are
turned off by the label. I want my music to fall on open ears. Like
U2. U2 just can’t be classified because Bono has universal appeal.
He is such a great lyricist. I love lyrics.
