Brief Bits
*Radio stations, retailers and fans alike can’t seem to get enough of
veteran rock band Third Day, as “Cry Out To Jesus,” the debut single
from the group’s eighth full-length project Wherever You Are, has
ascended to the top of every Christian music radio format chart. “Cry
Out To Jesus” was added to many major radio station play lists in
heavy rotation at the end of August after radio promoters heard early
clips, and the song is now being used as anchor music for various
hurricane relief effort campaigns due to its fitting message of hope.
*Word Records’ Grammy nominated, Dove Award-winning and Platinum-
selling recording group, Point Of Grace, is spreading Christmas cheer
across the country with its Winter Wonderland headline tour as fans
respond with several sold-out shows. Tour stops in Savannah, GA,
Garner, NC, Birmingham, AL, and two shows in Oklahoma City have sold
out and additional dates have seen record numbers. This yuletide, 16-
city tour supports Point Of Grace’s newest CD, Winter Wonderland,
which showcases classic holiday tunes and original compositions.
Wearing festive red dresses, Shelley Breen, Heather Payne, Denise
Jones, and Leigh Cappillino, sparkle on stage with their unique
harmony and powerhouse vocals. Also featured on the Winter Wonderland
tour is John David Webster and a live choir in every city.
*A TV show called “JC Rocks” is intent on “making God famous
throughout the world.” One of the great things about this show is
that it’s seen on major secular TV stations in many markets.
*Kingdom Bound Christian music festival will celebrate its 20th year…
with four top-notch headliners: MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Third Day,
and Newsboys. The annual event, which attracts some 70,000 people
from all over the U.S. and Canada to Six Flags Darien Lake amusement
park and camping resort near Buffalo, NY, has tickets and campsites
available right now for the Aug. 6-9, 2006 celebration—call 800-461-
4485 or visit itickets.com. For more info, please visitwww.kingdombound.org.
*Rock group The Wedding had a successful 2005 with two No. 1 singles
at Christian Rock radio (“Move This City” with four consecutive weeks
at No. 1 & “Song For The Broken” for two weeks at No. 1). Their
current single, “Wake The Regiment,” is currently #19 on Christian
Rock radio and rising…
*International pop/rock band Tree63 is excited to announce their
original drummer, Darryl Swart, is back. Swart, a founding member of
Tree63, joins frontman John Ellis and bassist Daniel Ornellas
immediately. Swart was an integral part of such Tree63 hits
as “Joy,” “Treasure,” “Look What You’ve Done,” and more until he
departed the band in 2003. Swart will be playing live with Tree63
beginning in January. Spring tour plans are currently in the works.
*Hip hopper Da Minista will perform on The Gospel Of Music with
Jeff Majors, airing Sunday, December 18th, at 7pm on TV-One (Direct
TV, channel 241) On Comcast, please check your local listing. Da
Minista’s single, “Don’t You Wanna Be Saved,” is currently playing on
gospel stations, and the video is on BET’s Video Gospel.
*Fuse, the nation’s only music-centric, viewer-influenced television
network, and MySpace.com, the leading social networking and lifestyle
portal, recently announced the winner of the Fuse On Demand / MySpace
contest…and it’s Christian rock band Kids In The Way! The band will
receive extensive airplay and promotion on Fuse On Demand, Fuse’s
popular VOD service, have their own page on Fuse’s website and will
be featured on MySpace – making them the next big video star.
*Midas Records added teen rocker Jessie Daniels to its Nashville
roster. Daniels is the first faith-based artist signed to Midas,
which recently expanded into the contemporary Christian market.
*Vocal group Acappella has been busy ministering and singing all over
the world. Read more about the group’s adventures athttp://garyevans.blogspot.com/ or http://rhondacoleson.blogspot.com
*GospelMusicForum.Com is the place for music fans, musicians, worship
leaders, producers, promoters and anyone interested in Christian
music to come together and post messages, thoughts, opinions, news
and more. Become a member for free athttp://www.gospelmusicforum.com. Also, check out Araunah Music, a
label, distributor and online music store for independent
Christian/gospel artists: http://www.araunah.com.
