Francesca Battistelli (l.) and Tricia Brock: talking babies over breakfast
At a fan awards gathering in Nashville last weekend (6/1) there was a special breakfast gathering attended by several Christian music female solo artists.
Among those in attendance: Jamie Grace, Francesca Battistelli, Meredith Andrews, Kerrie Roberts and Natalie Grant.
But Tricia Brock of Superchick (who is readying a new solo album) was the artist who made the highest number of “tweets” about the meeting.
“Most of the talk was about babies,” she noted of the conversation between her and Francesca who are both new moms.
Brandon Heath (2nd from left) with TobyMac, Mandisa and Jason Ingram.
The “Love Your Neighbor” concert May 28 in Nashville was Brandon Heath’s sixth annual benefit for a different charity.
This year’s designated cause was New Hope Academy in Franklin, Tenn. The privately funded pre-k through sixth-grade school serves low-income families a part of its student population.
Among students at the academy are singer TobyMac’s kids. Toby was one of the musical guests on the program, which included Mandisa and songwriter-producer Jason Ingram.
The annual festival in downtown Grand Rapids, MIch. June 7-9 offers plenty of opportunities to hear all styles of Christian music free of charge.
Among the peformances, The Old Man Worship Band, 3:15 Fri. on the Fountain Stage, Resurrection Life Church worship ensembles 7 p.m. Fri. on Calder Stage; Crisi & her band at 4:45 p.m. Sun. June 9 on the Fountain Stage.
Frontline Community Church Band 5:45 p.m. Sat. Circle Stage; Lighthouse Full Life Center Choir 8:15 p.m. Sat. Calder Stage; and the Kentwood Community Church Choir, 2 p.m. Sun. Circle Stage.
And as usual, the choir from Bethel Abundant Life Church closes the weekend Sunday at 6 p.m, also on the Calder Stage. Complete schedule and map at www.festivalgr.org
The early days of Third Day
Do you recognize any of the fellas in the picture on the left?
This is the band Third Day in a rare black and white photo taken in 1994 – well before their first nationally released album.
Left to right: David Carr, Tai Anderson, Mac Powell, Mark Lee.
Mark and Mac are the oldest of the Grammy-winning band members, (Mac is now 40, Mark is 41).
Tai is the youngest.
ZOEgirl: Alisa (left) Chrissy and Kristin; reunited for an album
After getting together recently to sing on stage for the first time in six years, the female trio ZOEgirl is now beginning work on a new album of “lullaby” versions of their old songs, plus some scripture-put-to-music tunes.
Each of the singers – Alisa Girard, Kristin Swinford and Krissy Conway – is now a mother of young children, and this step seems natural in their life progression.
Visit the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/zoegirlmusic?ref= to keep track of their progress.
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Kendrik's new CD features a wealth of guest artists
Longtime worship leader and songwriter Graham Kendrick (he wrote “Shine Jesus, Shine”) has a new duet album featuring several other worship leaders.
The “Worship Duets” album has 9 new songs with special guests Paul Baloche, Michael W. Smith, Matt Redman, Darlene Zschech, The Rend Collective, Martin Smith, Stuart Townend and more.
Featured is a remake of one of Kendrick’s most noted compositions “The Servant King.”
The album officially releases on June 4.
Jars going over the Rhine
The band Jars of Clay had a “bucket list” wish filled during their recent visit to Europe.
Band members did a concert in Germany along the famous Rhine River, as well played their first ever gig in Switzerland and several other European countries.
The band closed its continental swing with a show in The Netherlands.
Then they traveled back across the English Channel for a concert in West Sussex, England before returning to the U.S.
Toby with band members and "The View" co-host Sherri Shepherd (2nd from l.)
Did you miss TobyMac’s May 24 performance on the network TV show “The View?”
You can see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuIQkiQVY0k
He sang “Me Without You” – along with several members of his back-up band, as requested by show co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck who was celebrating her birthday.
After the performance, Toby was invited down in front around Elizabeth’s birthday cake at the program’s conclusions.
The appearance was re-tweeted by “The View” co-host Sherri Shepherd, who was host at the Dove Awards several years ago.
Jody Davis (right) facial hair specialist
Newsboys have a new song ready from their forthcoming album.
The new song is “Live With Abandon” , and you can listen to it at the band website. It’s about giving your all for God and His kingdom.
It will have to go a ways to top the success of their previous album’s song, “God’s Not Dead (Like A Lion).”
The new album is called “Restart” and will release in September.
The new look for the band? – Guitarist Jody Davis has a big, full, bushy beard (looks like a “Duck Dynasty” dude!)
This week marked the fifth anniversary of the death of Maria Sue Chapman, the youngest of three adopted daughter of singer Steven and MaryBeth Curtis Chapman. She died in a car accident on the family homestead near Nashville.
Here’s a link to the local reaction story we did on mlive.com the day after the tragedy: http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/05/musician_steven_curtis_chapman.html
Earlier this week the Chapman family tweeted: “Today we Chapman’s gather where we buried our Maria’s “shell” 5 yrs ago & we weep & pray to our God of all Comfort for broken hearts in OK.”
