Brisbane Christian News @ Brisbane Christian Chat (Queensland, Australia)


	23.05.03 - Jive tour plans covered. From ACAN. On the back of three national tours, three albums, a New Zealand tour early this year and just recently a quick trip to Queensland for AGMF festivities to release the third album 'Covered', funk band the jive express are back in Perth recovering and preparing for their next two tours to visit Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Gold Coast and Brisbane. 'Covered' lays down more of the band's funky grooves ('I Need Your Love' and 'Time Bomb') and also showcases a couple of soul searching ballads, continuing to display excellence in musicianship and production the jive express is known for. Tour dates announced soon as well as a Perth launch for radio single 'I Need Your Love'. Info at www.scopemusic.com.
	23.05.03 - New Events Manager @ The Lion's Den. From Chris Mundy, The Lion's Den. The Lion's Den is one of the most exciting all-ages concert venues in Brisbane. An operation of the Wesley Mission, and situated right next to King George Square, the Lion's Den has played host to such bands as Antiskeptic, Half Way Out and Rhubarb. Featuring an awesome in-house PA system, fully furnished kitchen and a homely live-music atmosphere, the drug and alcohol free venue is the ideal place to host your next concert event. As the majority of bands that book The Lion's Den do not come from a Christian-based background, it's my vision as the new events manager to build up a team of volunteers to assist in building relationships with both the musicians and patrons that use the venue. Ideally, the best volunteers to do this would be Christian musicians who wish to not only build on their music networks and form meaningful relationships with other musicians, but are willing to serve these artists by participating in hands on work on concert nights. The Lion's Den would honour this voluntary contribution by offering special booking rates to those Christian musicians to host their own concerts. I'd also like to see The Lion's Den become a home for Brisbane's Christian musicians, hosting special events and seminars to help them, to share experiences together, support one another and pray for each other. If you're a musician, or just someone who's into music, and interested in becoming a part of this vision for The Lion's Den, or want to book the venue for your next concert, please contact me at 0409 271 981, mundymusic@goconnect.net or 3264 8254.
	23.05.03 - Musos wanted - Qld. From ACAN. Caleb White, drummer/singer/songwriter from Melbourne band 'In The Making' relocates to Brisbane at the end of June. Caleb is keen to front an originals band and needs to find a bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, drummer. If you can also sing, it's a bonus. To express your interest, receive a demo, or simply wish him well, email in5the5making@yahoo.com.au.
	23.05.03 - Rebecca St. James achieves first gold record & celebrates 10 year career. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Rebecca St. Jame's album 'God' has just gone GOLD! According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), sales of God have reached in excess of 500 000 units. St. James will be honored with her first Gold Record by the industry on June 12 during a celebration held at the Nashville offices of BMI. That evening will also spotlight Rebecca's 10-year career milestone. "We are very proud of Rebecca's accomplishments," says ForeFront Records President Greg Ham. "Throughout her career, she has never lost her passion for her ministry. Its very inspiring to work with someone who has the vision and energy that Rebecca puts into everything she does." Her 1996 release was responsible for career classics such as 'God', 'Speak To Me', and 'Go and Sin No More'. "'God' was a pivotal release for Rebecca," says Co-President of Chordant Distribution, Rich Peluso. "This was the album that took Rebecca to another level as a Christian artist. Since the release of 'God', Rebecca has been one of our most consistent selling artists, with a fan base that has grown with each release." In addition to the recognition of her Gold Record status for 'God', Rebecca will also be honored for a career of more than 10 years of music and ministry. Since appearing on the Christian music radar at age 15, Rebecca has developed into one of today's most loved and respected international Christian music artists. With a plethora of accolades to her credit, including Christianity Today's "Top 50 Up & Coming Evangelical Leaders under 40" and one of today's "50 Most Influential People" according to Christian Radio Weekly, Rebecca has proven to be more than just an angelic voice, but a driving force. With diversity and depth, the Sydney, Australia native has become one of the most outspoken, evangelical, fan-connected female touring artists in Christian music today. "I have been very fortunate to have a career where I can share my faith with people from all over the world and in the process change their lives," says St. James. "It is very encouraging to me that even after 10 years of touring and making records, this ministry is still impacting thousands of people."
	23.05.03 - Songwriting competition now open. From ACAN. Entries are now open to all Australian citizens and permanent residents for the 2003 Australian Gospel Songwriting Competition. The APRA accredited awards are sponsored by Yamaha Music for the following levels: Best Gospel Music Composition 2003, Runner up Gospel Song 2003; Outstanding Gospel Lyrics Award 2003; Outstanding Gospel Music Award 2003; Judges' Encouragement Award 2003; Gospel Composition Youth Award (for composers under 18 yrs at time of entry). Visit www.nationalgospelhappening.org/songcomp for details and entry form. Entries close 31 July 2003.
	23.05.03 - TRAA Song Of The Week - 'Lifting Me Up'. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Australian singer-songwriter Roma Waterman has one of those voices that begs comparisons. Sometimes, she exhibits the brittle smoky feel of Leigh Nash (Sixpence None the Richer), and other times the tender melancholy of Norah Jones. Being in such good vocal company is impressive in itself, but Waterman is simply a remarkable and individual performer. As a singer barely out of her teens, she gained an unusual break sharing the stage with Grammy award winners dc Talk, as well as touring with the Newsboys, David Meece, and Margaret Becker. Since then she has made four solo albums, recorded sessions with Vanessa Amorosi, Marina Prior, Julie Anthony, Debra Byrne and Jon Stevens, and performed on national and international TV shows. When she's not conducting vocal master classes and workshops, Roma concentrates her energies on writing, performing and recording the definitive versions of her songs. Her latest album People Change is a pistol-hot compilation album of songs from her first two albums, live sessions, as well as several new songs that move the soul. The opening song 'Lifting Me Up' (co-written with house2house band's music director Andrew Naylor) sets the tone for the rest of the album with striking honesty. "Lifting Me Up is a very important song for me as it's reflecting what's happening in the world today," says Roma. "With all the fear and doubt that abounds, we wanted to write something that says we can still be lifted to a higher plane of hope," she explains. "Lifting Me Up" is the most added song on Christian radio this week.
	23.05.03 - Orrico rising. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Stacie Orrico's 'Stuck' has entered the Top 5 on ARIA's national mainstream singles chart. Her self-titled album, due for release on 2 June, is simply outstanding. 'I Could Be the One', 'More To Life' and 'Bounce Back' are killer tracks.
	23.05.03 - Officially a big idea. From ACAN. Australian a cappella group 'The Idea of North' have just returned from the USA, having taken out the final of the world's largest a cappella competition, 'The Harmony Sweepstakes'. Trish, Naomi, Nick & Andrew sang and grooved to victory over 7 other finalists (from a pool of 64 groups) in front of an a cappella audience thousands strong, becoming the first international group to win the competition in its 19 year history. The group continue to tour, with performances in NSW, Vic and ACT this month. More at www.idea.com.au.
	23.05.03 - Sonicflood covers Hillsong. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. One of the leaders of contemporary worship music has covered two Hillsong songs on its latest album. Sonicflood has recorded 'Everyday' (Joel Houston), and 'God Is Great' (Marty Sampson) on its fourth album 'Cry Holy'.
	23.05.03 - New live album from Planet Shakers. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Planet Shakers releases its fifth Australian CD 'My King' next month. The live album features five new songs plus seven new recordings of songs from their studio set 'Open Up the Gates'. The group will also release a DVD, video, and music book.
	23.05.03 - Wanted: singers & bands. From Stuart Stuart, Chartsong Productions. We're looking for Australia's best unsigned singer, songwriter or band. Here's the prize - 5 days with producer Stuart Stuart, recording your best 3 songs. The finished product will be promoted direct to our contacts at record labels. This contest has already drawn interest from record label talent scouts, who can't wait to hear the winner. This could very well be the bridge between you and a record deal. For real. This package is valued at $2900. We're also putting $500 towards the travel and accommodation of the winner. That's a total prize value of $3400. So how do you enter? Easy - just send your demo to 'Next Big Thing, Chartsong PO Box 1944, Carindale, 4152'. The contest is open to all unsigned artists around Australia no matter what age, genre or quality of demo recording. We're listening for songs, so everything is acceptable, from dodgy ghetto blaster tapes to fully produced and mastered CDs. Send your best two songs, and if possible, a picture of yourself/your band. Any other info you can provide would help too. Don't get hung up on the presentation of the package - just get your two best songs on tape/CD and send it in! You've got one month from today - the competition closes on Friday, the 27th of June. There are also 5 consolation prizes - the next best 5 entries will win a copy of Stuart Stuart's very popular 2 CD set 'How To Get A Record Deal In Australia' (value $99). CONDITIONS: The 'Next Big Thing' Competition closes on June 27th, 2003. Entries received after this date will not be considered. The winner will be chosen by Stuart Stuart. The decision is final. We reserve the right to award no prize if there is no deserving entrant. The value of the prize is $3400 AUD - $2900 in recording and promotional expenses plus $500 cash to be used toward travel and accommodation. If there are no travel and accommodation expenses (if the winner is from Brisbane, or close to the Brisbane area), the $500 will be used for CD cover expenses, including a photo shoot.
	23.05.03 - CCC rides upward wave. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Get ready. Christian City Church Oxford Falls records its new church album 'Lift' on Sunday 25 May. 'Prophesy' (2001) was a breakthrough, 'Higher' (2002) raised the bar. Now the church is poised to ride the upward wave with a brand new album. The church's latest youth project 'Run With You' is one of the best selling Christian albums in the country. The song 'Dream Maker' featuring Nikki Fletcher is one of the most added songs on Christian radio this past week.
	23.05.03 - Broadcast Manager/Network Station Manager wanted. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. UCB Australia is looking for an experienced Broadcaster with people management experience to head up the radio division of this national Christian ministry. Vision FM is the brand of UCB Australia's national network of more than 120 narrowcast FM stations broadcasting 100% Christian music with a 65/35 contemporary music/programming ratio. The responsibility of this role would be to develop the on-air sound, station imaging and develop the talent. This role is growing and challenging as it includes the responsibility for the national UCB News service and current developments for additional station formats that could see the division running up to four different channels. This is a senior position within the UCB Australia Ministry and is a salaried role. As UCB Australia is an evangelical Christian ministry providing programming that meets the needs of the wide body of Christian believers, the role requires an individual who is able to identify and exhibit the understanding and personal conviction of the Christian faith. Expressions of interest in the form of a covering letter and CV should be emailed to Chief Operations Officer, Andrew Pitchford (andrew@ucb.com.au). Applications for the position close on the 6 June.
	16.05.03 - Alabaster Box world tour news. From Alabaster Box. Naarah from AB here! Well, it's been a massive start to 2003 for us in fact last weekend we played our 75th show this year! In addition to that, we've just come home from a huge world tour. It started at Australia's Sonfest where we headlined alongside great bands like Audio Adrenaline, Toby Mac, Super Chick, PC3 and Tree 63. The next morning, joined by our newfound friends Tree 63, we zipped off to New Zealand for the southern hemisphere's largest Christian music festival, Parachute 03. Over 22,000 Kiwi music freaks packed the site for a weekend of awesome Christian music! After our two-day stop in NZ we headed off to the USA, where we played 20 shows in California, Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. In between shows we were able to make a dash to Disneyland where I'm proud to report that I fulfilled my lifelong dream to have a photo with Winnie the Pooh. Sam said he suspected that it wasn't the real Winnie, but just a person in a Winnie-suit... as if he'd know. We also got to spend one week in Nashville recording our brand new single which will be a prelude to the release of our next full-length album. Right now the song is being mixed down for radio release. It should be released internationally in September, and keep an eye out for a tour that will follow. After more shows in England, Forest Edge Festival in Victoria, and a week in Sydney, we finally headed home (whew!). Since then we've been hanging out in good old Queensland, and had a blast in Toowoomba at this year's Australian Gospel Music Festival.
	16.05.03 - Andy Hunter enters The Matrix. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Red pill, blue pill, Morpheus, Neo, tons of special effects... and DJ Andy Hunter! If you've watched the trailer for 'The Matrix: Reloaded' then you've heard UK turntable artist Andy Hunter's 'Wonders Of You' blaring in the background. The British DJ who mixes ultra-creative dance music with his strong Christian faith has landed songs in several recent movies including 'Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever' plus the new Al Pacino movie 'The Recruit'. If you haven't seen/heard the trailer for 'The Matrix: Reloaded' yet, you can check it out on-line here.
	16.05.03 - 211 In Progress halted. From 211 In Progress. 211 In Progress are taking an extended break to re-establish our goals and vision. Huge thanks to all the fans and friends that supported us. We had good times. Please keep us in your prayers as we move into the unknown. God is in control and it's in his hands.
	12.05.03 - The Last Resort's 'One Last Time'. From The Last Resort. This weekend is your last chance to catch the rock'n'roll extravaganza that is The Last Resort as they are breaking up. Supported by The Sellouts. Entry is absolutely free! At Rivers (Lawnton) Baptist Church, 90 Francis Road Lawnton. Check out the Gig Guide. Hope to see you there.
	09.05.03 - Pseudo Llama EP on the way. From Pseudo Llama. The Llamas have been busier than ever recently finally recording the first EP. And it sounds terrific. We were fortunate to be able to work with top producer Phil Slade for this project and its looking like gold! It's a five track EP featuring some of the favourites (including a revamped 'Healers') and all going to plan it will be launched around July. We are currently browsing for bands to play with us at the launch, so if you know of any that you think would be appropriate, send us their details. Leading up to the launch we are planning a whole bunch of publicity gigs where we can plug the EP. The next one is this Saturday 10 May - 'Big Mayfair Rock Show' - part of St Stephen's Church's community fair. Check the Gig Guide for full details.
	09.05.03 - Stacie Orrico #8 on ARIA singles chart. From AJ Hulsman. US Christian artist Stacie Orrico has made it onto the ARIA Top 10 singles chart this week with her first mainstream single 'Stuck' moving up from #16 to #8.
	09.05.03 - pc3 on coveted award. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Last month the Paul Colman Trio took top honours for New Artist of the Year at the 34th Annual Dove Awards ceremony held at the Gaylord Entertainment Centre in Nashville. Less than a year since the release of its debut label project 'New Map of the World', pc3 walked away with the coveted title. The award ushers in the close of a phenomenal debut year internationally for the band. "This win is particularly meaningful to us because it has been so difficult getting to where we are today," acknowledges frontman Paul Colman. "This award serves as a platform for spreading our message about being reconciled to God and to each other," he says. pc3 is in the studio finalising production on 'One', the band's second international project that is scheduled for release early September.
	09.05.03 - RP Records t-shirts & hoods available again. From The Sellouts. If you missed out on getting a RP Records t-shirt or RP Records hoodie at AGMF... good news... they are now available by mail-order through RP Records. The t-shirts sell for $20 and sizes range from S-XL and the hoods sell for $35 and sizes range from M-XXL (postage is extra). If you want one send an email to rprecords01@yahoo.com.au .
	09.05.03 - AGMF attendance increases. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. More than 30000 people attended Toowoomba's Australian Gospel Music Festival over Easter. Royce Perkins reports that organisers said attendances were up on last year by at least 30 per cent. Friday night's program featuring James Morrison and David Meece drew about 6000 to the Queens Park amphitheatre, with more than 10000 attending The Bible Society sponsored Sunday night Combined Churches Service featuring Jami Smith.
	09.05.03 - Festival deadlines approaching fast. From ACAN. Bands, get your entries in: www.blackstump.org.au www.nationalgospelhappening.org
	09.05.03 - David Meece, genuine ministry. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Everywhere David Meece performed, the story was the same - God was touching people. "Tears and hugging were the order of the day as many people came to terms with the pain they'd experienced in their lives (identifying with David's personal family struggle) and then forgiving those who have hurt them, and choosing to move forward with God's grace," says promoter Alan Kennedy (Kennedy International) in summarising the tour's impact. David has just completed a 20-day visit to Australia playing to capacity crowds in Melbourne, Toowoomba, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Geelong, Ballarat and Hobart. A total of 4000 people showed up at Melbourne's Waverley Christian Centre. Others were turned away due to packed houses. In Geelong where I caught the concert, David spent more than two hours talking with people, signing autographs, and at times, praying with them too. It didn't matter whether you were over 50, 30, in your teens, or younger, David took time with everyone who wanted to meet and talk with him. It was a great night of genuine ministry from a man singing and openly talking about his journey with God.
	09.05.03 - TRAA Song Of The Week. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. It will come as no surprise that David Meece's album 'There I Go Again' is the country's best selling Christian album this week - it's a natural consequence of well attended concerts! So, TRAA's Song of the Week is 'I Just Want to Be With You'. Meece wrote the song while improvising at the piano during one of his devotional times. "There are times when I just have to get alone with God," David says. "During those times, I just need to be fed by God Himself! Sometimes I go for a walk, sit under a tree, or I just sit at the piano and sing songs to Him. While sitting at the piano one time I remember thinking how much I just love sitting there at the piano with God. As I did, the phrase "I just want to be with you" came. Later, I went back and filled in the blanks... Only You can turn this night to day. Only You can love this hurt away. Only You can put together what's undone. You and no other..." In many ways, this song was the underlying message of David's Australian tour that concluded on Sunday 4 May 2003.
	09.05.03 - Willersdorf off and running. From ACAN. David Willersdorf's 'All You Have Given' Tour started with a bang last weekend, with gigs on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday and on the Gold Coast the following night. Feedback has been so strong that David and his team are considering holding another praise and worship concert this year on the Sunshine Coast. David has relaunched www.davidwillersdorf.com with a new look and an easy-to-use format, thanks to designers Russell Hampson and Joshua Harries.