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


	28.07.04 - AGMF applications closing soon. From Australian Gospel Music Festival (AGMF). Do you want to play at AGMF 05? With six years of impressive growth, and a record breaking "sell-out" festival in 2004, the Australian Gospel Music Festival (AGMF) has become Australia's premier gospel music event... and AGMF 05 will be no exception! We are planning the biggest and best AGMF yet with larger crowds, additional venues and more attractions. AGMF will soon be announcing an impressive selection of international headlining artists, however, as a priority AGMF is committed to investing in local artists and we have made room for over 100 Australian & New Zealand artists to perform at AGMF 05. It is important that all artists apply if they wish to be considered for AGMF 05 - even if they have performed at previous festivals. Don't miss out - applications close in 2 weeks - Fri 13 Aug 04! Artist applications are available online at www.agmf.com.au or by emailing perform@agmf.com.au.
	26.07.04 - Roma Waterman wins 1st place in CCMNI Talent Search 2004. From Roma Waterman. Roma Waterman has won first place in the USA Contemporary Christian Music Network International Talent Search for 2004. CCMNI received entries from all over the US and Canada, as well as several entries from Australia. Apart from some great prizes, it also allows Roma's music to be heard by many industry professionals and record companies within the USA. Contemporary Christian Music Network International was created to find and promote undiscovered talent by hosting songwriting contests and talent searches annually. 100% of the profits from the songwriting contest goes to Speed The Light which is a mission's project that helps purchase vehicles and equipment for Missionaries. CCMNI is also endorsed by Twila Paris and Russ Lee. Their songwriting contests have received numerous sponsorships from such artists and groups as Rachael Lampa, The Katinas, Carman, Scott Krippayne, Out of Eden, Jonathan Pierce and several others. Roma's next album is due for release early 2005, with a possible international release. For more details on Roma Waterman, visit her website at www.romawaterman.com.
	23.07.04 - See Daniel Kay live on the Queen Street Mall Lower Stage. From Mark Neilen (Manager). Daniel Kay will be performing 3 free shows Wednesday 25th August on Brisbane's Queen Street Mall Lower Stage. Each show will be 20mins in length with CD signings available after each show. HMV Music Store will be selling the CD single on the day while Koorong Online is also stocking the CD featuring the radio single 'If You Believe'. Keep up to date with Daniel Kay's news and appearances by joining the Daniel Kay Mailing List. Simply go to www.danielkay.com.
	21.07.04 - Scat jazz side project. From Chris Poulsen. Brisbane jazz band Scat has been enjoying much success at many performances over the last few months, including most recently, a trip down to Hillsong Conference. With an aim to take their jazz a little further "out there", bass player Jeremy O'Connor, and pianist Chris Poulsen have teamed up with another local jazz cat, Trent Bryson-Dean on the drums, for an interesting side project. Going by the name Chris Poulsen Trio (or CP3) the guys will be debuting their unique blend of improvised jazz and funk at the Brisbane Powerhouse Spark Bar on Fri July 30 from 6pm.
	21.07.04 - Hillsong album debuts at #1 on ARIA chart. From ACAN. Congratulations are in order to Hillsong Church, whose newest CD 'For All You've Done' debuted July 12 at number one on the ARIA national album chart, outselling John Butler Trio, Kasey Chambers, Pete Murray, Jet and the Shrek II soundtrack. 'For All You've Done' was released at last week’s record-attendance Hillsong Conference, held at the Olympic Showgrounds in Sydney, NSW. For a look at the charts, visit www.aria.com.au, and for a look at the album visit www.hillsong.com.
	21.07.04 - Musicians/technicians wanted (NZ) - Parachute Band. From ACAN. NZ's Parachute Band are looking for someone with proven keyboard or guitar and vocal skills to join the band as well as someone with proven technical experience to be Technical Coordinator. Both positions are contracted and you will need to be available for up to 4 months full-time touring in NZ and overseas each year. Visit here for more details.
	21.07.04 - Musicoz opens up for entries. From ACAN. In its fourth year, the Musicoz Awards, "Australia’s premier music awards for unsigned artists", has officially opened and is calling for all unsigned and independent artists and musicians around the country to send in their entries. Musicoz is dedicated to developing the music industry at a grass roots level by recognising the talents of unsigned and independent artists and providing them with opportunities as they carve out their careers. Winners in each of the 18 categories will walk away with some phenomenal prizes and gain the attention from those in high musical places. More info at www.musicoz.org.
	19.07.04 - Void If Removed news. From Void If Removed. UK mag 'Cross Rhythms' rates VIR 9... Thanks to Pillar Music Products, they sent a load of Australian artists CDs to UK mag for reviews. Kindly enough Void If Removed got a great review. rated 9 out of 10. Baby Jesse! Shane's wife is due for their first baby in September. They have named their little boy - Jesse. Be sure to see the little one wandering across the stage very soon. Perth > 96 saved... Void had a great time in Perth. Perth is a home away from home. 96 young people saved for Jesus. NZ in 05... Obviously the planning is happening at the moment for their New Zealand tour. Void would really like to make a mark in N.Z. They head to Parachute Festival in 05 and a tour to back it up after the festival is finished. Shane has had previous experiences with Furthermore in 98, 99 & 2000. Be sure to catch Void If Removed at their next show!
	16.07.04 - Bands: Live at the Princess wants you! From Live at the Princess. Live at the Princess, a popular monthly (first Friday night) live music venue & cafe, are looking for Christian bands & artists who want to perform over the next few months to a ready-made audience. July saw been the biggest turnout yet. Live at the Princess is held at The Princess Theatre, 8 Annerley Rd Woolloongabba. To enquire about booking e-mail seeyou@liveattheprincess.com, or check out www.liveattheprincess.com for more info.
	16.07.04 - Trans-Tasman search for a male singer ends. From Iron and Clay. After a search across Australia and New Zealand for a male vocalist and performer, Iron and Clay are thrilled to announce that Jarryd Klapper of Toowoomba (QLD) has joined the team. Twenty-year old Jarryd Klapper was bought to the attention of Iron and Clay through a former Iron and Clay member. Jarryd was discovered at Live At The Princess in Brisbane, where he placed in the top three, of 96five FM's Superstar Search. Prior to joining Iron and Clay, Jarryd has performed as a solo artist and in a band at this year's Australian Gospel Music Festival (AGMF) and has written over a dozen songs of his own. He plays piano, guitar, drums and trumpet and describes his sound as piano acoustic, soul-funk - a cross between Billy Joel, Keith Green and Ben Folds. He counts Out of Eden and Stevie Wonder as his RnB influences. Iron and Clay's Director, Claudio Carrasco, says in addition to Jarryd's voice and demo CD, he was drawn to Jarryd's humble nature and enthusiasm, "Jarryd is an answer to prayer and we look forward to his contribution to the group, musically and in other ways." Jarryd says that coming to Iron and Clay was also an answer to prayer - his prayer! "About a year ago I really had a desire to be a singer, and I felt called by God to use my life and gifts for him." He continues, "I am looking forward to minister to people, schools and getting to know the Iron and Clay team and having the best experience I possibly can." Jarryd is now based in Sydney full-time and will feature in the groups new posters and updated website next month. He is currently performing in his first Iron and Clay tour of Brisbane and the Gold Coast until the end of the month. (Check out the Gig Guide for more details.) Iron and Clay are one of Australia's longest running Christian music ministries and are available for bookings across Australia all across the year. If you wish to enquire about a voluntary position with Iron and Clay, a dynamic, young and exciting team, please see our website www.ironandclay.com.au or call our office on (02) 9610-1454.
	14.07.04 - Crying Out Loud update. From Crying Out Loud. New album... Drums, piano, bass, guitar is all done. There are about 8 songs maybe more to do vocals for and about the same for horns. It's sounding great though. Once the piano went down we all started to get excited! The horns are sounding rad too. They are heaps non-cliché and the whole album just has this really original vibe to it. We're getting pumped. We are getting badges, trucker and new shirts done soon so they should all be in a couple of weeks. Nikki Kummerow is one of the raddest solo acoustic artists eva. Some of you may have seen her at our last show. She performed two sets she was the girly looking one with the acoustic guitar, just incase you didn't notice, so go check her and her new site our here here. Next weekend we have a double whammy with two great Sydney shows! Friday 23 we are playing at Engadine Seniors Hall with Josh Wins Again, Staying At Home, Know Exit, The Refrains and Trotting Snake. If you want to buy tickets, email emotionalpromotions@tpg.com.au or call (02) 95482738. They are $10 prepaid or $13 @ the door. Then on Sat 24 we play at the Attic in Five Dock with Best Foot Forward, Know Exit and Access Denied. We haven't played there for ages and it's one of the best punk rock line-ups the Attic has seen in a while so it should be a great show! Know Exit are all the way up from Victoria so come support those boys.
	13.07.04 - Half Way Out needs a drummer. From Half Way Out. After having thought we'd found a drummer to take up a permanent position for us, Half Way Out are once again looking for a suitable person to fill the drummer position. We are looking for someone with gigging and recording experience, their own kit and preferably their license and own transport. This person needs to be between 18 and 25ish and needs to look at this application as applying to support a ministry, not a path to superstardom. A taste for punk and ska as well as experimentation in music is obviously preferred but a variety in influences is also favoured. To apply, please email info@halfwayout.com with your name and some contact details. Hope to here from all the drummers out there real soon!
	09.07.04 - Australia's Talent Discoveries wants you. From Cindy-Leigh Boske. Can you sing or play in a band? Australia's latest talent search is on! Over $50,000 worth of prizes. Audition now. Phone Jay on 0439 722 005 or visit www.australiastalentdiscoveries.com.au. Brisbane audition venues & times: - Every Wednesday & Thursday's from 6pm @ Princess Theatre, 8 Annerley Road (opposite the Mater Hospital) Woolloongabba. - Every Saturday from 10am @ Jesus Heals International Airport Church, Hanger 3 Qantas Avenue, Archerfield Airport, Archerfield.
	03.07.04 - Final Alabaster Box tour show and live DVD recording. From Alabaster Box. Our final South East QLD show of the 'Love on the Radio Tour' is on next week in Ipswich (Fri 16 Jul). For all those who missed the Brisbane and Gold Coast shows last month, this will be your last chance to see a full Alabaster Box concert for a very long time (without driving to Perth that is). Also, something we're really excited about is the fact that we are filming the Ipswich concert for our new live DVD that will be heading overseas. So if you've always wanted to be in the movies, come along, and you might just get your face on film! We really would love to see you all there, and hang out with you one more time before we head off again. All the details you need are in the Gig Guide.
	02.07.04 - Hillsong heads for the top again. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Hillsong continues to be an 'eye-opener' for the Australian music industry. Sales of the new church album 'For All You've Done' (scheduled for release next week) are expected to take Hillsong into the ARIA album charts again confirming the growing popularity, and commercial appeal, of Christian music. In the past two years, Hillsong's 'Blessed' and 'Hope' have entered the mainstream ARIA charts ahead of Kylie Minogue, Ronan Keating and Shakira. Recorded on 29 February at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, 'For All You've Done' will be released at the Hillsong Conference on 7 July.
	02.07.04 - Faith based music boom: Christian acts hit mainstream. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Christianity is becoming remarkably adept at tapping into popular culture and attracting young people through what is termed 'Contemporary Christian Music'. Over the past five years, the genre has had a dramatic overhaul with more and more acts finding relevance in the general marketplace. One of these is US Christian rock band Switchfoot. The group already has a major presence on Nova FM in Australia. Switchfoot's breakthrough mainstream hit 'Meant To Live' is featured in the Spider-Man 2 movie soundtrack. Lead singer Jon Foreman says the goal of the song is to "get people thinking a bit more about what their priorities are and, hopefully, point them away from emptiness and closer to the Light". Switchfoot's current Christian hit 'Dare You to Move' is #24 on TRAA this week. The group's album 'The Beautiful Letdown' has sold more than a million copies in the US. We've already spoken about the impact of Sony's 'Music You Can Believe In' series in previous weeks, now several other companies are taking more than a casual interest in the genre as faith based music booms. Festival Records has released Jimmy Little's latest album 'Life's What You Make It'. The album features such gospel classics as Curtis Mayfield's classic 'People Get Ready', U2's 'One', and Elvis Costello's 'What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding'. EMI will soon release to the general market a collection of gospel classics from The Seekers. EMI already owns some of the world's most successful Christian labels. Mainstream radio, too, seems to be more open to play quality Christian music on their playlists. Simeon's 'Standing On The Mountain' - one of the most successful Aussie acts on TRAA this year - has gained a few spins on Melbourne's FOX FM, while Wishful Thinking's 'I Don't Need You' and Antiskeptic's 'Beautiful In White' are airing on Triple J, the national youth network. 2004 could be an amazing year for this music industry niche. Another Christian act gaining mainstream cred overseas is Pillar. The group's new album 'Where Do We Go From Here' sold almost 19000 units during its first week of release. 'Where Do We Go From Here' entered the Christian sales chart at #3 and Billboard's Top 200 mainstream album chart at #74. Great start! Other acts gaining the mainstream audience attention this week include Israel and the New Breed, Jeremy Camp and Sanctus Real. Each has popped up into Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart, the music industry's barometer for up-and-coming artists. Israel Houghton's album 'Live From Another Level', which features the song 'Friend of God' is @ #12, Jeremy Camp's 'Carried Me: The Worship Project' comes in @ #17, while Sanctus Real's album 'Fight The Tide' makes its debut appearance @ #38.