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


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	29.09.04 - Jive Express members now Outfit Faux. From Outfit Faux. Members of the Jive Express have recently formed a new band playing a whole new repertoire under the name Outfit Faux. Performing since June the band has already won a statewide competition and plans to release a single nationally before the end of the year. Keep your eyes on www.outfitfaux.com for further developments.
	29.09.04 - Alabaster Box heads to New Zealand & free CD offer. From Alabaster Box. The 'Love on the Radio Tour' is about to leave Australia for the first time. Tomorrow we're off to New Zealand for a 10 day run through the North Island. We begin in Auckland on October 1 and will finish the tour off in Wellington on October 10. Check out www.alabasterbox.com for more details. There are rumours that our arch-cricket-enemies, The Lads, are keen to regain some pride during a brief lunch session in Wellington. We'll keep you posted. We're pleased to announce that if you buy a 'Love on the Radio' album from any Christian Bookstore around the world, and send us a copy of the receipt, you will be sent a free copy of either 'Main Attraction' or our self-titled debut 'Alabaster Box'. The beautiful people at Storm Distribution have agreed to not only provide the CDs free of charge, but will also send it at no cost. Why wouldn't you do it? Please send your receipt, a return address and the name of the free album that you'd like to: Storm Distribution, PO Box 3854, Robina Town Centre QLD 4230, Australia. If you're over 18, remember to make your vote count on October 9 - Federal Election 2004. We'll be voting in the Australian Consulate in Wellington. We encourage you to make a prayerful decision. An interesting interview with Naarah is featured on www.godslittlerocker.com this month. Be warned blokes... this site is very pink. Our new single 'There's Hope' is currently the most played song on Christian Radio in Australia, and Alabaster Box is the second most played artist according to The Rock Across Australia charts. Thanks to all of you who request the song for us.
	29.09.04 - 'The Princess' is alive and rocking. From Live at the Princess. This Friday night is going to be another great evening of music and vibe. We have the best in Christian musicians offering you superb night time entertainment and interaction. Live at the Princess continues to grow beyond our expectations and we thank you and our sponsors for the support. Needless to say that not only is Live at the Princess a great time, but also a great place to bring friends who want to experience Christian music and be exposed to a nightclub like no other. Here are our bands for Friday night. We look forward to seeing you! Cavendish are five lads who take life far too seriously. They're intense about their music, so much so, it's stupidly dangerous for them and others around them. It forges some great rock though. So if you're game, take a risk. Mayday Capsize are a new band from Brisvegas, that can be loosely defined as 'indie-rock'. Stylistically, their music builds from quiet, twinkling, guitar melodies to layers of controlled feedback. Their music and lyrics attempt to capture themes like faith, hope and grace, with intensity and honesty. Half Way Out are a six piece ska outfit. They have a great stage show with loads of energy bursting forth in their antics. But don't be fooled into categorizing them too neatly, these guys like to throw a bit of everything into their music and have a wide musical diversity. The band itself consists of guitar, bass, drums, trombone, sax, trumpet, and a three part vocal group. If you asked them, Half Way Out would tell you that their target audience is the teen's to twenty somethings, but their music is greatly appreciated my mums and dads, grandparents, preschoolers and toddlers. This band is definitely worth a listen.
	28.09.04 - Soulframe album launch - tix on sale now! From Soulframe. It's coming! Soulframe's brand new album 'Escaping Entropy' is on its way and the November 13th launch is shaping up to be huge! We are very pleased to announce that Soulframe will be joined on the night by two of Brisbane's finest - SCAT and Rookie. These guys are unbelievably good and we're excited to have them on board. This is guaranteed to be one night that you will not want to miss! 3 things you can do: 1) Get your tickets now. Purchase your tickets online at www.soulframe.com or at the Tivoli. Save $5 on ticket price by booking in advance (tickets $15 pre-booked or $20 at the door). Seats are limited, so book now to make sure you get one! 2) Tell your friends and win cool stuff! Bring 9 friends with you to the launch and you'll win a copy of the new album. But wait... there's more... Perhaps that's not enough of a challenge? Are you exceedingly popular, or perhaps always thought you'd make a great salesperson? Be the person to sell the most tix, and you'll take home a Creative MP3 player + a signed copy of the new album + a Soulframe poster + a Soulframe t-shirt. 3) Help us to help you... to help us? We've got fliers and posters ready to go. If you'd like some, just shoot us an email (promotions@soulframe.com), tell us how many and include a mailing address and we'll send some your way pronto! Stay tuned for more details as the album and the launch get closer, but do not delay in ordering your tickets - this thing is gonna sell out and it just wouldn't be right to miss it!
	27.09.04 - Andrew Finden's "interesting (singing?) journey". By Royce Perkins. "It's going to be an interesting journey, but I am going to have to rely on God, because He knows what the future holds. Even if it is not singing, which would be hard, I have to trust Him and look forward to it." That's the quietly, but firmly, expressed view of up-and-coming baritone, Andrew Finden, who will turn 21 in November. He has just won the Joyce Campbell Lloyd Scholarship for overseas study which will provide for three or four months private tuition with singing teachers in London, probably at the end of 2005. Andrew was a finalist in the Noosa Federation for the Arts Dame Joan Sutherland Awards earlier this year, and last year won the Delith Brook Award for best undergraduate vocalist, as well as the University of Southern Queensland's performance singing award. His self-directed project for USQ involved setting to music and presenting four poems by the 17th century poet George Herbert - acclaimed with a grade A. Born in Warwick on Queensland's Darling Downs, Andrew completed a USQ Bachelor of Music degree last year, and is now completing an Honours year majoring in vocal performance. He has been Ben in The Telephone, a one-act comic opera; Adam in Haydn's Creation with the Toowoomba Philharmonic Society; Escamillei the Toreador in Carmen; and Le Porello in Don Giovanni, as well as singing Vaughan Williams' Five Mystical Songs as soloist with the USQ Chorale, and is in demand for Christian and community events, church services and concerts. Mind you, singing isn't his only musical accomplishment - he plays keyboard, guitar and violin, and is actively involved in the life of Toowoomba Community Baptist Church through occasional service leading, singing, and playing keyboard or guitar in one of the church's music teams. He has also written several congregation songs that have been premiered at church. "My Christian faith is the central thing in my life," he affirms. "Everything revolves around that. My Thursday night home group is important and a great encouragement. We get stuck into deep issues. And I always look forward to the Young Guys Brekkie at the church on Wednesday mornings at 7 a.m. It's a discipleship time for Grade 10 plus - up to 20 turn up. Right now we're looking at the book of Daniel. And there's the bacon and eggs and things too!" What happens after London? "I don't know, but God does. I need to be a good steward and develop the gifts He has given me." How much time do you tra-la-la each day? "Not enough! But I do that every day for at least an hour. A singer's instrument is a delicate piece of tissue and, unlike a piano; we can't 'play' it for hours on end every day. As well as singing, there is chunnering - mulling over the music and mentally singing it, researching the characters [for operas] and a lot of memorising." Some Christians may question your involvement in operas, I suggested. "To be a Christian in opera and play, for example, a character who does things I wouldn't do means separating yourself from the character. The stage is a canvas. An artist may paint a picture of, say, the holocaust - he's not condoning it, he's presenting it. Remember, I am not on stage as me but as the character." Andrew is not quite sure where he will be or what he will be doing for the first nine months of next year. But he is quite certain of one thing: "The Lord calls us to be salt and light wherever He places us. So yes, it's going to be an interesting journey!"
	26.09.04 - American Gospel Music Awards begins 2005 season. From American Gospel Music Awards. The AGMA is accepting entries for Christian/Gospel artists for the 2005 awards ceremonies. The AGMA honors professional, low or no selling, independent or signed artists in the styles of soloists, traditional and contemporary groups, international artists, jazz, rock, plays, comedy, choirs, dance, spoken word, rap/hip hop, radio announcers, song writers, internet sites, and TV programming. The mission of the AGMA is bring more exposure to the "faith-based" artist. Artists may come from anywhere on the globe. Visit the website for entry details. Awards ceremony is tentatively scheduled for May 2005. Last year's Jazz Artist of the Year was Australia's SCAT.
	24.09.04 - Three more towns tune in to a new Vision. From UCB Australia. Residents in three more Australian towns can now tune into Christian radio. Vision Radio Network has launched new relay stations in the Western Australian towns of Mukinbudin and Paraburdoo and the Victorian city of Wangaratta in the past month, thanks to donations from local supporters and other people throughout Australia. Vision 88.0 FM Mukinbudin was one of 66 relay stations sponsored during Vision Radio Network's annual 'Dream With Us' Visionathon radio appeal in June. That appeal also helped raise the final amount of money needed to bring Vision 87.8 FM Wangaratta on air. Nearly 750 people pledged more than AU$280,000 during Visionathon, which aimed to raise money for towns where the radio network has licences that were not yet on air. On average, it costs about AU$5000 to bring a relay station on air. New Mukinbudin listeners Brad and Rachel Middleton first heard Vision’s mix of music, teaching and interviews in Mt Barker, WA, and before their local relay station came on air, tuned in via the internet or when visiting nearby Merredin, which has had Vision FM since June 2003. They say a big thanks is due to all those who gave money during Visionathon so that Mukinbudin could receive Vision. In Wangaratta, Lee Keenan is enjoying tuning in to Vision through a radio - like the Middletons, he also used to listen via the internet. He says the new radio service will be especially good for families in the city. "It will provide great inspiration." Paraburdoo listeners can tune in to Vision on 88.0 FM. A non-denominational, non-profit network, Vision is owned and operated by UCB Australia (United Christian Broadcasters). Nearly six years after it first started broadcasting on one frequency, it has 185 relay stations nationwide. All receive Vision’s family-friendly programming mix of about 65% music and 35% talk 24 hours a day, seven days a week from its broadcast operations centre in Brisbane, Queensland. You can also tune in via the internet, at www.visionfm.com.au.
	23.09.04 - Light Of Love in Brisbane. From Australian Gospel Music Festival. The surprise artist at AGMF 04 was American gospel group Light Of Love. With thousands enjoying their infectious grooves they delivered one of the most memorably performance in AGMF's history. Light Of Love will return to AGMF 05 as a headline act... but the good news is that you don't have to wait until next year to see them again! Light Of Love will be in Brisbane next Tuesday, 28th September, 7.30pm @ Garden City Christian Church, Mt Gravatt. Full details in the Gig Guide.
	22.09.04 - Switchfoot rocks Melbourne. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. About 650 people experienced a full blown rock show from Switchfoot at the Mercury Lounge in Melbourne this week. The band proved it was a legitimate mainstream rock act commanding strong audience participation throughout the set. The show was a mix of old songs like 'New Way to Be Human', current hit 'This Is Your Life' plus a couple of new songs including 'Happy Is A Yuppie Word'. The crowd erupted when they sang 'Meant To Live'. It is always difficult for Christian acts to crossover to the mainstream. But Switchfoot seems to have what it takes to communicate to a broad audience, and satisfy an often too critical Christian fan base that's quick to criticise. Switchfoot is an act holding true to its ideals and aims. I look forward to seeing them again next year for a more extensive Australian tour.
	22.09.04 - YouthAlive wins Song of the Year award. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. After a six-year break from recording, the WA YouthAlive team has won a prestigious music industry award for the song 'Take Over'. YA singer-songwriter Chad Blondel won the Song of the Year in the gospel category of the West Australian Music Industry (WAM) awards. Blondel says he penned the rock anthem as a "farewell tribute" to his year 12 classmates a couple of years ago. "I wanted to share my faith with my mates one last time in a really relevant way - so I wrote a rock song with God-focused lyrics," Chad says. "Now, we're hearing reports from around the world of how God is using the song to touch hearts." 'Take Over' is featured on WA YouthAlive's 'Rescue' EP. WAM is one of Australia's premier songwriting contest.
	17.09.04 - Wishful Thinking and Sounds Like Chicken to release new CDs in October. From Boomtown Records. It's coming to release time and we're excited to announce that both Wishful Thinking and Sounds Like Chicken will be releasing albums this October. Both albums hit stores on Monday 18th October nationwide, distributed by the good people at MGM. After a large east coast tour earlier this year with Draw The Line, then a substantial break, Wishful Thinking come back strong with their second album. This release delivers nothing but success. With strong production values and clever song writing, the band have not just written the same record again but expanded on what they started with. Their new album 'Kicking Goals, Banging Gongs and High Fives All Round' will be in-stores Monday 18th October through MGM. Sounds like Chicken don't know the meaning of slowing down. With a busy year on the stage, the band has not stopped impressing, playing shows big and small in places far and wide. Sharing the stage with bands such as Reel Big Fish (USA), The Mad Caddies (USA), Killing Heidi, Gyroscope and Area 7, Sounds like Chicken prove that they are a band to be watched! Their debut album 'Like A Cannonball To The Ocean Floor' will be in-stores Monday 18th October through MGM. To celebrate these two great releases both bands have decided to hit the road together for a few shows in October. Check out the dates at www.wishfulthinking.com.au or www.soundslikechicken.com.au.
	17.09.04 - Recording completed for 6across. From 6across. The members of 6across have finished recording their as yet untitled debut CD and are currently applying the finishing touches to the 11 original folk rock songs. The band are extremely happy with how things are going so far and are looking forward to releasing the CD before the end of the year, probably sometime November. This will be welcome relief to all the people who have requested CDs at their gigs but have not yet been able to take the band home with them. To pre-order a CD, or just to be kept informed about the CD's release, e-mail cd@6across.com along with your name and contact details.
	16.09.04 - Ex-pc3 bassist forms Roads 2 Rome. From 6across. Grant Norsworthy (ex-pc3) and American singer songwriter Mike Musick have formed a new pop-rock band called Roads 2 Rome. Grant is well known in Australia for his work as the bassist with the "legendary" Paul Colman Trio. Mike cut his teeth fronting Chicago based band Liquid Fire before moving on as a solo artist releasing 2002's 'This Town' produced by Mitch Dane of Jars of Clay fame. See more at www.mikemusick.com. Since Roads 2 Rome formed a few weeks ago, it has performed at Ireland's Tara Festival with America's LA Symphony, France's Coco Mbassi, Canada's Downhere, plus Britain's Andy Hunter. Besides the band project, Grant has kept busy performing in Todd Agnew's band, recording and performing with mainstream act Caitlin Evanson, plus playing bass on Bebo Norman's latest CD. Road 2 Rome's draft website features several premixed demo mp3s. 'Always You' is worth a serious listen. Details: www.roads2rome.com.
	16.09.04 - Light of Love in concert. From CWMedia. CWMedia presents Chicago's Light of Love in concert with special guests Angie "Soul Mama" Narayan and Scat. Performing at Mt Gravatt's Garden City Christian Church on Tuesday 28th September 2004 @ 7.30pm, Light of Love deliver an electrifying, high energy performance which will leave you wanting more. Touring down-under with their awesome band, this concert will feature some of the best musicianship you’ll hear this year. Their performances at the Australian Gospel Music Festival were packed out, with thousands enjoying their infectious grooves. Light of Love have received critical acclaim during their recent concerts in Sweden, Germany, Norway, and Italy. They have supported a veritable "Who's who" of Gospel greats including Andre Crouch, Albertina Walker, Shirley Caesar, Jessy Dixon and Stellar Award Male Vocalist of the Year, Donnie McClurkin. The Caravans, Bobby McFerrin, pop-artist George Michael and Toto have also been blessed by their accompaniment. Through the years of singing Light of Love have learned that songs have a message. The message of love is important and is clearly expressed in their music. Covering extraordinary stylistic ground, yet retaining the positive message of God’s love, it is evident through their polished professional presentation that they take their music seriously. These dynamic vocalists are willing to take the artistic dare by incorporating traditional Gospel into non-traditional elements of Jazz, Hip-Hop, and R&B. If you have never been to a Gospel concert then it’s time you gave it a go! Light of Love are also leading a workshop at the same venue from 6pm. If you want to hone up your vocal and musical skills don’t miss this opportunity to learn from some incredibly talented singers and musicians. The sisters and their band will share practical music skills, insight into how they work together and keep their performance energy levels so high, as well as sharing the philosophy of what they do. Concert tickets are - adults $20, students $15, children $10. Pre-booked tickets will have access to reserved seating at the front of the venue. Workshop tickets are $15 for everyone, but only $10 if purchased together with a concert ticket. For more info and to book tickets - 0410 692 987, 07 3343 8242 or www.cwmedia.net.
	16.09.04 - Heading for the stump. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. More than 5000 people will head to the Black Stump Christian festival early next month. The festival program presents Christian music, the performing arts and teaching. The line-up for Black Stump 2004 includes Nathan Tasker and band, Rookie, Soulframe, Katie de Veau, Revive, Justin Michael, Anna Larsen and Blind. Speakers include Tony Campolo and Cath McKinney. Black Stump will be held 1-4 October. The festival is held at Cataract Park, Baden Powell Drive (off Appin Rd) near Appin, between Wollongong and Campbelltown. Details: www.blackstump.org.au.
	16.09.04 - Christian wins Indonesian Idol. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. A 24-year-old Christian woman has been named the first Indonesian Idol. Joy Tobing, a student at the Christian University of Indonesia's School of English Literature recently won the title before 7000 fans at Jakarta's Istora Indoor Stadium. According to the Jakarta Post, the singer won a majority of the four million votes cast in the competition. Delon Thamrin, also a Christian, was runner up. Joy is expected to be given the opportunity to perform in World Idol later this year. Indonesian Idol is based on the American Idol phenomenon that is sweeping the world including Australia.
	16.09.04 - SMS. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Australian Michelle Tumes is collaborating with Susan Ashton and Christine Dente to record a new worship album titled 'Kisses From Heaven: Streams Of Worship'. The album is a mix of worship standards and new material. CeCe Winans has cancelled her 'Throne Room Tour'. CeCe recently fell ill and was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. The nature of the operation has not been released. Doctors have predicted a "long recovery period". CeCe is still scheduled to appear at Hillsong 2005. Parachute Festival will announce the key acts for Parachute 05 on the festival website next week. Knox Shopping Centre in Melbourne's East is presenting a Battle of the Bands on 22-24 October. Melbourne's Youth For Christ is involved in managing the event. Christian bands that would like to participate should contact Graham Rebbeck at Youth For Christ on 03 9877 3844 or e-mail marketing.mel@yfc.org.au. Jason Wade (Lifehouse) sings on the title cut of Steven Curtis Chapman's latest album 'All Things New'. MercyMe's current hit single 'Here With Me' has broken into the Top 10 of mainstream adult contemporary (AC) Radio in America this week. This song is the follow up to their mega-hit 'I Can Only Imagine'. 'Here With Me' is #1 on TRAA this week.
	15.09.04 - Third Day and more @ Sonfest 2005. From Sonfest. It is official, Third Day are coming to Sonfest. They are described as the biggest Christian band in the world and the return of Third Day to the Sonfest stage is the biggest news of the year. Third Day first came to Sonfest nearly 4 years ago and have unable to return to Australia until now! A lot has happened since their Sonfest 2001 appearance including, gold and platinum albums, Grammy and Dove awards and three new CDs, including their latest, 'Wire'. See Third Day live on Saturday night Jan 22nd - main stage of course. Audio Adrenaline return. Australia is AAs favourite place in the world! They love to come back. They are a favourite of the Sonfest crowd as they rock hard and present their uncompromising message of Jesus Christ. Take a deep breath and get ready to hear AA's classic rock songs loud and large! AA appears on main stage Thursday 20th. Bring me the funk bro. When the votes were added up we took notice. Next year Sonfest bring R&B to main stage with USA act Grits. The guys are bringing their DJ and hype guy and it will slam. They are the coolest and funkiest band on the block and we just had to get them to Sonfest. You will see Grits on main stage Friday 21st. Brisbane's own. They were the first band to ever play on the Sonfest main stage... now 5 years later they are considered one of Australia's most popular Christian bands. Brisbane band Rookie has developed into a great pop punk act that has a following right across the country. The Rookie boys, who will tour Australia with Third day and AA after Sonfest, will play on Thursday before AA and will make the opening night one to remember. New band to blow your mind. With all the bands in the world today why would Sonfest book a USA band that hasn't even released a record yet? Well we met them, we heard them, we booked them... have a look at www.dayoffire.com and watch the video. Day of Fire will release their debut album in November. Gravity is everywhere, especially on the radio. If you listen to a lot of Christian radio you may have started to hear a great song called 'Gravity'. Well now you will hear it live too. Singer songwriter Shawn McDonald is coming to Sonfest. Sonic Flood lead singer brings the power worship. His name is Jeff Deyo and he was the front man of Sonic Flood and responsible for the bands only gold record. Jeff is bringing his full band to Australia and will start Saturday night with a strong and moving show. He will surprise a lot of people. Not Just for the Kiwis. They are a Sonfest favourite and they are bringing some mates. The Lads will return to Sonfest to entertain the masses and their Kiwi counterparts Magnify will join them. Magnify are a relatively new band on the block but combine there Creed power rock with great melodies and a hint of worship. Sonfest is always on the lookout for some fresh talent that really hits the spot. You will see Magnify and the Lads play on Friday night. Two more Brissy bands get a promotion. We are always keen to give a helping hand to local bands and giving them the opportunity to share main stage with the big US bands is a real buzz. This year two bands have really stepped up to the plate and may even teach our USA friends a trick or two. Juxtapose and Blind will complete this year’s main stage line up and add that rock'n'roll edge that we love. Along with Rookie these guys are the cream of the Brissy bands and their main stage performances will remind us that we are a proud nation and talented too. Well that is the main stage run down. We will have more info coming through to you soon so stay tuned. In the meantime find all the information you want at www.sonfest.com and for our interstate friends who may want to see Third Day locally check out www.thirddaytour.com. Tickets are on sale right now for both Sonfest and the Third Day tour. In fact the Sydney show has sold out! Be quick to get your tickets for the Melbourne (only 500 tickets left) and Adelaide shows - tickets are going fast.
	13.09.04 - IRON&CLAY: Start planning for 2005. Andre Afamasaga, Public Relations, IRON&CLAY. IRON&CLAY has been used in a mighty way by God this year, especially in school ministry. Keep checking out our website www.ironandclay.com.au, where you will find our message board with feedback from the students of schools that IRON&CLAY have ministered. We have received keen interest from many churches for bookings for 2005 and for this we feel blessed and excited. Take up the opportunity to sow into a ministry that is touching the youth of our nation and book IRON&CLAY in your church or school sometime throughout 2005. You won’t regret it! Enquire about a Schools Information. Our current line-up is one of our best in many years. They are gifted in music ministry, but also servants and committed Christians. Look out for a totally new look on our posters and CDs for IRON&CLAY come October - different to anything we have ever done. Shahde's debut solo album will be available from October onwards and the new IRON&CLAY album shortly after. Dates for the Brisbane & Gold Coast areas are now available. We also gladly welcome enquires from other QLD areas. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible so that 2005 can be successfully planned for both your church, school and IRON+CLAY. Contact Andre on 02 9610 1454, 0425 358 319 (b/h) or 0404 664 291 (a/h).
	13.09.04 - Blind close the curtains. From ACAN. After five years of performing their songs and moving the hearts and souls of audiences, Blind have decided to call it a day. Blind's last Sydney all-ages show will be at the Cornerstone Café in Newtown October 16 and will be broadcast live on 103.2 FM. A huge all-ages gig in Wollongong is promised in November along with a new CD 'A Song Before We Sleep'. More details at www.blindband.com.
	13.09.04 - A picture of Rhinosaur in your mind. From ACAN. After six years of rocking over-the-top performances as Jonah and some line up changes along the way, the time came for serious change and serious recording. For this task Rhinosaur, called on the expertise of Phil Gaudion (ex-Paul Colman Trio) to record, engineer and co-produce their debut album 'A Picture Of You In My Mind'. For this task the four players from Ballarat Victoria, with their experience in music of different genres and styles, have put together an album that infuses their love for intense rock with some surprisingly delicate moments. Rhinosaur take you on a journey as you listen to each individual track with it's own sound. They lift you up into the intense highs of loud fast rock grooves with screaming synth samples and drop you down into sparse, delicate, sometimes acoustic driven melodies as you ride through this album. To coincide with the release of 'A Picture Of You In My Mind' Rhinosaur have self-organized and self-funded a tour of Victoria, and will be appearing in Ballarat, Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool before heading up to Canberra and the Black Stump Music Festival in NSW. Check out www.rhinosaur.com.au for full details.
	10.09.04 - Steve Grace takes a break. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. After 16 years of relentless touring, Steve Grace is taking a break. Steve is one of a handful of local artists that has been able to sustain a full time music ministry based in Australia over many years. He's best known for songs like 'Children of the Western World', 'Liberty Road', 'Song for Kerrie', 'Great Southland', 'Vision for the World and Follow'. Steve's pioneering work touring Australian country towns has opened the door for many artists to develop their ministry and craft, as well as provided hope and encouragement to the millions of people who have attended his concerts. Now the 'wonder Down Under' (as he was once described) is taking time out to "seek the Lord for new strategies for the future". Announcing the news on his website, Steve says: "It is a huge step of faith to stop, but we have a very strong conviction that God will honor the time and provide all our needs. Please pray with us as we seek to expand our ministry for the glory of God." No one knows what lies ahead for Steve and his family, but you can be sure that Steve's 'pioneer spirit' will find relevant ways to present His message. And in the coming weeks, Steve may get the opportunity to finish a couple of books that he's been writing including stories from his years touring Australian country towns.
	10.09.04 - Nathan Tasker goes Face to Face on Channel 10. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Appearances for Christian artists on national television are rare in Australia. So when one of Australia's most promising Christian singer songwriters appears on Face to Face you know it is an amazing opportunity. Nathan Tasker talks about his musical journey and some of life's jolts with TV host Karl Faase on Channel 10's Face to Face, Wednesday 22 September at 11:45 PM. And, if you haven't seen Nathan in concert yet and you live in Sydney, FM103.2 presents Nathan Tasker live at North Shore Christian Centre Chatswood 7pm on Saturday 23 October. Tickets available from Koorong.
	10.09.04 - Songwriting success for an Aussie, a Kiwi and a Kenyan living in Australia. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. An Aussie, a Kiwi, and a Kenyan living in Australia have achieved success in the UK Songwriting Contest. Perth singer-songwriter Andy James Court has won the Christian/Gospel category with a six year old song 'Two's Company', and Kenyan Sharon Wang'ondu (a law and politics student living in Perth) has won runner up with 'Love You More'. New Zealander Alex Smart has won runner up in pop category for her song 'Talk'. The UK Songwriting Contest is reportedly one of the world's major competitions for songwriters.
	10.09.04 - David Meece tours Australia and New Zealand next year. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. David Meece returns to Australia and New Zealand next April. Churches and individuals interested in inviting David to present a concert should contact Alan Kennedy at Kennedy International: alan@kennedyint.com.au. David is not available for performances in Queensland.
	10.09.04 - Brooke Fraser gets the nod. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. New Zealand's Brooke Fraser has scored six nominations in the Vodafone 2004 NZ Music Awards. The soulful singer dominates the nominees with nods for Vodafone People's Choice Award, Best Female Artist, Export Gold Breakthrough Artist of the Year, PlayStation® 2 Album of the Year ('What To Do With Daylight'), Single of the Year ('Lifeline') and Songwriter of the Year ('Lifeline'). As you might expect, Brooke is pretty chuffed about the recognition from her fans, peers and the industry. "To be nominated at all, let alone six times, is a great honor for me," Brooke says. "Knowing that your songs are making an impact in the public arena is a wonderful thing, but to be acknowledged by your peers is an entirely different kind of great feeling," she adds. Earlier this year, Brooke toured with John Mayer. Sony Music Australia and Integrity Media will release her album 'What To Do With Daylight' on 4 October. The 39th Annual Vodafone NZ Music Awards 2004 will be held in Auckland on 22 September.