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


	Get your band/music news into us for listing below. Submit articles here.
	19.11.04 - Alabaster Box tours Queensland, puts love in NZ. From Alabaster Box. Well we are off again on a two week tour to Charleville, Longreach, Emerald and Mackay. We're looking forward to our trip out there again, since we had so much fun last time, but it's going to be a hot one! The past few weeks have been really great for us, we've been playing some churches here in the beautiful Queensland, so it's been good to be so close to home. All the churches here have always been so supportive of our ministry. Thanks heaps everyone, we couldn't do it without you. Also, for all our New Zealand fans, our latest album 'Love on the Radio' is now available in all good Christian bookstores or at this location. When you purchase a copy of 'Love on the Radio' at any Christian bookstore in Australia or New Zealand between now and December 25th, and send us the receipt, we'll send you either a 'Alabaster Box' or 'Main Attraction' CD (your choice of course) absolutely free.
	18.11.04 - New hardcore funk project Unified Front begins writing process. From Pete G, Unified Front. Brisbane-based Christian hardcore funk project Unified Front is finally up and running and in the practice studio writing new material as we speak. Check out our website at this location for more info. We hope to have a few mp3's ready by January for you to download.
	17.11.04 - Legends to appear at AGMF. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Three Contemporary Christian Music legends will return to Australia next year to perform at the Australian Gospel Music Festival in Toowoomba. Petra, David Meece and Chuck Girard will perform on consecutive nights as part of a "legends reunion" feature of the festival. Petra will include lead singer John Schlitt and the band's founder Bob Hartman. AGMF Festival Co-ordinator Isaac Moody says Petra is the world's most famous and enduring Christian rock band. "They have been around longer than U2, sold millions of albums worldwide, and won countless awards," he says. The Australian Gospel Music Festival launches online at www.agmf.com.au this Friday. AGMF 05 will be held on the Easter weekend 25-27 March 2005.
	17.11.04 - Sonfest late night rave. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. US hip hop act Grits will turn a few heads and slam out some of their most assertive club-banging tracks yet at Sonfest 05. Over the past few years, the duo has shared the stage with OutKast, Jay-Z, Nappy Roots, Ice Cube, DJ Shadow, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Goodie Mob, and Monica. And for those ready for some "bobbin' and bouncing", Grits will perform on Sonfest's main stage on Friday night and host a late night rave on Saturday night delivering a double dose of positive party music. Catch Sonfest 05 at Boonah, 20-22 January 2005.
	17.11.04 - Finalists announced for 'Angels'. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Canberra's National Gospel Happening (NGH) today announced finalists for the key awards at the Australian Gospel Music Awards which will be held at the National Gallery on 27 November 2004. Affectionately known as the 'Angels', the awards span the musical spectrum from worship to hip hop, rock, country and sacred with many more styles in between. Best Independent Gospel Artist Award -Alabaster Box -Christian City Church Oxford Falls -CCC Youth -Hillsong Church -Nathan Tasker Best New Gospel Artist Award -Aliki (Signs of Grace), -Hey Jeronimo (Rough Seas) -Rookie (Peach Pit Politics) -Sounds Like Chicken (Like a Cannonball to the Ocean Floor) Outstanding Gospel Music Award -Francine Bell - The Highway -Sean Hale - Joy In My Soul -Wendy Hargraves - Rebuild Your Temple -Sam Hatch & Josh Brown - There's Hope -Glen Spencer - How Great You Are Outstanding Gospel Lyrics Award -Francine Bell - I Believe -Gavin Chatelier - Rainbow Promise -Trina McDougall - Calvary -Sam Hatch & Josh Brown - There's Hope -Glen Spencer - How Great You Best Gospel Song Award -Francine Bell - I Believe -Gavin Chatelier - Rainbow Promise -Wendy Hargraves - Rebuild Your Temple -Sam Hatch & Josh Brown - There's Hope -Glen Spencer - How Great You Are The Australian Gospel Music Awards are presented annually at the National Gospel Happening music and arts festival held in Canberra 21-28 November 2004.
	17.11.04 - Third Day, Rookie and Shawn McDonald head to Tassie. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Tasmania's Factory Festival 2005 promises to be "one of the best yet" according to organisers. Third Day, Shawn McDonald, and Queensland band Rookie will be among the highlights of the one-day event scheduled for Launceston's Silverdome on 23 January 2005. Shawn's song 'Gravity' is currently the most played song on Christian radio in Australia. Local bands looking for their chance on the same bill should apply by 26 November.
	17.11.04 - MusicOz announces finalists. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. MusicOz, the country's premier songwriting awards for unsigned artists, has just announced the finalists for their awards in December. In the Christian category, Roma Waterman, Andy James Court, Soulframe and Michael Paynter are among the ten finalists. While many are expecting Roma's song 'I Was Carried' to win, primarily because of its huge exposure in this country, a lesser known song written by Perth songwriter Andy James Court pipped Waterman for the gospel award in the UK Songwriting Competition earlier this year. So I guess we'll have to wait until 4 December to see who takes out the award.
	15.11.04 - Aliki nominated for prestigious AGM award. From Aliki. Aliki has been announced as an Australian Gospel Music Awards 2004 Best New Artist Finalist. This follows the success of her debut album 'Signs of Grace'. Aliki is on permanent tour with an itinerary in 2005 through NSW, QLD, WA and SA. This December she teams with producer Phil Slade and an array of top Australian players to finish her second album at the popular Mangrove Studios north of Sydney. Catch ministry with Aliki at www.aliki.com.au.
	12.11.04 - Brooke Fraser to play in Brisbane. From Sony Australia. Don't miss Brooke Fraser's debut Australian tour celebrating her album 'What to do with Daylight'. She's playing at The Rev, Fortitude Valley, 7th December! Don't miss out! Bookings @ www.ticketsolutions.com.au or see www.brookefraser.com for more info!
	10.11.04 - 3 days until Soulframe album launch - book your tix now! From Soulframe. Don't miss Soulframe with guests SCAT and Rookie for the official launch of 'Escaping Entropy'. This Saturday 13th November from 6:30pm @ The Tivoli, 52 Costin Street, The Valley, Brisbane. Prebook your tickets at www.soulframe.com (or one of the stores below) and save $5 off the door price. Don't miss out.... book your tix now @ www.soulframe.com, Rockinghorse (Brisbane), Skinny's (Brisbane), Atlantis Music (Gold Coast), Ipswich Christian Books (Ipswich), Koorong (Brisbane), Word (Brisbane and Gold Coast).
	08.11.04 - Sonfest: The countdown begins. From Sonfest. The bands schedules are being put together right now. A huge thanks to all those bands that submitted an application this year - it was the most we have ever had! The schedules will be available on the website from Monday 8th November. So if you want to plan your days already or see where your band fits in to the days events check it out @ www.sonfest.com. Tickets are on sale now at all Koorong Stores. If you buy your ticket before Christmas you will receive Third Day's 'Come Together' CD for FREE! More ticket info is on the website. If the Third Day tour is any indication on what Sonfest is going to be like then be prepared for the biggest Sonfest crowd ever! The Third Day tour has already sold out shows in Sydney and Melbourne. There are however tickets available for second shows in these cities and also a show in Adelaide. www.thirddaytour.com has all the info you need. Sonfest are please to announce that Day of Fire will be performing twice at Sonfest 2005 - that's right twice. Why? Because we know that after you see them once you will want more!! In addition to their slot on Main Stage on Saturday night (alongside Jeff Deyo, Shawn McDonald & Third Day) you will be able to catch Day of Fire playing the brand-new-in-2005 Showcase Stage at 5:15pm on the Friday of Sonfest! Sonfest Insiders (SI). What exactly is a Sonfest Insider you ask? Well... a Sonfest Insider is responsible for generating anticipation and enthusiasm about Sonfest in their local church, youth group or area. The aim is to generate as much excitement about Sonfest as possible by ensuring that the "word is on the street". For more on how to be a SI and the rewards that are available go to this location. Our website is constantly being updated with new great information, including band spot lights, schedules and what is going to happen at Sonfest. Oh and don’t forget the Sonfest forum - Tech Monkey has broken the 1000 post mark. The 'Sonfest Prayer Network' is up and running on the forum. We would encourage you to check it out each day for a new prayer point. There are so many things that need to come together to make Sonfest work, we thank you for all of your prayer support.
	04.11.04 - Void If Removed enters Woodstock 2005 Rock Challenge & exits Sonfest. From Void If Removed. The Woodstock Directors are considering the likes of John Butler Trio, Jimmy Barnes, Missy Higgins, Killing Heidi, Brian Cad, Rose Tattoo, Russell Morris and Casey Chambers. Come down to the Buderim Tavern, 10th Dec at 9:40pm to cheer Void If Removed. Buy tix from Void If Removed for $5 or $10 at door. Also Jael is in our heat at 7pm and Coma at Caboolture Tavern on Thursday 9th December at 9:20pm. Also if you haven't heard yet, Void If Removed will not be playing at Sonfest 05. They will endeavour to return in 2006.
	03.11.04 - Citrus member featured on cigar box guitar compilation. From Citrus Music & Productions. Tim Bower, fretless acoustic bassist for the innovative Christian three-piece Citrus, has been included on the recently released 'Masters of the Cigar Box Guitar'. The CD, featuring an international line-up of musicians, includes 24 songs played on home-made cigar box guitars. Tim contributed two songs to the project, including one original, 'Tone to Salve My Soul'. "It's an honour to be included alongside artists such as Beans Hambone, Chris Ballew from the Presidents of the USA, and Shane Speal from Jug Fusion!" More information about the compilation can be found at this location, or contact Tim via citrus@tpg.com.au.
	01.11.04 - Paul Colman's solo tour dates announced. From Wes Jay, The Rock Across Australia. Paul Colman will tour Australia and New Zealand next February. The tour will take in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Launceston, Townsville, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba, as well as Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. The tour coincides with the release of Paul's solo album for Inpop Records plus an independent project produced especially for the tour. The tour is presented by Christian Blind Mission International. SEQld tour dates and venues are... Thu 24 Feb 2005 / Paul Colman @ Maroochy Baptist Church, Sunshine Coast. Fri 25 Feb 2005 / Paul Colman @ Springstreet Christian Church, Toowoomba. Sat 26 Feb 2005 / Paul Colman @ Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Brisbane.