STRYPER To host Holy Land tour for fans in 2011
Nashville TN (via Nashville Publicity) Platinum-selling rock band Stryper announced today that they will be hosting a 10-day tour of the Holy Land February 12-21, 2011.
The once-in-a-lifetime VIP tour will be limited to 150 people. Stryper fans will be able to spend time with the band during this unique travel opportunity, with portions of the trip being filmed for an upcoming DVD. "Oz, Robert, Tim and I are excited to go to Israel and see first-hand the birthplace of Christianity," says lead vocalist/guitarist Michael Sweet. "And to be able to share this experience with some of our fans makes this even more incredible." The tour will visit the following locations in Israel:
- Caesarea: A city built by King Herod the Great
- Mount Carmel: Where the prophet Elijah defeated the false prophets of Baal
- Galilee Boat Ride: Where Jesus walked on the water
- Caesarea Philippi: Where the disciple Peter first confessed Jesus as the Messiah
- Nazareth Village: A recreation of a village at the time of Jesus
- Jordan River Baptism: An opportunity for those who wish to be baptized in the Jordan River
- Masada: Where the final Jewish revolt against the Romans took place
- The Dead Sea: A chance to float in the most therapeutic waters in the world
- Pools of Bethesda: Where Jesus healed the man who was lame for 37 years
- Garden Tomb: The place of Jesus crucifixion and Resurrection
- Yad Vashem: Memorial to the Holocaust
- Western Wall Tunnels: 60 feet below the modern city of Jerusalem
- Jerusalem: The City of God
- Mount of Olives: Where Jesus rode the donkey through the Eastern Gate
- Garden of Gethsemane: Where Jesus prayed before He was betrayed by Judas
- Western Wall: Holiest site in Judaism
The cost for this unique travel opportunity is $3,299.00 per person, which includes airfare out of Los Angeles, New York or Toronto; hotel accomodations; all buffet breakfasts and dinners; air-conditioned transportation; an English-speaking tour guide and entrance fees to all of the sites. Price is based on double-occupancy and does not include airport tax, tip fee or lunch meals. Due to limited availability, this trip will sell out quickly. Reservations can be secured for only $300. To register, please contact ari@ihtours.com or 1-877-999-8868 ext 415. For more information, please contact joe@amaral.tv or 1-877-628-2800.
2010 GMA Dove Awards Final Nominees Announced
Source: GMA
The Gospel Music Association today announced the final nominees for the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards to be handed out on April 21st at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. The Doves will be hosted this year by Bart Millard (MercyMe) and Natalie Grant.
Here are this years Nominees:
Category 1 - Song of the Year song title; writer; publisher (award to the writer and publisher)
“Born To Climb”; Jeff & Sherri Easter; Wayne Haun, Joel Lindsey; Bridge Building Music, Psalm Singer Music, Hefton Hill Music (BMI)
“By Your Side”; Tenth Avenue North; Essential Publishing
“Free To Be Me”; Francesca Battistelli; Francesca Battistelli; Word
“God Is There”; Diamond Rio; Marty Roe, Jimmy Olander, Bernie Herms; Ole, Warner Chappell, Word Music
“I Will Rise”; Chris Tomlin; Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher, Jesse Reeves; worshiptogether.com Songs, sixsteps Music, Spirit and Song.com, Vamos Publishing, Thank You Music
“Let The Waters Rise”; MIKESCHAIR; Sam Tinnesz, Mike Grayson, Ben Glover
“Revelation Song”; Phillips, Craig & Dean; Jennie Lee Riddle; Jennie Lee Riddle, Gateway Create Publishing, Integrity’s Praise Music
“Somebody Like Me”; Jason Crabb; Neil Thrasher, Michael Boggs; 2009 Sweet Summer Music, Kobalt Songs, Crosstown Uptown Music, Major Bob Music, Upsurge Music (ASCAP)
“Two Hands”; Jars of Clay; Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Stephen Mason, Matt Odmark, Jeremy Lutito, Gabe Rushchival; Dudie Music, Chigostick Music, Bridgebuilding, Pogostick Music
“Why Can’t All God’s Children Get Along”; Karen Peck & New River; Stephen Hill; Christian Taylor Music (BMI), Dingo Bat Music (BMI)
Category 3 – Male Vocalist of the Year
Jeremy Camp
Jason Crabb
Michael English
Brandon Heath
Donnie McClurkin
Smokie Norful
Bebo Norman
Mark Schultz
Category 4 – Female Vocalist of the Year
Francesca Battistelli
Karen Peck Gooch
Natalie Grant
Heather Headley
Mandisa
Dawn Michele
Laura Story
Category 5 – Group of the Year
Casting Crowns
Gaither Vocal Band
Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Crusade Choir
Jars of Clay
NEEDTOBREATHE
Skillet
Tenth Avenue North
Category 6 – Artist of the Year
Francesca Battistelli
Casting Crowns
Jason Crabb
Jars of Clay
Mary Mary
Skillet
tobyMac
Category 7 – New Artist of the Year
Crystal Aikin
Bluetree
Jonny Diaz
Kari Jobe
Revive
Sidewalk Prophets
Brian Courtney Wilson
Category 8 – Producer of the Year
Ed Cash
Ian Eskelin
Wayne Haun
Bernie Herms
Jason Ingram
Rusty Varenkamp
Read more
This Week On Cross Driven Radio: Melissa from Superchick!
This week on Cross Driven Radio, we chat with members of Superchick about Reinvention, their upcoming CD and their recent trip to Uganda with Compassion International. Since 2004, over 2000 children have been sponsored through the bands partnership with Compassion.
Camp Electric 2010
CAMP ELECTRIC 2010 “AMPS IT UP” WITH ‘ROCK THE CAMP’ NATIONAL ONLINE TALENT SEARCH LAUNCHING THIS MONTH!
TOP NEW CHRISTIAN TALENT WILL WIN MAJOR INDUSTRY EXPOSURE AND A ‘DREAM LIST’ OF OPPORTUNITIES
Source: Morningstar PR
(Nashville, Tennessee) –February 1, 2010 – Some of the biggest forces in the Christian music industry are joining together with multi-platinum artist tobyMac, to re-define the concept of “artist development.”
The creative brain-trust behind the launch of America’s premier Christian music “rock ‘n roll fantasy camp” for young musicians —Camp Electric—is this year amping up the new “ultimate” experience for undiscovered young artists hoping to shatter the glass between the known and unknown in finding success in the music industry.
Hitting the stage this month from the Camp Electric franchise is a unique new web driven talent search—“Rock The Camp”—targeted at driving an online ‘battle of the bands’ style competition for all ages with fan based voting to drive exposure and national recognition for the next potential ‘big artist’ music break-outs in the Christian music genre.
Joining the Camp Electric creators on the search are some of the most influential major industry components that fuel Christian music on the retail, radio, performance, and live event production levels. Sponsors of “Rock The Camp” include Air1 Radio, K-Love Radio, Premier Christian Cruises, Premier Productions, Gotee Records, and more.
A true believer in the concept and a musical center-piece of the newly launched competition is multi-platinum, multi-Grammy winning artist tobyMac—the self-styled musical genius and creative force in Christian music who believed so much in the Camp Electric concept that he began an on-going creative partnership with the event in 2009.
tobyMac is adding not only his formidable presence as a competition judge—but his stage—as a grand prize to the winner of the “Rock The Camp” competition. The opportunity to open for him onstage at Camp Electric 2010, July 11-15th in Nashville will be awarded to the winning entrant.
Other major prizes include a recording session with one of the industry’s top producers, Paul Ebersold, whose credits list include production of such top artists as Skillet, Third Day, 3 Doors Down, and Sister Hazel. Additionally, the “winning” experience will boast a kicked-back vacation (and performance slot) on Premier Christian Cruises’ January 2011 presentation of the annual “K-LOVE Friends & Family Music Cruise.”
Notes David Pierce of sponsoring K-LOVE and Air 1 Radio: “Rock The Camp is all about finding a new generation of musicians with a heart for God. Combine the competition with the experience of Camp Electric, and add tobyMac to the mix, and this is gonna blow up! Can’t wait to see who emerges!”
Between January 1st and February 28th artists and musicians will have the opportunity at the “Rock The Camp” website of uploading a performance video or audio file of their music for contest consideration. Beginning February 1st, the submissions will be open to fan votes in the first round of competition to identify the Top 50 new bands/artists presenting their music. Those posting their music are encouraged to aggressively “viral market” their participation through the universe of online and social networking mediums and urge their fan support bases to rally the vote.
Second round voting will begin March 1st with the Top 50 fan voted artists/bands showcased on the website for selection of the Top 10 finalists. The final ten competitors will advance to a final round judging by a panel of top industry professionals that will include tobyMac; award winning producer, Paul Ebersold; President of Gotee Records, Joey Elwood; David Pierce, Chief Creative Officer of K-LOVE and AIR 1 Radio; talent/booking executive Jeff Roberts, President of Jeff Roberts Associates.
John Sanders who helped develop the “Rock the Camp” concept, notes: “We’re convinced that the biggest new artists in Christian music are already out there on the web trying to get their music heard. It’s a new day in the music industry with the best new talent creating not only innovative new music, but innovative new ways to market themselves and build a fan base. Our vision is that encouraging a central web destination like this one to attract new talent and get it in front of key industry influencers is a major component to pumping exciting new energy into Christian music on the way to developing the super bands and artists of tomorrow.”
Those wishing to enter “Rock The Camp” are encouraged to resource additional information online at www.campelectric.com
