You could say that Sara Watkins’ solo debut has been a lifetime in the making. The 27-year-old singer-songwriter and fiddle player spent nearly two decades—all of her teenage and young adult life—as one-third of Nickel Creek, the Grammy Award–winning acoustic trio that used contemporary bluegrass as a starting point for its no-genre-barred sound. Along the way, she’s hinted at her desire to do a project of her own and even organized some exploratory sessions in Los Angeles about six years ago. Now, with Nickel Creek on indefinite hiatus, she is releasing her self-titled solo disc, recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville and produced by former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones.
Janette Oke’s heartwarming series Love Comes Softly continues in this latest inspiring chapter starring Cloris Leachman, Patrick Duffy, Lou Diamond Phillips and Haylie Duff! Still as feisty as ever, Belinda Simpson is now a doctor in a small Missouri town where an unknown plague is spreading fear and resentment among the townspeople. One local resident thinks the illness was spread from the town orphanage and wants to see it shut down. Belinda struggles to make sense of the disease and God’s plan for the beleaguered town. But with the support of Lee Owens, the town’s handsome young blacksmith and her best friend, Belinda learns that if she can rely on faith — and love — then everything else may just fall into place!
What do you get when you cross vegetables with classic Bible stories? You get courageous cucumbers, ambitious asparagus and heroes of epic proportions! This 93-minute collection features 3 great stories about Moses, Miriam and Joseph including: The Ballad of Little Joe, Moe and the Big Exit and Baby Sitter in De-Nile.
In one extraordinary evening of worship in Atlanta, GA, Travis Cottrell MARKETING HIGHLIGHTS and 7000 other worshipers experienced an unforgettable night celebrating one singular, eternal truth: Jesus saves! The JESUS SAVES LIVE CD and bonus DVD includes special on stage appearances by teacher Beth Moore, author Max Lucado and singer Cindy Morgan, plus extra behind-the-scenes footage. JESUS SAVES LIVE includes 16 glorious songs, fully orchestrated, and featuring a 200 voice choir of Woodstock Baptist Church. Travis Cottrell’s friends and fans will find JESUS SAVES a beautifully woven collection of songs full of encouragement, beauty and truth.
A 2007 EP hinted at the sort of honest, quirky fare Lanae’ Hale, a 24-year-old Florida transplant, had to offer. Now, her first full-length Centricity album, Back & Forth, makes good on that promise as an engaging collection of highly crafted melodic and lyric expressions. Eschewing standard pop cliches, Lanae’ carves out her own unique and personable creative space on the new project, allowing her songs to unfold unexpectedly and with a strong dose of self-revelation born of her own sense of struggle. Tag-team produced by Mark Hammond (Nichole Nordeman, Ashley Tisdale) and Allen Salmon (Seabird, This Beautiful Republic) Back & Forth is constructed with an underlying sense of “before and after.” Some songs reflect the psalm like intensity of a journey through the darker moments of life, while others celebrate the freedom, hope and redemption that ultimately follows.
Sara Watkins’self-titled debut, eagerly anticipated by the significant fan base she’s built after nearly two decades as fiddle player and vocalist for Grammy Award-winning trio Nickel Creek, boasts an easygoing virtuosity. The youthful Watkins, who joined Nickel Creek when she was barely in her teens, displays formidable skill as a multi-instrumentalist, playing the guitar and ukulele as well as the fiddle, and is just as versatile and breathtakingly mature as a singer. Watkins incorporates folk, country, gospel, and pop into her 14-song set, produced by former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville. She’s joined by a wide range of old friends and longtime heroes, including alt-country duo Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, and Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas; colleagues from the bluegrass world like Tim O’Brien, Punch Brothers’ Chris Eldridge, Ronnie McCoury, and Rayna Gellert; and Nickel Creek band-mates Chris Thile and Sean Watkins.
The Now and Not Yet, Jeremy Riddle's eagerly-anticipated sophomore release, is a reflection of how God is moving in the life of this artist and worship leader. Riddle's celebrated 2007 album Full Attention introduced the world to this new voice and included the #1 hit "Sweetly Broken". Now Riddle has crafted a follow-up that is equally rich in its organic synthesis of powerful lyrics and driving rhythms. The Now and Not Yet was produced by Ron Aniello (Lifehouse, Jeremy Camp, Sixpence None the Richer) and is poised to make another remarkable impact on the Church. Featuring the hot new single "Bless His Name".
Aaron Shust to post acoustic versions of new songs each week on Tuesday, leading up to the release of his forthcoming album Take Over
Aaron Shust released his first album Anything Worth Saying in August 2006 which included 2007 Song Of The Year "My Savior My God" as well as Matchless and Give It All Away. In June of 2007, Brash Records released Shust's sophomore album Whispered And Shouted featuring the songs Give Me Words To Speak, Watch Over Me and Create Again. A third album is in the works and an Fall 2009 release is planned.
CLICK HERE for the 06/2/09 - 6/16/09 street date new release notification
Diamond Rio's Team Rio Raises Over $80,000 For Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
Nashville, TN – As the temperatures soared, six-time Vocal Group of the Year, Diamond Rio's Marty Roe and Jimmy Olander led 160 Team Rio runners and walkers across the finish line at the Country Music Marathon and 1/2 Marathon this past Saturday in Nashville. This marked Team Rio’s Fifth Anniversary and raised $80,000.00 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. Olander crossed the finish line in two hours and ten minutes while Roe came right behind in two hours and twenty minutes.
“This year’s 1/2 marathon was a doozy for me," says Jimmy Olander, Diamond Rio's lead guitarist. "Having an ankle sprain late in my training and then pile on the heat, I was one of the 'Country Music Marathon Whiners.' I found myself talking in third person from mile six on...'Jimmy hurting,' 'Jimmy gonna walk now.' If it hadn't been for my teammate Alan limping in the rest of the way with me, I may still be trying to get to the coliseum. Next year will be another story!"
In addition to the adult team, Team Rio Kids, including first-time participant Max Olander (Jimmy’s son) were out in full force competing in Friday's Country Music Kids Marathon. Master Fitness Trainer and six-time Soldier of the Year Sgt Ken Weichert led 80 kids from five local programs in warm ups and preparation as they ran the last mile of the marathon and crossed the official Country Music Marathon finish line. Team Rio Kids partners with local schools to teach and encourage healthier lifestyles and to assist the kids with training for the Kids Marathon.
Word Music Publishings Bernie Herms Wins Dove for Producer of the Year
(Nashville, Tenn.) April 24, 2009 – Word Music Publishing’s Bernie Herms was honored with the Dove Award for “Producer of the Year” at the 40th Annual Dove Awards. In addition to penning multiple award-winning hits, Herms has worked as producer for Natalie Grant, Mark Schultz, Avalon, Travis Cottrell and many more high profile Christian artists.
Fervent Records’ Dove Award-winning hip hop act Group 1 Crew was once again honored for a second consecutive year with their “Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year,” Ordinary Dreamers. The group’s sophomore release was again produced by Christopher Stevens and Andy Anderson, in addition to Sam Mizell.
Renowned female vocal group Point Of Grace took home a Dove Award for “Country Recorded Song of the Year” for the second year in a row with “I Wish,” the country crossover hit from their latest studio album How You Live Deluxe Edition.
Atlantic/Word Records’ rock group NEEDTOBREATHE won for “Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year” with “Washed By The Water,” a radio hit from the band’s sophomore album The Heat.
Other winners include legendary Warner Bros./Word Records artist Randy Travis for “Country Album of the Year” (Around the Bend), and Word Music Publishing’s Michael W. Smith for “Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year” (“A New Hallelujah”). Word Music’s Carol Cymbala also took home a Dove for “Choral Collection of the Year” (“I’ll Say Yes”) while Fervent Records’ Absolute Modern Worship for Kids 4 won for “Children’s Music Album of the Year.”
Big Idea to partner with Gospel Music Channel to premiere VeggieTale's Abe and the Amazing Promise!
The Gospel Music Channel (GMC), now in 40 million households, will premiere VeggieTale's Abe and the Amazing Promise show on February 7 and will also show An Easter Carol on April 11. Also announced with the partnership, GMC will be airing additional VeggieTales programming in the mornings during the two weeks leading up to the Abe premiere.
Here's TV Promotional spot:
Please check you local listings for channel and times of the airings.
(Nashville, TN) – Big Daddy Weave’s lead singer and guitarist, Mike Weaver, is resolving to lose 90 pounds this year by launching the “90 in ‘09 Challenge.”
That may seem like a lot of weight for a member of an active band, but fans know that Big Daddy Weave was named after brothers Mike and Jay Weaver, who both admit to having “larger than average exteriors.”
“Our bodies are temples that God created,” says Weaver. “I want to restore and take better care of what He has provided, as well as create a place to motivate and teach others to do the same. With 90 in ’09 we’ll all be held more accountable because we won’t be able to hide the scales.”
In addition to signing on with the “90 in ‘09 Challenge” at www.90in09.com and following Weaver’s progress, fans can also join the health initiative by sending in their own photos and tracking their successes. Participants will have access to healthy food recipes, exercise techniques and more wellness information. Individuals can further meet the 90 in ‘09 support team including renowned wellness leaders Dr. Asa Andrew, also known as “America’s Health Coach,” and Scott Reall, YMCA Restore Ministries’ founder and executive director.
Media partners KLOVE radio network and HearItFirst.com are joining the 90 in ’09 challenge and will provide national promotion for the campaign. Weaver, Andrew and Reall will be featured throughout the year on the media outlets, giving updates and news on the challenge, in addition to video content to encourage participants.
FoxFaith
VeggieTales
Travis Cottrell
Lanae' Hale
Sara Watkins
Jeremy Riddle
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