Fireflight's "Unbreakable" coming March 4th

Coming March 4th, 2008 is Fireflight's much anticipated sophomore project "Unbreakable". The band made news recently when their title track single "Unbreakable" was featured in a promo video for the new Bionic Woman show.

The single is now available for purchase at iTunes:



And the full album is also available for pre-order at Amazon.com:

Free Jaci Velasquez "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" download

Free album download from Inpop records!

Every year Inpop releases a digital album that's free for fans because ... well, because they're cool apparently. :)

This year's lineup includes songs from Newsboys, Superchic[k], Article One, Newworldson, Everyday Sunday, and more! Click here to get your free copy. Looks like all that's required is entering your e-mail address and telling them where you heard about it.

Family Force 5 Heart Support Tour

January 17-February 28, 2008 - the heartsupport tour - featuring music by: Family Force 5, Falling Up, Spoken, & This Beautiful Republic plus videos, a speaking session by Jon Bell and a special "Your Story video booth" all on this tour.

Visit FF5's myspace page for more info.

Michael W. Smith to be on 700 Club December 13th

The life and career of multiplatinum-selling recording artist, Michael W. Smith, will be the focal point of a special, in-depth story, on the Thursday, December 13 edition of The 700 Club. In celebration of Smith’s career and his latest album, along with the season the album was created for, The 700 Club will tell the story of the music legend’s 24-year career, from its start, to the recent release of his twentieth record, It’s a Wonderful Christmas. Life-changing stories and accomplishments through the Smith years, including his 3 GRAMMY Awards, 31 No. 1 radio hits, 40 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, 16 Gold and 5 Platinum albums, will help tell the story of a man that has been used in a big way to help change the world.

Last Thursday, December 6, Smith received his 13^th GRAMMY nomination, for his very successful, Stand.

Please check local listings to determine your local time and channel for The 700 Club.

Read our review of Stand here.

Newworldson's "Salvation Station" debuting Feb. 12

Newworldson will showcase its kinetic fusion of North American roots music on the band’s Inpop Records debut, Salvation Station, in stores Feb. 12, 2008. Produced by Newworldson alongside Justin Koop (Billy Talent, Silverstein), Salvation Station features an 11-song blend of energetic pop, soul and gospel.

“It’s difficult to classify our sound because we draw from different genres, but really, our foundation is soul music,” says keyboardist/vocalist Joel Parisien. “And soul music definitely has sacred roots. So, we want to return this familiar music to its sacred roots, all the while leading people to a place of praise, release, revival and worship.”

And revival permeates Salvation Station, beginning with the title track’s driving beat which then gives way to the steady pulse of “Working Man.” The album also makes room for introspective songs like “Sweet Holy Spirit” and “Waitin’ Till the Rapture Comes.”

“This project is like a child of the new world,” notes Parisien. “It really couldn’t have come from anywhere else, because the mix of styles, the whole history of gospel and blues becoming jazz, rock and hip-hop, that cultural experience happened here in the New World.”

Newworldson won fans this fall opening on labelmate newsboys’ highly successful “GO” tour. The band will again join newsboys for a spring leg, kicking off in February. Additional details are forthcoming.

Newworldson comprises Parisien, drummer Mark Rogers, bassist Rich Moore and guitarist/vocalist Josh Toal, four musicians who came together at a jazz club playing gospel music. The debut radio single “Salvation Station” is currently being played at Christian Adult Contemporary and Christian Hit Radio. For more information on Newworldson, visit www.newworldson.com or www.myspace.com/newworldson.

Buy the Salvation Station EP from iTunes by clicking link below:

Stellar Kart releasing new album "Expect The Impossible" Feb. 26

Award-winning youth group rock band Stellar Kart inspires listeners to strive for greatness, taking comfort in God’s enduring faithfulness, on its third studio album, Expect The Impossible, releasing Feb. 26, 2008.

Produced by Ian Eskelin (Krystal Meyers, All Star United), who additionally co-wrote alongside lead singer Adam Agee on eight of the album’’s 11 tracks, Expect The Impossible is more sonically diverse than the band’’s previous projects, intended to connect with a wider audience.

“Sonically, we wanted to shoot for a broader sound,” says Eskelin. “Stellar Kart has never been afraid to challenge the current trend, so we decided to incorporate some new elements. This album will please the band’’s die-hard punk fans while offering something to straight-up pop and rock lovers as well. The goal is to meet listeners where they are, driving an emotional connection to the music.”

Among the project’s recurring themes is that of striving to achieve one’s best self in Christ. For instance, “Shine Like The Stars” calls believers to emanate God’s light in all circumstances, while “I Give Up” reflects the need for complete submission to Him. Also prevalent is the message of God’’s faithfulness to those who love Him. “Sunshine” likens God to sunshine on a rainy day, and “Pray” urges listeners to “hold on to the promise that help is on the way.”

“We talk with kids after concerts and are always hearing from youth leaders about the issues facing teens today,” says frontman Agee. “We wanted to write songs that would address such topics and encourage kids to expect God to work in their daily lives.”

The record’s debut single, “Jesus Loves You” will be going for adds at both Christian Adult Contemporary and Christian Hit Radio Jan. 4, 2008. Additionally, Stellar Kart will kick off its annual “Punk the Halls” tour in late November, playing 25 dates in 27 days, while continuing as a headlining artist at Acquire the Fire events nationwide. For additional information, visit www.stellarkart.com or www.myspace.com/stellarkart.

Carried Away Christmas song "Snow Falls"

(NASHVILLE, TENN.) -- Carried Away has recorded a new song, "Snow Falls," for the Christmas season, which is available now as a free download at the all-new Carried Away Insiders (C.A.I.) fansite (www.insiders.carriedaway.ca). The song will also be available at iTunes on December 3rd, and is currently receiving airplay on both mainstream and Christian radio stations throughout North America.

To coincide with the release of "Snow Falls," Carried Away has released an interactive music video which can be found exclusively at the Carried Away Insiders fansite (www.insiders.carriedaway.ca). There is no cost to become a Carried Away Insider, and the interactive website hosts exclusive song downloads, journals, contests and more - all free!

"Christmas is 'the most wonderful time of the year,' but for a lot of people, it can also be sad, lonely and one of the most challenging times," explains Carried Away's Colleen Walker. "We wrote this song to let people know that even though they may not be feeling the 'Christmas Spirit' that God is there for them. That's really our Christmas message: although life isn't perfect and is sometimes downright hard, God sent Jesus to redeem all situations."

"Snow has been often compared to God's Spirit because it covers all with pure white," adds group member Christine Prankard. "We wanted this song to remind people that no matter what's going on in their life, God's love and mercy can cover all. Jesus is here for them when they're figuring out their credit card debt, arguing with their families over the 'right way' to do Christmas or fighting loneliness."

"Ultimately, we wanted to put a smile on people's faces this year," says the trio's Pam Walker. "Regardless of the the crazyness of the season, we hope that people will take a break and have fun with the interactive music video and the fansite. It might just bring a little bit of happiness to their Christmas season."

The Canadian trio has been busy this fall promoting theirs sophomore album, I Want You, which released in August. Sisters Colleen and Pam Walker and their cousin Christine Prankard have been on a North American tour this fall with JUMP5, one of Christian music's most successful pop acts. The girls have had little down time, adding additional headlining dates to a non-stop promotional schedule that has included numerous radio stops at Christian radio stations around the country, Radio Disney and the nationally syndicated program, The Coconut Hut Radio Show. Additionally, they've made national television appearances on Live From Studio B, JCTV, Teen Girl TV, The Jim Bakker Show, The Dino Show, 100 Huntley Street, deeperLiving, 7 Minutes, Bridges, Top 3, ReachOUT TV, Control Track, as well as regional programs such as Positively Arkansas (Little Rock's CBS affiliate), Live at 9 (Memphis' CBS affiliate), Good Morning Arkansas (Little Rock's ABC affiliate) and The Morning Show (Tupelo's NBC affiliate).

In addition to their heavy tour and promotion schedule, the girls have graced the covers of In the Times Magazine (September) and the current issue of Focus on the Family's BRIO Magazine (December), as well as a three-page September feature in Beautiful One Magazine. Christian music fans have encountered online promotions at HearItFirst.com, Shoutlife.com and NewReleaseTuesday.com, the latter of which hosted an exclusive podcast, and coverage by such nationally recognized publications as Power Source, Teen Trend, Living with Teenagers and Journal of Student Ministries.

For more information on Carried Away, please visit the official website at www.carriedaway.ca.

Read our interview with Carried Away here.
Read our review of I Want You here.

Update on: Red involved in serious car accident

Rock band Red was involved in a serious vehicle accident Tuesday, November 27, 2007, at approximately 6:30 AM CT. The band was heading west on Interstate 24, less than 20 miles from Nashville, Tenn., returning home from a concert in Hilton Head Island, S.C., the night before. Despite major damage to the band’s van and trailer, no serious injuries have been reported.

Update: Merely three days after a vehicle accident that completely destroyed the band’s van and trailer, rockers Red are back on the road, heading to its concert at the Sokol Auditorium in Omaha, Nebr. with Seether. Beyond some bumps and bruises, the band did not suffer any major injuries. All five members of Red are extremely thankful for all of the prayers and support during this time.

Second update: Randy recently spoke up about the accident in a MySpace page bulletin:

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to fill you all in on the latest. Since the news of the accident, emails and phone calls came pouring in so thank you all for your overwhelming support. We have recieved over 2000 emails so we will not be able to reply to them all but know that we will at least read them all.

I will not even begin to go into detail about our injuries because Kelly is the most important thing right now. We are banged up but Kelly will be off his feet for at least a month, maybe 2. He is in OK at a burn center. We talk to him every day and it has been difficult so far to carry on a converstion with him because of his pain medication, but he assures us that he is ok and he is in great spirits. He just wants to heal and get back to doing what he loves.

Alot of people want to know "what kind of band RED is" We are a group of guys that beileve in something bigger than all of us...someone who reveals himself to us in sometimes the most extreme ways...God. If that concerns you, we can't apologize. We believe that it is he that allows us the life experiences that we all learn from and cherish enough to write songs about. Songs that will encourage others to get out of their own situations and find hope. It is supposed to be about the music!

What have we learned??? We have learned that life can be given and taken in a second. Life is a gift to be cherished with friends and family and we cant spend our time here hating and judging each other. Inspiring others to do something good is our business and you guys are our family out on the road. Gear is replaceable but people are not and when something really bad happens, our friends and family are who we call first.

SOMETHING GOOD ALWAYS COMES FROM SOMETHING BAD...AND THIS TOO SHALL PASS...

**Be sure to visit the band's MySpace page to watch a video about the accident, including footage from the scene.**

Read our interview with Red here.

C03 releases exlusive Christmas medley online

(NASHVILLE, TENN.) -- In celebration of the Christmas season, Flagship Records pop-country duo CO3 has recorded a Christmas single, "Away In A Manger Medley," which will be available on December 1st at iTunes as well as through SNOCAP on their official MySpace page (www.myspace.com/CO3music). The song has also been released to Christian radio by Wendell Gafford at Creative Promotions, and it's going for immediate adds.

Buy the medley at iTunes by clicking below:



"This started out as just an idea about trying to do the song 'Away in a Manger' in a fresh and different way, something that would be unique and in our style," says CO3's Chad Little. "We sat down with the guitar and I started just playing that percussive rhythm. It really just kind of fell into place with the lyric. So we decided to mix it up with some other notable Christmas songs and that's when the chorus from 'O Come All Ye Faithful' jumped right out at us. Tagging the whole song with 'Noel' just felt right. Lyrically, to end with those words, 'born is the King of Israel,' really hammers home the Christmas message."

The Arkansas-based duo comprised of vocalist/guitarist Chad Little and vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Dave Romero has been making an impact on Christian music fans around the world, by blending remarkably rich harmonies and powerful production on their debut CD, Determined, which is in stores now. Produced by Rick Lloyd (Third Day), the album offers up twelve tracks of hope and encouragement, filled with rich harmonies and a pop-country edge reminiscent of Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood. And it's not much of a surprise that the duo's music often draws an immediate comparison to Carrie Underwood's pop-tinged hits, since Little spent a considerable amount of time in the American Idol winner's band, serving as lead guitarist, band leader and songwriter.

Two Krystal Meyers songs to be used in video game Audition

International superstar Krystal Meyers will see two of her songs used by an online multi-player video game, called Audition, starting December 18. “Only You Make Me Happy” and “Live,” from Meyers’ latest album, Dying For A Heart, will be available as part of the anime “dance battle” game. Check out Audition online at www.nexon.net.

Read our interview with Krystal here.

Earth, Wind and Fire's Sheldon Reynolds joins Jump5 on stage

(NASHVILLE, TENN.) -- Slanted Records group JUMP5 received a special visit from former Earth, Wind & Fire lead vocalist and lead guitarist Sheldon Reynolds at the Los Angeles area stop of their current North American tour. When the group hit Saint Paschal in Thousand Oaks, California on November 14th, they were joined on stage by Reynolds, who performed the hit Earth, Wind & Fire classic "Shining Star" with JUMP5, who had a hit of their own with the song, which they covered on their 2003 release, Accelerate (Sparrow Records/EMI).

"It was an unbelievable experience," says JUMP5's Brandon Hargest. "That moment will stick with me throughout my musical career."

"It was completely unreal to be on stage with a legend," says JUMP5's Lesley Moore. "The whole time he was up there with us my jaw was on the ground. It was definitely something I will remember forever!"

Adds JUMP5's Chris Fedun, "I am honored to say I shared the stage with such an icon!"

Reynolds is most widely known for his 14 year tenure with the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire. During that era, the group received an Image Award for Lifetime Achievement, and Reynolds was nominated for a Grammy Award for the popular song "Sunday Morning," which Reynolds wrote and recorded with Earth, Wind & Fire.

Reynolds left the group to join Experience Hendrix, the family company of Jimi Hendrix, realizing yet another lifelong dream of being involved in the musical legacy of one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Reynolds has also worked as a writer and performer with a number of other well-known artists, such as the Pointer Sisters, Stephanie Mills, Chicago, The Commodores and Paula Abdul. Reynolds' vocal work includes the musical soundtrack from the motion picture Glory, as well as theme music for the hit TV shows Who's the Boss? and Chicago Hope.

In 2004, Reynolds produced the talent-packed CD, Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix, which includes performances from such major artists as Prince, Lenny Kravitz, Musiq, Carlos Santana, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Sting, Chaka Khan, Earth, Wind & Fire and many others. He is currently producing the debut album from Victoria White, who recently signed to the Maurice White-owned record label Kalimba. Reynolds and White are both currently touring with jazz great Brian Culbertson's A Soulful Christmas tour. For more information, visit www.sheldonreynolds.com.

JUMP5's new holiday album, Christmas Like This, is available for only $7.99 exclusively through all major digital outlets including iTunes and Rhapsody. Digital distribution for Christmas Like This is through EMI CMG Distribution. The group's official "farewell" album, Hello & Goodbye, was released in October, and they are currently in the middle of a 30+ city North American tour, which kicked off September 7th and runs through the end of the year. The Hello & Goodbye Tour is sponsored by Kingdom Kidz Club and Shoutlife.com, and features performances by Jessie Daniels, Cali, Carried Away, pureNRG, Sammy Ward and Monet (in select cities).

Click link below to order the album from iTunes:

Natalie Grant Third Annual Christmas Tour

Curb recording artist and GMA’s reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, Natalie Grant, is preparing to headline her third annual Christmas Tour this season. With “American Idol’s” Mandisa and GMA’s current Male Vocalist and New Artist of the Year, Aaron Shust, as special guests, the “Natalie Grant –– A Christmas To Believe In” Tour is slated to hit 14 cities in December. The Tour will also introduce Centricity recording artist Daniel Kirkley.

Sponsored by the Gospel Music Channel, the Tour will stop in Los Angeles; San Francisco; Cincinnati; Phoenix; Memphis, Tennessee; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, among other cities, before concluding December 22.

Natalie Grant – A Christmas To Believe In Tour schedule:

December 2 Kinston, NC (with Aaron Shust and Daniel Kirkley)
December 6 Baton Rouge, LA (with Aaron Shust and Daniel Kirkley)
December 7 Memphis, TN (with Aaron Shust and Daniel Kirkley)
December 8 Cincinnati, OH (with Aaron Shust and Daniel Kirkley)
December 9, 10 Murfreesboro, TN (with Daniel Kirkley)
December 13 Phoenix, AZ (with Daniel Kirkley)
December 14 Los Angeles, CA (with Daniel Kirkley)
December 15 Orange County, CA (with Daniel Kirkley)
December 16 Bakersfield, CA (with Daniel Kirkley)
December 17 San Francisco, CA (with Mandisa and Daniel Kirkley)
December 18 Albuquerque, NM (with Mandisa and Daniel Kirkley)
December 20 Coos Bay, OR (with Mandisa and Daniel Kirkley)
December 21 Bend, OR (with Mandisa and Daniel Kirkley)
December 22 Longview, WA (with Mandisa and Daniel Kirkley)

For more info visit Natalie's website here.

Leeland to release "Opposite Way" Feb. 26th

Four-time Dove Award-nominated progressive rock band, Leeland, has announced the February 26, 2008 release of its second studio album, Opposite Way (Essential Records). Opposite Way was produced by Matt Bronleewe (Michael W. Smith, Natalie Imbruglia), mixed by Ben Grosse (Ben Folds, Red Hot Chili Peppers) and was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee at Smoak Stack Studios and Pentavarit Studios. “I’ve never seen a band with as much raw energy and God-given talent as Leeland,” shares Opposite Wayproducer, Matt Bronleewe. “Leeland is the kind of band you dream about working with: the guys are innocently passionate about their message, and intensely persuasive in their delivery. In every sense, their new album Opposite Way is the direction music needs to be going in.”

The eleven-track album comprises the following tracks: “Opposite Way,” “Count Me In,” “Let It Out Now,” “Enter This Temple,” “Wake Up,” “Beginning and the End,” “Brighter Days,” “Falling for You,” “Don’t Go Away,” “Thief in the Night” and “May Our Praise.”