It's the last official month of summer and has it been hot! There are still a couple of events that will keep things warm musically this summer. One of those is Newsong '93 at Camp Loucon in Leitchfield, Kentucky, on August 20-22. The three-day festival gets underway Friday night at 7:00 withJeff Calhoun followed byAudio Adrenaline,Ray Boltz and theNewsboys. Saturday's lineup includesTwo-Hearts,Tru-4-U, Louisville'sBride,Rachel, Rachel, DeGarmo & Key, withWhite Heart wrapping up the evening. The weekend concludes with an 8:30 Sunday morning worship service. You can get tickets for the whole weekend or just one day. Ticket information available from The United Methodist Center at 502-584-6616.
If you didn't get enough music over the Newsong '93 weekend, then be at the Kentucky State Fair Monday night forBruce Carroll,First Call andWayne Watson. The concert is free, as usual, with the paid admission to the fair.
Congrats to Kentucky ColonelSteven Curtis Chapman, who now owns his very first gold record. It's for The Great Adventure, which has sold more than 500,000 units since its release last June. Soon you'll be able to see his Great Adventure Tour on video.
By the way, you can also see Steven along withCarman,Shirley Caesar,4 HIM,Susan Ashton and Bruce Carroll at Disney World ... and it's not a Mickey Mouse affair either. Sorry, I just couldn't resist. Actually those artists will be performing as a part of Walt Disney World's 1993 Night of Joy held September 10, 11 and 17. It's the 10th anniversary of the Night of Joy and they'll be giving away a Decade of Joy cassette to those in attendance. Advance tickets for the event are $25 per night and admission to the park for ticket holders is $24.
If you've ever tried to go to a Carman concert, you know that you have to get there early if you want to get inside the concert hall. I've often wondered why they didn't have a small ticket price just for crowd control purposes. Now Carman Ministries are test marketing the ticket concept because Carman says "some facilities won't allow us to come back because of the amount of people we are having to turn away." Tickets will be very affordable at only $3 plus a love offering during the show.
Christian music pioneerLarry Norman collapsed ten minutes after a concert in Holland back in June. He had a heart attack in February '92 and has been diagnosed with a severe heartbeat disorder. The Holland concert was the final of four concerts he performed in the Netherlands and were recorded for the Dutch Evangelical Broadcasting Corporation's Christian radio show "Spoor 7." The corporation is negotiating to release a live album of the concerts to help pay for Norman's medical bills.
Another major mainstream label is entering the contemporary Christian music world. Arista Records announced that it will set up a contemporary Christian label in Nashville. The Arista Nashville label is home toAlan Jackson,Brooks & Dunn,Pam Tillis and others.
In the studio: Susan Ashton with producerWayne Kirkpatrick on her third Sparrow release , set to be in the stores in October. Look for a new disc from wild manSteve Taylor on Warner Alliance this fall also. Steve is traveling at this time, shooting a new video. He's been in Vietnam, Bangkok, Turkey and England.
Finally, June 19 was a big day for many Louisville area Christian singer-songwriters. After receiving 125 song entries in categories from inspirational to rock to rap to southern Gospel, ten songs were chosen to be performed at Song Search Comes Alive, held at Ninth & O Baptist Church and organized by Heads Up Resource Alliance. The concert featured such local talent as Marshall Kellam andJeff Calhoun, backed up by the Heads Up All-Star Band.Paul Turner, director of Heads Up, says, "The overwhelming response is that Song Search should become an annual event." If you would like to hear some great local musicians and writers, then pick up a copy of the Song Search cassette at local Christian bookstores.
WJIE PICS
I Can't Believe My Eyes
Gaither Vocal Band
I Thirst for You Randy Stonehill
He Is Able Steve Camp
It's Love Larnelle Harris
Walk On By Susan Ashton
The Greatest Love Phil Driscoll
Silhouette White Heart
Long Look Sandi Patti
I Believe Wes King
Ekklesia Truth