2016 ROCK & WORSHIP ROADSHOWArtist Assets

Quote for press release from RWRS Leadership:“The 2016 Rock and Worship Roadshow promises to be an amazing night of music and ministry. We have purposefully created this night for the entire family and are excited to be on the road next February and March with some of the best artists and speakers and in all of Christian music.” Brian Seay, Producer of The Rock & Worship Roadshow

NEWSBOYSQUOTE"We are so excited to be a part of the Rock and Worship Roadshow 2016! While we have been blessed to play thousand’s of shows all over the globe, this is actually our first time being a part of the “Roadshow” Tour, and we can’t wait to join Compassion International and the other artists on the tour to reach communities all around the country.” Michael Tait

MUSIC VIDEOhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?t=2&v=S_OTz-lpDjw

SOCIAL MEDIAhttp://newsboys.com/https://www.facebook.com/newsboys.officialhttps://twitter.com/Newsboyshttps://instagram.com/newsboys/

SHORT BIOComprised of lead vocalist Michael Tait, Jody Davis (guitar), Jeff Frankenstein (keys) and Duncan Phillips (drums), Newsboys have sold more than 9 million records, amassing eight Gold® certifications, 33 #1 radio hits, four GRAMMY® nominations and multiple Dove Awards. “God’s Not Dead,” Newsboys’ chart-topping, Platinum®-certified single, inspired Pure Flix's 2014 hit film of the same name. The band is currently in the studio recording their next project, which will release in March 2016, along with God’s Not Dead 2, the follow-up to the original film.

LONG BIOSince arriving on the scene in 1985 in their native Australia, the Newsboys have taken Christian music by storm. Nearly three decades later, the iconic band is an undisputed industry leader, garnering six gold albums; 8 million units in career sales; 33 #1 singles; multiple GRAMMY® and American Music Award nominations; and signature hits ranging from “He Reigns” and “Born Again” to their recent 15-week chart-topper, “We Believe.” Expanding their reach into film, the band appeared in the 2014 Pure Flix hit,

“God’s Not Dead,” inspired by their song of the same name. Currently comprised of drummer Duncan Phillips; lead vocalist Michael Tait; guitarist Jody Davis; andkeyboardist Jeff Frankenstein, the Newsboys’ latest recording, Hallelujah For The Cross, marks their first-ever collection of hymns.

It’s no secret that the Newsboys spend a lot of their days on the road. They’re constantly challenged and driven to make powerful, intriguing music that will continue to bring their message of faith to anyone who will listen. They’ve been doing it for almost three decades now. That’s a long time to consistently make new and exciting music but they’ve continued to do it with fervor and drive, allowing them to stay at the top of their game in the process.

Keeping things fresh can be a challenge in all aspects of life. Old things can seem stagnant and past their “due date” and we get caught up in the glitz of what’s fresh and unchartered. And then there are those things in life that just become more poignant, more meaningful and quite simply, more needed as time goes on. Their depth and power never seem to lose their luster.

So, when the Newsboys decided to unveil their first ever hymns collection HALLELUJAH FOR THE CROSS, this was their first challenge. How do we take these powerful, foundational hymns, that for hundreds of years have managed to stay valid and not become redundant even though they were written so long ago, and refresh them for today’s listener? The hymns don’t necessarily need to be rescued but a new audience needs to hear them.Old hymns don’t get much press these days but they haven’t lost their punch. Newsboys manager Wes Campbell knows this well. “There’s a lot of truth and power in those old hymns,” he says. “We’re not saying we’ve redone them completely but we have gone and taken that nugget from these hymns and made them accessible to a new generation. Our hope is that people will then go back and explore the full lyrics and learn the story behind them. They’re pretty powerful.”

Overall, there was a purposeful effort to keep the integrity of the original hymn but to modernize it and make it palatable for today’s audiences, so taking some creative license had to be employed. “We took a bit of a modern worship approach to these old hymns,” Wes said. “We kept the verses in there and it really does open a pathway to where these songs came from and sheds some light on the songs for people who’ve never really sung hymns.”

Lead singer Michael Tait agrees. “Hymns are important to me. Wes Campbell, producer Seth Mosley, and myself sat and picked through songs that went way, way, way back into my past and my dad’s Baptist church. I love modern worship but I just love that old stuff because they were written in such desperate and perilous times, and out of great pain comes great resolve, I think. When I sing them, they go deeper in ways to me than a lot of things I reach out for when I’m in that spiritual drought,” he adds. Michael has some favorites on the album. “It Is Well,” I love,” he continues. “I just love that story. The way I chose to sing it and arrange it with Wes and Seth was done not so much in a

haphazardly, happy way but more like a victory call, with resolution. Really saying, ‘It is Well!’ with a power behind it. No two ways about it that this was one of my favorites.”

The group deviated a bit with the album’s title cut and debut single, penned by Ross King and Todd Wright but overall, held closely to the goal of reaching deep into that ancient well of songs that used to be the foundation of the Christian faith.

Produced by Seth Mosley—who helmed Newsboys' RIAA Certified Gold Selling record God’s Not Dead — additional highlights of Hallelujah for the Cross include “Jesus Paid It All”; “Holy, Holy, Holy”; and “All Creatures of Our God and King.” The album also features a new arrangement of Newsboys’ classic “Where You Belong/Turn Your Eyes.”

Each song on the list had to be fleshed out to see if putting a Newsboys interpretation to it would work. “Some of the older hymns didn’t lend themselves to modernization,” Wes recalls. “If you adjusted the rhythm or structure of the song, it would fall apart so that helped us narrow the list a bit.”

After all these years, the band finally found a time period when they could gather and do this album that they’ve wanted to do for a while but the timing just hadn’t presented itself yet. “Obviously you want it to be successful but this project wasn’t done for the big sales thing,” Wes stresses. “This was something we just really wanted to do. We really want people to be introduced to the power of the lyric. That seemed lost for a time but I think some of the modern worship music today, of late, are songs that I’m starting to notice more depth and power coming back in them. For a minute there it got to where everything seemed distilled down so this seems like the perfect time to release these older hymns and have people really get them.”

“This album is a nice detour to a place, by today’s terms, less traveled,” Michael adds. “I won’t say unchartered because I’ve been there in the past but this is not my usual fare. For me, as a seasoned musician, I like the fact that we could bring something, still intact, that might usually be left to an older generation, to the forefront of where we are today with CCM and music period, and make it new again.”

Wes adds, “The guys all grew up, especially Michael, singing hymns in the church. There’s a lot of truth and power in those old hymns. Our song, “We Believe,” had deeper meaning and I think gave us the confidence after going #1 for 15 weeks with such deep lyrics, that maybe this is the time. Let’s point back to the past. Let’s point back to where we came from. The lyrics in hymns are a message. The circumstances that the people were in when they wrote the songs were incredible. ‘I’m blind but now I see?’ That was literal. For our fans, I think it will be timeless. These songs aren’t going to go out of style anytime soon.”

JEREMY CAMPQUOTE"Super excited to be a part of The Roadshow Tour!  I love the heart behind this tour to spread the Gospel throughout this country through music, also love that they have made it super affordable for anyone to come and be a part of an amazing night with all these artists that love Jesus with all their heart!"

MUSIC VIDEOhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wThyGZXJDYo

SOCIAL MEDIAwww.jeremycamp.comhttps://www.facebook.com/jeremycamphttps://twitter.com/jeremycamphttps://instagram.com/jeremycampofficial

SHORT BIOWhile he feels like he’s “just beginning,” Jeremy Camp has 12 years of accolades

and accomplishments as a songwriter and recording artist, including four million albums sold, four RIAA Gold albums, a multi-platinum DVD, three American Music Award nominations and a GRAMMY nomination. He’s been a part of more than 25 tours (headlining 18 of those) in the U.S. and has performed in more than 32 countries. Jeremy describes himself as “a minister who happens to play music as a way to minister.”

Over the last year and a half, this ordained minister has experienced a season of artistic growth and musical creativity, evident with his new album, I Will Follow. This eighth studio album, released with Capitol CMG, reveals a new level of versatility and depth. With producer Seth Mosley at the helm, a new sound emerges with a host of guest songwriters including the likes of Mosley and Jason Ingram. “To write with these amazing writers who helped shape the different elements of these songs was just an amazing experience,” he said. “I’ve never done that before. There were no parameters when we were producing and when we were writing. Vocally too, I feel like I’ve never pushed myself this much. I just went for it and said, ‘All right Lord, I am 100 percent in.’ I think I am more excited than ever about what I’m doing.”

LONG BIOWhile he feels like he’s “just beginning,” Jeremy Camp has 12 years of accolades and accomplishments as a songwriter and recording artist, including four million albums sold, four RIAA Gold albums, a multi-platinum DVD, three American Music Award nominations and a GRAMMY nomination. He’s been a part of more than 25 tours (headlining 18 of those) in the U.S. and has performed in more than 32 countries. Jeremy describes himself as “a minister who happens to play music as a way to minister.”

Over the last year and a half, this ordained minister has experienced a season of artistic growth and musical creativity, evident with his new album, I Will Follow. This eighth

studio album, released with Capitol CMG, reveals a new level of versatility and depth. With producer Seth Mosley at the helm, a new sound emerges with a host of guest songwriters including the likes of Mosley and Jason Ingram. “To write with these amazing writers who helped shape the different elements of these songs was just an amazing experience,” he said. “I’ve never done that before. There were no parameters when we were producing and when we were writing. Vocally too, I feel like I’ve never pushed myself this much. I just went for it and said, ‘All right Lord, I am 100 percent in.’ I think I am more excited than ever about what I’m doing.”

Jeremy often finds God teaches him through song. The first single off the new record, “He Knows,” is one in which God spoke comfort over Jeremy’s past. As he shares in his book I Still Believe, Jeremy lost his first wife to cancer at age 21 and in recent years, lost a baby to miscarriage with his wife, Adrienne. There are a lot of people hurting, and they often turn to Jeremy because of his platform.

“When I sat down with this record, I just said, God, ‘I feel like I still have a song pertaining to all that. Just give me wisdom.’ I was drawn to the Hebrews 4:15 scripture where it says that we have a high priest that can empathize with our weaknesses. Jesus Christ is our high priest. Jesus is my everything. The whole concept of the song is saying, Listen, in the midst of all these pains and wounds that may come up, He knows. Christ knows every single thing. We have to come to that peace and that rest of just going ‘Okay, God, you know who I am. Where can I go from your presence? You’re everywhere. You know every part of me. And you know, you’ve been through it.’ And so I think that for me, that is the greatest comfort.”

Is Jeremy ready to move past those painful chapters of his life? Would he prefer not to talk about them? Not at all. “I always say, ‘It’s a part of my life. It’s not my life.’ It’s not all that I share. But it’s part of what shaped me, and people still go through hard times. And so the scripture says in 2 Corinthians, if we comfort others, we will be then comforted.”

The lyrical and biblical depth to Jeremy’s songs reflect years of studying God’s word, in which he gained a foundation from growing up in a pastor’s home and attending Bible college. Ministry for him is a lifestyle, one in which the whole family, who occasionally joins him on the road, participates. Jeremy and his wife Adrienne, have two daughters (10 and 8) and a son (3).

So when missionary friends in the volatile country of Kyrgyzstan reached out to Jeremy asking for him and his band to hold a crusade-style event, the families involved had to carefully consider the danger before agreeing to go.

Through Jeremy’s Speaking Louder Ministries, he and his band provide free crusade style events in partnership with local churches and missionaries in countries where the Gospel has not been heard. Political chaos and civil unrest are the norm, and the church people “live in fear,” Jeremy said. When he arrived in the summer of 2013, he said he felt “oppression and fear like I’ve never felt in my life.”

As the day of the big event approached, intimidating threats and imprisonment warnings targeted the missionaries and Jeremy’s band. Even the local news channel told the public not to come. And yet, 8,000 people still showed up. As the crowd gathered, Jeremy lay on his face crying before God. “Lord, I can’t do this,” he said. “This is too much.’ I realized the dangers of what was happening. In my heart, I wanted to go home and raise my kids; I wanted to grow old with my wife. When I said, ‘I can’t do this,’ the Lord spoke to me and said, ‘Perfect. You finally got it. You can do this.’”

The moment was pivotal. “Something clicked,” he said, and he finally grasped a powerful truth. “I had been sharing the scripture all my life, Acts 20:24, where Paul says, ‘I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.’ And in Galatians, ‘I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.’ It’s just all these scriptures where Paul is saying, I know. My life is not my own. I’ve given my heart to Jesus. He’s my king, I’m his servant. And I think from that, I began to understand, it’s not me. I can’t do it. It’s all Him.”

The name of Jesus went forth at the event, and it was a success. When the group returned home safely, Jeremy had time to reflect. He came home changed, he felt he was at a crossroads, unsure if he should continue to pursue music. “When I got home, I said, ‘Okay, Lord, I’m completely yours. So whatever you have, I’m going to do it 100 percent wholeheartedly, and I’m ready.’”

Some time passed, and he felt God finally telling him, ‘I want you to do this again.’”

When the doors opened to continue doing music through Capitol CMG, he went all in. “I knew what I had been called to do: to follow him wholeheartedly.” That’s when the theme of his new record, I Will Follow, emerged. “In the Old Testament when God was talking to the Israelites, they’re just rebellious people, and it says, but Caleb has a different spirit. He followed me wholeheartedly.’ And that’s what I want to do.”

MANDISA

MUSIC VIDEOCurrent Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=FLHbr6rMCsVjf98_-VvV-Gfw&v=b8VoUYtx0kw

SOCIAL MEDIAwww.mandisaofficial.comTwitter: @mandisaofficialInstagram: @mandisaofficialYouTube: MandisaOfficial

SHORT BIOWith more than 1 million records sold, GRAMMY® Award Winner, Dove Award winner and American Idol Season 5 finalist Mandisa is a voice of encouragement and truth to people facing life’s challenges all around the world. In less than a year, Mandisa performed her three hit singles "Overcomer," "Good Morning," and "Stronger" on the highest rated morning show, ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA.) Her performance of “Stronger” welcomed the emotional return of beloved morning host Robin Roberts. The NFL recently welcomed Mandisa to perform the national anthem during a Sunday night NFL Network game to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness month, where she was joined by cancer survivors within the San Francisco ‘49ers family. Her album, Overcomer, released in 2013 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart, with the album's title track holding on to the No. 1 spot for 12 weeks on the National Christian Audience chart as well as the No. 1 position on the Christian/Gospel Core Digital sales chart for several weeks. In 2014 alone, Mandisa picked up her first GRAMMY Award, Dove Award and K-LOVE Fan Award. Mandisa was awarded a GRAMMY® for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for Overcomer. Additionally, Mandisa was awarded Song of the Year ("Overcomer") and Female Artist of the Year at the 2014 K-LOVE Fan Awards. Her first full-length remix album, Get Up: The Remixes, is available now. 

LONG BIOAsk people to describe Mandisa and you’ll hear words like talented, gracious, beautiful, strong, loving and joyful, but the title of her new album offers an especially apt description of the artist---Overcomer. However, Mandisa sees it as more than her song, but an anthem for all and she’s happy to launch the battle cry.

“I’m in a new place and I want to proclaim some things to my listeners and one of them is that they are overcomers,” says Mandisa. “Whether or not you feel it, it’s a fact. We are overcomers.”

Overcomer brings a lump to Mandisa’s throat as she speaks of her friend Kisha fighting breast cancer during her recent pregnancy and surviving. It reminds her of Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts, whose journey encouraged Mandisa in hers. Mandisa herself is an overcomer. It’s only natural that she sings about the experience. Since finishing in the top ten of American Idol’s fifth season, Mandisa has

forged a successful recording career and has lost over 100 lbs, inspiring women everywhere to strive for a healthy lifestyle and to reach for their dreams.

“Overcomer” anchors Mandisa’s fourth studio album, a stunning collection of songs percolating with energy and passion all driven by her amazingly powerful voice. “I came in really knowing exactly what I wanted to say,” she states. “The difference with this album is just where I am. I’ve never been better. I feel like I’m definitely walking in a new level of freedom. I’m walking with more authority and because all of my albums reflect my life, that is reflected in this album.”

Mandisa’s newfound confidence manifested itself in her songwriting, and she penned seven of the 12 songs on the Overcomer iTunes Deluxe album. “I feel like I’m in a new place,” she says. “There are several songs that are just about rejoicing.”

Overcomer is the latest in a string of impressive albums from the native Californian. A graduate of Nashville’s Fisk University, she performed as part of the legendary Fisk Jubilee Singers, but gained national acclaim when she placed ninth on the fifth season of American Idol. She signed a deal with Sparrow Records and released her debut, True Beauty in 2007, which earned her the first of three GRAMMY® nominations. She followed with a stellar sophomore effort, 2009’s Freedom. This year The Hollywood Reporter listed Mandisa in the Top 5 of Idol finalists with the most Billboard No. 1s.

In 2011, Mandisa released What If We Were Real, an engaging collection of tunes that included the effervescent “Good Morning,” which she performed with tobyMac on Good Morning America. This third studio album saw a breakthrough in Mandisa’s career, leading her to unprecedented record sales, radio spins and tour audiences. What If We Were Real also produced the hit single “Stronger,” which topped the charts for five weeks and was the song Mandisa sang on Good Morning America the day Robin Roberts returned to the show after being on medical leave.

With a strong, supple voice that is equally commanding on an up tempo anthem or a tender ballad, Mandisa has earned a devoted legion of fans who appreciate not only her vocal gift but the heart that fuels her music. On Overcomer, Mandisa again serves up a musically inventive, lyrically potent collection of songs that are all drawn from a deep emotional well. “Press On” is among the most personal tunes. “I’m proclaiming I’m going to press on no matter what comes my way,” she says with a smile. “For me, in that song specifically I’m speaking about my weight loss journey. I’ve come a long way. I’ve lost over 100 lbs. but I still have some work to do. I’m going to press on through this. I’m going to make it and I’m going to get to the finish line. I love ‘Press On’ because it’s a great work out song. On the remix version, which will be on the deluxe edition on iTunes®, I formatted that to be perfect for my runners, the people who jog and run. We put the beat to it and we looped certain phrases over and over again that will inspire them in their run. That’s the song that I put on when I’m on my treadmill to help me keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

The funky, upbeat “Face to Face” is another powerful moment on Mandisa’s new album. “I like to refer to that song as ‘Only The World part II,’” she says referencing her previous hit, “because ‘Only The World’ is all about heaven and so is ‘Face To Face.’”

“What Scars are For,” a song inspired by an episode of Giuliana & Bill, is one more stand-out on the album. “When Giuliana was dressing to host a red carpet event, her stylist asked if she wanted to cover her double-mastectomy scars with makeup. I was moved to tears when Giuliana proudly proclaimed that they were battle scars”, Mandisa shared, her eyes welling up. “I immediately thought of the emotional scars left after I was raped, and my physical scars that resulted from years of abusing my body with food. Giuliana helped me to look at them differently: a reminder of what I have been through and what I have overcome! Who says you can’t learn life-lessons from a reality TV show?!”

Talented and transparent, loving and bold, Mandisa is the kind of person everyone wants in their life and her music has taken root in the hearts of people around the world. As she shares this new collection of songs, she’s grateful for the platform she has been given her and aware of the responsibility it brings. “If

my music is just entertaining and not inspiring, giving hope and speaking life, then that’s just not good enough for me. I want it to do all of those things.”

It’s that attitude that has made Mandisa an overcomer and she revels in the opportunity to remind others that they are overcomers too.

PHIL WICKAM

MUSIC VIDEOhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFRjr_x-yxU

SOCIAL MEDIAwww.facebook.com/philwickhamwww.twitter.com/philwickhamwww.instagram.com/philwickhamwww.youtube.com/user/philwickham

SHORT BIOPhil Wickham is, at his core, a humble and sincere artist who writes songs and worships God using the medium of music. It is with that brush that he paints images of a loving and creative God across the canvases of listeners’ hearts and minds. The evidence of this gift has been apparent on all five of his critically acclaimed efforts: Phil Wickham (2006), Cannons (2007), Heaven & Earth (2009), Response (2011) and The Ascension (2013). Wickham's latest release debuted at No. 2 on the SoundScan Christian Albums Chart and in the Top 40 on the Billboard 200. The album’s first single, “This Is Amazing Grace,” gave Wickham his first career No. 1, topping Billboard’s National Christian Audience Chart for thirteen consecutive weeks. On Billboard’s 2014 Year End Charts, the song was the No. 1 Christian Airplay Song, and Wickham himself claimed the No. 2 spot on the Christian Airplay Artists chart. “This is Amazing Grace” also received top honors at the BMI Christian Awards as their Song of the Year, recognizing it as the most-played song on Christian radio in 2014. Not only has the song achieved great radio success, but it has become a beloved anthem in the modern church, sung by millions of people worldwide. The songs on Wickham’s highly anticipated new project Children of God are sure to become new worship favorites; the album is slated for release in April 2016.

LONG BIOPhil Wickham remembers the first time his father heard him play a song he’d written. He wasn’t looking for an audience, but it nevertheless caught the attention of his father—a worship pastor in their San Diego church. “That’s actually a good worship song,” Phil remembers his father telling him. “Can I play that in our sanctuary?” It was the first worship song Phil ever wrote. It would not be the last. In the ten years and nine records since Phil recorded his first worship album, whatever his father noticed has caught the attention of the world at large. Wickham has a passion for using music to create a community—a place where hearts and minds are inclined as one. “There is nothing that brings the church together like worship music,” he says. “Not only

are we all singing the same truth, we’re singing the same notes. Not only the same notes, but the same rhythm. To be one of the writers who gets to create songs that are used in a corporate setting where people thinking on the same truth and worshiping the same God and clapping to the same beat—it’s a beautiful moment.” And Phil’s new album, The Ascension, is full of such beautiful moments. Though the title calls to mind bodies gently levitating towards the stars, Phil says the inspiration was much more grounded. “I love the Psalms,” he says. "Fifteen of them are called Songs of Ascent. (Psalm 120-134) Some scholars believe that these psalms were sung by the Jews when they would "ascend" to visit the Holy Temple three times annually for the festivals. These festivals were like massive, country-wide parties. At that time, it was known that God’s presence on earth was in the Temple. So, to be in his presence would be to go to these annual feasts, and to walk up the hill to Jerusalem. They would ascend together and walk to Jerusalem with their families and their towns. They’d sing these songs of ascent that would be songs of anticipation and excitement and remembrance and worship.” Such Songs of Ascent were exceptionally rare and especially treasured by the Hebrews. But today, Phil believes the songs take on a different, even more beautiful meaning. “God no longer dwells in the city or in the temple,” he explains. “But the Church has become the city. The Church has become his temple. Every time we get together as a body—whether it’s a home fellowship or in a mega-church—his temple is gathering together. He’s living inside of us, creating a special moment that’s been ordained. I wanted to write modern Songs of Ascent.” Phil’s modern Songs of Ascent do just that—they ascend. In gently symphonic guitars, these songs pull you up, out of whatever terrestrial troubles you’re feeling, and towards the heavens. It’s an easy sensation to feel on songs like the jubilant, celebratory title track, which all but insists you chant along with his vibrant chorus. But this general feeling of buoyancy lilts along The Ascension’s quieter tracks as well, such as the gentle, stripped down “Mercy,” which sounds like a classic hymn writer’s take on a lullaby. Wickham has a way of singing the word “mercy” that makes you reflect upon its profound immensity. Not only God’s mercy for us, but the call on us to show His mercy to the world.

That's the case with "This is Amazing Grace," The Ascension's first single. "The verses are all about his majesty and what he’s done," Phil says. "What he can speak into existence and how he brings our chaos back into order, and how he makes the sinner his son and daughter. How this King of glory, through his amazing grace and his unfailing love, took our place on this cross and bore our sin. I mean, it’s the story that God has written that he’s let us all be apart of."  This is what Phil does: explores the various aspects of these core truths. He compares theology to a diamond, glittering with many different facets. “I feel like God once in

a while will turn it just a little bit so I can see a different facet of it,” he says. “And then I’ll say, ‘there’s a song I want to write from that perspective.’”  That’s been the mission of all of Phil’s work. As he says, repeatedly and insistently, “The goal is to create something where people can encounter something of God.” But with The Ascension, he brings the full force of his passion to the task with a renewed sense of vigor and a bit more wisdom. “"As I grow up I realize more and more how desperate I am for God's love and grace in my life and I am so thankful he has infinite measures of both," he says. "I really do desire more of Him in my life, more of him in me, and I think that desire is reflected more than ever in this record." In Phil’s mind, those realizations have led to a better, more complete album. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt so satisfied and excited and confident in a project,” he says. “I don’t mean ‘confident’ like it’s going to have numbers. That’s not up to me. I mean, as far as the goal of this record to write the best songs I could, I feel like we pushed ourselves to make something really special. I’m so excited to share it with people.” And when Phil does share The Ascension, it will call the people of God to make the joyful pilgrimage up that hill. Through worship, that journey can take on a glorious and glory-giving flavor, as we realize God’s greatness and reaffirm our desire to defy the status quo. Perhaps that’s what The Ascension is really all about—casting aside what passes for normal. "It is my hope that this record would create a desire in people to ‘Ascend.’ That it might stir up a hunger in their hearts for the presence of God. I think many times in running this race we have weights we didn't even now we had. I pray that The Ascension would inspire listeners to lay down those weights, and look forward with hope in their eyes at the glorious future that awaits all who call Jesus their King."

FAMILY FORCE 5QUOTE"If our third stint on the Rock and Worship Roadshow is half as good as the sum of the inverse of the previous two times that we’ve done the tour…it’ll be BZRK." Derek Mount, Family Force 5

MUSIC VIDEOhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au7of6Bd47Q

SOCIAL MEDIAFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/familyforce5Twitter: https://twitter.com/FamilyForce5Instagram: https://instagram.com/familyforce5YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/familyforce5videosSnapchat: ff5officialWebsite: http://www.familyforce5.com/

SHORT BIOAlternative Pop/Rock band Family Force 5 - which consists of members Derek Mount (“Chap Stique” / guitar, vocals), Jacob Olds (“Crouton” / vocals, drums), Joshua Olds (“Fatty” / bass, vocals), Nathan Currin (“Nadaddy” / keyboards, vocals, percussion) and Teddy Boldt (“Hollywood” / drums, percussion) - formed in Atlanta in the summer of 2005. Creating chart-topping albums and achieving impressive success at radio with their No. 1 hit “Let It Be Love,” alongside singles such as “Walk On Water,” “Show Love,” “Superhero” and “Not Alone,” Family Force 5's music music videos have received more than 30 million YouTube views, including “Sweep The Leg,” “BZRK (feat. KB)” and “Chainsaw.” For more information, visit www.familyforce5.com.

LONG BIODerek “Chap Stique” Mount recalls a conversation he had a few years ago with Jerome Olds, the patriarch of the family whose sons started Family Force 5 over a decade ago. “At one point he said to me, ‘Hey man, you know what’s wrong with you guys? When you first came out, you were reckless. You’re not reckless anymore,’” recalls the guitarist. “And on this album, we wanted to capture that recklessness again. Just hit ‘record’ and see what happens.”

Rest assured, they kept hitting the button at the right time: Time Stands Still, the fourth album from Family Force 5, is an ambitious display of hip-hop hues, guitar bludgeoning, smoov R&B melodies, eye-winking pop-culture references, stentorian grace, personal reflections and infectious optimism. It’s the mixtape you made in the ’80s, but rewired and sequenced for the 21st century—and beyond. Mount and cohorts Jacob “Crouton” Olds (lead vocals, dancing shoes), Joshua “Fatty” Olds (bass, low-end theories), Nathan “Nadaddy” Currin (synthesizers, groove science) and Teddy “Hollywood” Boldt (drums, party fibrillator) have come to party positive with big beats and rapidimente rapping while offering moments of sincere inspiration. Producers Riley Friesen and Seth Mosley

ably captured the band’s forward-in-all-directions worldview for maximum joy and reverence.

The Atlanta-based Family Force 5 have always been a bastion for exciting music and onstage dynamism. Their 2006 debut album, Business Up Front/Party In The Back, was teeming with guitar-driven crunk-metal, rapping and the commanding vocals of frontman Solomon “Soul Glow Activatur” Olds. The follow-up album, 2008’s Dance Or Die, found them broadening their realm of party-hearty possibilities, incorporating everything from radio-friendly pop to soundtracks for sweaty mosh pits and electro-driven dancefloors alike. 2010’s III found them maintaining a lean-and-mean rap-rock stance, aesthetically beating many similar-sounding chart-topping acts at their own game. Consider that they’ve also been in charge of their own destiny for the last six years, being fiercely independent, self-sufficient and beholden to absolutely no one. Team FF5 have always been a legion of road dogs, dialing up thousands of miles on touring vans and busses to bring their rockin’ good times to the planet. Anybody who’s been paying attention to them knows full well their party never stops, from touring hi-jinx (go stick “Really Real Show” into YouTube’s search engine and see what happens) to the post-show dance parties where the band members spin their favorite dance tracks for fans that didn’t want to go home quite yet. Respect for the band came from the most unusual places, whether it was asked to join Alternative Press magazine’s 2009 tour (alongside 3OH!3 and the Maine) or having the Oregon State University football team embrace their freewheeling track “Chainsaw” during games. The band may have well copyrighted the phrase, “go hard or go home,” when you consider they’ve built as much sweat equity as they have goodwill: Consider how their videos have garnered a cumulative 30 million views, and how they’ve held court at some of the world’s prestigious music festivals (Sonisphere, Bamboozle, EO Day, Warped Tour UK), in addition to scoring placement in everything from feature films (Warrior’s Way, Battleship, Almost Alice) and commercials (Target) to the veritable alphabet soup (ESPN, WWE, NHL, CBS Sports, MTV) of television. If you want to stop for a moment and take a breath after reading that last paragraph, feel free. They make a lot of other bands look like hopeless couch-surfing slackers.

When Solomon informed the band last summer he wished to be closer to his family and was resigning from the Force, hard decisions needed to be made. Should they adjourn the party and chase other pursuits? Or continue bringing beats, guitar crunch, crazy electronics and empowering lyrics to fans hungry for sincerity as much as sonic kicks? The remaining members chose to continue, but then wondered who they would get to front the band. That anxiety was short-lived, since the answer was in front of them all the time. Well, actually behind them onstage for so many years…

“I’ve always said I was a better dancer than I was a drummer,” says Jacob matter-of-factly. “The only reason I got the job eight years ago with my brothers is because I could play kick, snare and hat at the same time and sing. All of us had to wrap our heads around the fact we’d been playing together for so long. Solomon and I as brothers had been playing together in several different bands for, I think, 20 years. That’s a weird adjustment.” Jacob’s vocal contributions have always been key to the FamFo aesthetic.

Given the band’s range of musical idioms, Jacob is always on point with whatever the song required. “It’s a total Jekyll and Hyde situation,” says Jacob about his performance style. “I’m totally comfortable with the vibe of the title track—a little new wave, a little more pop, a little more soulful on the voice. I can’t make my voice sound like there are razorblades in it. But for some reason, growing up down South in Atlanta, I only really listened to R&B and hip-hop. I love rock ’n’ roll for what it is, but there’s an aspect of how I phrase things in the parts that comes naturally to me.” Not surprisingly, Olds’ vocal acumen is matched by his physical ability to bust a move onstage. “I grew up watching Michael Jackson,” he says proudly. “When people asked me what I wanted to be, I said in all earnestness that I wanted to be a backup dancer for Janet Jackson. Which is hilarious, but I totally kill it on her Rhythm Nation record.”

“If anything, we have learned of the crimes we committed against our fans by restraining Jacob behind a drum set for nine years,” says Mount. “I’m going to vouch for my boy: There is nobody else we would rather have up there.”

“If my brother hadn’t have stepped down, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do this with our band,” says Jacob, “So I will always love and respect him.”

Having avoided the anxiety of breaking in a new frontman, the band were relieved and rejuvenated. Which is why Time Stands Still is the best batch of Family Force fun yet. You could accuse them of being clinically schizophrenic as ever, mixing genres, techniques and approaches as if they were trying to pick a pair of matching socks out of the laundry in the dark. But FF5 realizes the world’s playlist culture dictates that nobody listens to just one kind of music anymore. So when the laser hits the disc, your head is immediately nodding to the electro-metal-crunk of “Sweep The Leg,” a track Mount describes as “a jock jam for the future. I’d love to hear it on an ESPN highlight reel.” Rapper KB guests on the synth-driven “BZRK” to spur the band on, while “Everybody Lose Your Mind” mixes Mount’s rock sensibilities with the rinse-and-drop aesthetics of the EDM scene, as Jacob veers from strident singing to intonations reminding you “this is the last time to lose your mind.” Emo pop and cool new wave swagger collide on “Dance Like Nobody’s Watching,” “Jet Pack Kicks” is a dance party for Auto-Tune robots auditioning for the Transformers franchise, and tracks like “Raised By Wolves” and “Glow In The Dark” bring the rock with all the power and energy, and none of the excess.

“Family Force 5 should be as fun as possible,” Mount stresses. “At times in our career, there’s been a temptation to second-guess things. There are a lot of moments where one of us would do a take and would say, ‘That’s not perfect, I want to record it again.’ And the response to that was, ‘Yes, it is. Leave it.’ Sometimes the intimacy lies in the mistakes and the imperfections. This band doesn’t need to be a version of anything else. We’ve got a lead singer that listens to nothing but Tevin Campbell, Zapp and R&B; a bass player who is as rock as they come; a keyboard player who loves new wave; a drummer who knows about every cool hipster band ever, and I’m a metalhead who’s into weird indie stuff. When you put all that together, it’s a bizarre stew with complex ingredients.”

While Time Stands Still is loaded with swagged-out pop-culture references ricocheting off big beats, cool synth lines and propulsive guitar riffs, there are also demonstrations of genuine heartfelt emotion informing the proceedings. Jacob is joined by Melodie Wagner (of Hillsong Young & Free) on “Walk On Water,” an uplifting duet integrating mindsets of both spiritual and dedicated love. The title track and the stirring “This Is My Year” are songs offering equal doses of encouragement and empowerment to generations of listeners, whether they grew up watching John Hughes movies in the ’80s or waiting in line to buy tickets to see fun. And on the joyous, celebratory “Let It Be Love,” Jacob delivers a couplet that is all-encompassing: “It’s not about the stand you take/but the grace we give/It’s not about the name we make/but the life we live.” It’s a sentiment that transcends attitudes, belief systems and the spiritually empty things humanity puts entirely too much emphasis upon. “This album is about joy and escapism,” says Mount. “At times, it’s light-hearted and carefree, and in other moments, it goes deeper. I really hope someone can put this record in the car stereo and just smile the whole drive home.”

America should pay attention to Mount and make sure its gas tanks are filled. Because Family Force 5 are going to make it even easier for the country to get their smiles on. Upon the release of Time Stands Still, the band are gearing up and bearing down hard for the duration of 2014, working on remixes of tracks from the new album, lensing new videos, touring with the Newsboys, writing music for their annual Christmas Pageant tour (dragging tons of road cases filled with Santa suits, snow machines and peppermint potpourri) and volunteering on a service trip abroad. In other words, Family Force 5 business as usual.

It’s quite clear Family Force 5 are paying it forward by playing it backward. One listen to Time Stands Still proves they have a mission statement firmly in place. Simply put, they’ve returned to put the heart in your party. Is there really someplace better you want to be?

AUDIO ADRENALINEQUOTE"We are so excited to be a part of one of the best tours out there and cannot wait to share the stage with so many amazing artists! The Rock & Worship Roadshow 2016 is a tour that you absolutely have to see!” Adam Agee, Lead Singer

MUSIC VIDEOLyric video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH5kOgOTPtk

SOCIAL MEDIAhttp://audioa.com/https://www.facebook.com/audioadrenalinehttps://twitter.com/AudioAdrenalinehttps://instagram.com/audioaofficial/

SHORT BIOSince their debut in 1986, Audio Adrenaline has been one of Christian music’s best-loved bands. They have garnered two GRAMMY® Awards for Best Rock Gospel Album (Worldwide, Until My Heart Caves In); five GMA Dove Awards; a Gold®-certified recording (Bloom); and 14 #1 Christian radio singles, including signature songs “Big House,” “Get Down” and “Hands And Feet.” In 2004 the band created the Hands & Feet Project, an organization which continues to impact orphans and children throughout Haiti.

LONG BIOLegacy. It’s a word Adam Agee, Dave Stovall, Brandon Bagby and Jack Campbell are hearing a lot lately. Taking the reins of one of Christian music’s most beloved bands, Audio Adrenaline, from former members Mark Stuart and Will McGinniss—who together saw the group garner two GRAMMY® Awards (Best Rock Gospel Album for Worldwide and Until My Heart Caves In); five GMA Dove Awards; a GOLD®-certified recording (Bloom); and 14 #1 Christian radio singles, including such signature songs as “Big House,” “Get Down” and “Hands and Feet”—the new foursome may have some big shoes to fill, but they also have a new trail to blaze.

Audio Adrenaline’s tenth full-length album, Sound of the Saints, finds the band poised for a fresh season, ready to build upon a storied history with a reenergized passion to reach the next generation of fans. With the full support of founding members Stuart and McGinniss, the group honors its heritage—performing a string of Audio A’s biggest hits in concert—while also bringing their distinct personalities to the music.

“We are excited to inspire a new generation of fans the way Audio A inspired us,” says Agee, former lead singer of Dove Award-winning pop/punk act Stellar Kart, with whom he released five studio albums and garnered multiple hit singles. “These new songs carry on the message of Audio A—positive, encouraging and challenging. God can use all of us, even the underdogs.”

“Watching the guys practice for this tour and record has been such a joy,” Stuart affirms. “Hearing the old classics with the new Audio A message makes me proud to be part of a legacy that continues to focus on the Glory of Christ and the absolute joy of becoming His hands and feet.”

Bassist Stovall, originally signed to Flicker Records as part of the band Wavorly, cites Audio A among his leading musical influences. “These guys have been my heroes,” he says. “I was just a 12-year-old kid in a crowd, thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, these guys are excellent musicians; they’re making great music; and they’re Christians. They’re the coolest people I know.’ That inspired a career for me, so my personal goal with the band is to become what the older generation of Audio A was to me.”

Bagby, who was part of Know Hope Collective—an acclaimed worship ensemble birthed by Stuart and McGinniss which, among others, included David Leonard and Leslie Jordan of All Sons & Daughters—is also an accomplished visual artist and was a sought-after session guitarist prior to joining the new Audio A lineup. Meanwhile, Campbell, the group’s youngest member, grew up listening to Christian rock in his native Australia. “I think I was 9 when my parents gave me a drum kit, and they regretted it,” he laughs, “but it’s the best thing they ever bought me.”

Produced by GRAMMY® winner Seth Mosley (Jeremy Camp, for KING & COUNTRY) and Joshua Silverberg (Newsboys, Michael W. Smith), Sound of the Saints offers something for a broad spectrum of tastes, while building on the pop/rock foundation laid by the numerous award winning songs in the band’s large discography. The title track reveals a foot-stomping, Americana-tinged anthem co-written by Stuart, Agee, Mosley and Jared Anderson. “The song is about us as modern-day saints singing out to our Savior and worshipping Him,” says Agee. “All of creation sings Jesus’ name, but He loves to hear His people—His children—sing. It was one of the first songs written for the project, and it seemed to encapsulate what we were trying to accomplish with this record.”

Like their predecessors, the band continues to focus on Gospel-centric lyrics, as evidenced by the pop-driven lead single “Love Was Stronger.” “Everyone’s fallen short. We all make mistakes daily, but God’s love is stronger than all of those mistakes, and covers them one by one, as we make them,” Stovall says in reference to the song’s theme.

“It all goes back to the cross and the power of Love displayed there to cover everything from the beginning of time to the end of time,” Agee adds. “That one act of Love was stronger than anything we could ever do and any power against it.”

The album-opener, “Move,” is the band’s unanimous favorite song to play live and their current concert closer. “I love seeing everyone get pumped about it,” says Campbell, adding that fans have really resonated with the upbeat track.

“I think the music and the message are both very timely,” Agee offers. “The message of ‘Move’ is what Audio A has been about since day one and what we’re hoping to continue

into the future.” To that end, the band will continue to support the Hands & Feet Project, the orphan care initiative founded by Stuart and McGinniss. It’s actually this emphasis on ministry that made stepping into his new role as frontman undeniable for Agee. “The mission aspect of it was inspiring. It was one of the huge trigger points that got me into playing music,” he says. “There had to be a higher calling and a ministry aspect to justify going on the road and leaving my family.”

Agee wants the band’s music to energize listeners to put their faith into action as well. “Some of the last words of Jesus were, ‘…go and make disciples of all nations...’ That’s the mission we’re honored to keep—going into the world and taking care of people, taking care of those who can’t take care of themselves.”

United around a common goal, Audio Adrenaline hopes longtime fans will celebrate with them in this season. “They have always had such great, loyal fans, and that’s what’s so fun,” Agee says of the group’s iconic history. “When you can impact people like that and they stay with you and have your back for 25 years, it’s amazing.”

As for the big shoes this new foursome stands poised to fill? They’re more than ready, Agee assures. “I consider it a privilege to get to carry on this legacy and continue to play music and inspire a new generation the way Mark and Will and the others who built Audio Adrenaline inspired us.”

DANNY GOKEY

MUSIC VIDEO(Full to download)https://www.dropbox.com/s/4r5gcpl8lv3lfm4/DGokey_Hope_ProResHQ_1080.mov?dl=0(Link for viewing on YouTube)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5GFiDdGGGM

SOCIAL MEDIAwww.dannygokey.comTwitter.com/dannygokeyFacebook.com/dannygokeyInstagram.com/dannygokeyYoutube.com/dannygokey

SHORT BIODove Award nominated recording artist Danny Gokey became a favorite of millions of fans as a Top 3 finalist on Season Eight of American Idol. Following Idol, Gokey released his debut album, My Best Days, which debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart. His current album, Hope In Front of Me, hit the Billboard CCM chart at #1 in its first week of release and the title track spent four weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Christian chart. His current single, “More Than You Think I Am”, from the same album is in the Top 10 at both the NAC and CAC Billboard charts. Danny was nominated for both Song of the Year and New Artist of the Year for the 2015 Dove Awards to be held in October 2015.

He is the founder of Sophia’s Heart, an organization established in 2008 in honor of his late wife. The organization’s goal is to provide hope and help to homeless families in crisis. In addition, Sophia’s Heart also has a thriving inner city Music & Arts program in Danny’s hometown of Milwaukee, WI. www.dannygokey.com

LONG BIO Music feeds the soul and few people understand its power better than Danny Gokey. His young life has been a rollercoaster ride and music has been his constant companion. It sustained him following the death of his first wife, Sophia, and it propelled him up the charts after the world discovered his talent on American Idol. Music has shaped his life, providing a sense of purpose and direction, even in the most trying times.

On Gokey’s new album, Hope in Front of Me, the Milwaukee native delivers a potent collection of songs brought vividly to life by his warm, soulful voice. The project percolates with energy on such vibrant up tempo tunes as “Take it to the Limit” and simmers with emotion on such tunes as the compelling title track where he sings “I know in my soul no matter how bad it gets, I’ll be alright. There’s hope in front of me.” For Gokey, those words are more than just lyrics to a great song. They define his life and

underscore his mission to reach others with hope and entertainment. Those words might seem mutually exclusive to some, but Gokey knows the value they have combined.

“I wanted to mix hope and entertainment but not in a way that would be cliché or sappy,” Gokey relates. “I want to deliver a message that feeds the soul, but makes you want to move and groove to the music. That’s always the goal when I write. I’m a person of faith, so I always want my songs to have a strong message of hope. I want to write them in a way that is fresh. ‘Hope In Front of Me’ has got a great message, but it’s also got a great groove to the song so you are moving and your soul is getting fed while you are singing and jamming to the music.”

“Hope in Front of Me” is the lead single from Gokey’s finely crafted sophomore album and has enthusiastically been embraced by the gatekeepers at radio and the fans who have been supporting Gokey since he placed third on season eight of American Idol. He followed his Idol experience with a debut album on 19 Recordings/RCA Records that spawned the hit singles “My Best Days Are Ahead of Me” and “I Will Not Say Goodbye.” The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard charts and earned Gokey the best opening-week sales by a debut country male artist in 18 years. He hit the road in support of the album touring with Sugarland, Taylor Swift and other high profile acts.

“I loved it and had a lot of fun making the first album,” Gokey says. “It was a big learning experience. I feel like God ordained it and it brought me to Nashville.”

Music City definitely felt like a comfortable home for the talented Wisconsin native who grew up listening to a variety of music from Keith Green to Tim McGraw to the Tempations. “My dad was my biggest influence for music,” says Gokey, who was born the fifth of six children. “We listened to Dallas Holm, Ray Boltz, dcTalk and Sandy Patti, but we also listened to country music like Brooks & Dunn and Lee Ann Womack as well as funk and soul music like the Temptations, the Four Tops, The Chi-Lites and the Average White Band. My dad had really diverse taste in music and it was a great music education.”

Gokey has always loved music, but in the early days, it wasn’t the job that paid the bills. “I drove an eighteen wheeler semi-truck, a big rig,” he says. “I liked it actually. Was it what I wanted to settle with for the rest of my life? No, because music was where my passion was.”

His wife Sophia encouraged his dreams and urged him to audition for American Idol. Just a month before his audition, Sophia died unexpectedly after what should have been a routine heart surgery. The couple had been high school sweethearts and Danny was devastated. Yet in the midst of his sorrow, he honored Sophia’s wish and auditioned for American Idol a month after she passed. He advanced through the competition. Viewers were touched by Danny’s story and the depth and power of his voice made him a fan favorite.

American Idol not only helped Gokey land a record deal and catapulted his voice into the homes of millions, it also help provide a platform for him to launch Sophia’s Heart, an organization founded to carry on the legacy of giving started by his late wife. The organization provides a place to live for homeless families in Nashville, and Gokey is proud of the way Sophia’s Heart has expanded to care for a growing number of families each year.

Even as he juggled his work with the growing non-profit venture, Gokey still found time to co-write all but two songs on his new album. Produced by award-winning music legends Keith Thomas (Amy Grant, Vanessa Williams) and Bernie Herms(Natalie Grant, Barbra Streisand) Hope in Front of Me showcases the depth and breadth of Gokey’s artistry as a songwriter and vocalist. Each song reverberates with the emotional honesty and life-affirming messages that have become hallmarks of Gokey’s music. “Love Will Take You Places” boasts a hauntingly beautiful melody and powerful lyric about love’s ability to take us places we never imagined we could go. “It’s Not Over” starts with a sweet soulful vibe that builds into a vibrant anthem of survival and triumph.

“Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” is a gut-wrenching ballad that talks about pain and loss, yet serves as a reminder of the hope that is always present even in the most trying times. “This is What It Means” is a revealing ballad that Danny says is the most autobiographical. “That song is the most about me,” he says. “Literally every line in there is written from a true experience. It talks about love and says ‘there’s fear, there’s faith, there’s loss, there’s grace. I’ve seen it from both sides. This is what it means to be alive.’ It’s the truest song on the album.”

Danny Gokey is a survivor. When he sings, there’s an authority and conviction that comes from life experience. He’s been through so many challenges, yet hope was always a part of his journey. These days Gokey is in a sweet season. He’s remarried and he and his wife, Leyicet, have a beautiful son, Daniel Emanuel, born January 20, 2013. Gokey chronicles his life in his autobiography, also titled “Hope in Front of Me” and in the songs on his new album. “Life might not always makes sense,” he says. “There’s no justice in it and sometimes it might not seem fair, but it’s not the end of the road. Turn the page. Move forward and keep putting your life is God’s hands. There is always hope ahead.”

CITIZEN WAYQUOTE"Citizen Way looks forward to celebrating the good news of Jesus with YOU and some of our new tunes on Roadshow 2016.  If you want to see the band with the best hair, prettiest voices, and least diverse DNA of any CCM artist, then bring a friend, come say hello and get a 100% "Genuine, made in the USA" high five from us!!!  We promise you'll be glad you came at least 27 times!  Amen and Amen."   Ben Calhoun, lead singer

MUSIC VIDEOJust live b-roll footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFb4X5PXRFo

SOCIAL MEDIACitizenWayMusic.comwww.facebook.com/citizenwayTwitter: @citizenwayInstagram: @citizenway

SHORT BIOCitizen Way is a true band of brothers. This infectious pop/rock four-piece is comprised of two sets of siblings - Josh and Ben Calhoun and David and Ben Blascoe. A regional group for 8 years, the band introduced themselves nationally with the highest charting debut single from a new artist in 2012 called, “Should’ve Been Me.” Their LOVE IS THE EVIDENCE album also includes top 5 follow-up single, "Nothing Ever (Could Separate Us)" and the chart topping #1 track, "How Sweet the Sound.” The title track from the album, “Love Is The Evidence” is now on its climb with radio audiences. Citizen Way continues to make an impact both on and off the air, touring with multi-award winning acts including: Big Daddy Weave, Mercy Me, Chris August, Sanctus Real, Josh Wilson, Sidewalk Prophets and more.

LONG BIOCitizen Way is a true band of brothers – in the literal sense. This infectious rockfour-piece is comprised of two sets of siblings with strong ministry backgroundsand a mutual passion for music that began long before the band officially formedin 2004. Band members Josh and Ben Calhoun and David and Ben Blascoeshare a camaraderie that is undeniable and results in a unique, unparalleledconnection for a band that has plenty to say.

Months before their April 2013 label debut album, LOVE IS THE EVIDENCE, thispromising new signing was already generating buzz — even as they continued towrite and record. The band’s first single, “Should’ve Been Me,” made animpressive debut, shooting up to the top of the charts and peaking in the Top 5on Christian AC radio. The tune was penned in 20 minutes by Ben Calhoun aftera conversation with a group of students at the camp where he was leadingworship. “We had just taken these students through a crash course from Genesisthrough Revelation. It was the end of an incredibly powerful week and we were

asking them what they had learned,” recalls Ben Calhoun. “One of the kids spokeup and simply said, ‘I learned that it should have been me.’ I remember thinkingthat was pretty profound for a 14-year-old and was inspired to write this song.”

Amidst their chart success, Citizen Way landed a slot on their first nationwide tourwith another talented band of brothers, the multi-award winning group, Big DaddyWeave. The band is thankful for the new and larger platforms after years of hardwork honing their skills - playing at camps, retreats and youth group events andinvesting in their fans who have been behind them from the very beginning.

All four band members grew up in strong ministry families. Josh and BenCalhoun, the group’s primary songwriters were heavily influenced by their mom’smusical gift and the Calhouns were on stage singing at church from an early age.The Blascoe brothers had a more urban upbringing than their bandmates andwhile their parents weren’t musical, they were music lovers, exposing the boys tolive shows by early Christian acts like Petra and Mylon LeFevre.

The Blascoe brothers each found music in their own way. For David, it started infourth grade. “What actually made me want to play drums was a movie calledThat Thing You Do,” he explains. His parents eventually set him up with a drumkit and gigs at church and stints in a series of high school bands soonfollowed. Ben Blascoe’s instrument choices were based on what he didn't want.“My older sister took piano lessons, and I was determined to not play thatbecause I remember her having to pound away at practice,” he recalls, adding, “Iwanted to do something very different.” Maybe that’s why, as early as elementaryschool, anytime he saw a guitar he’d pick it up and try to play it. Eventually, heborrowed a bass from a friend and would sit in front of the CD player trying tocopy what he heard, whether it was Credence Clearwater Revival or TheCranberries. At 16, he got his own bass and never put it down.

The beginning days of Citizen Way initially started when the two Bens met whilestudying at Judson University outside of Chicago. Ben Calhoun was a musicmajor, drawn to the intricacies of theory and simultaneously also a big fan of popradio, with each new song a potential experiment in merging those two loves.Calhoun says, "Judson was a pivotal place for me, it's where I was able todevelop and set my musical and ministry direction. I'm grateful for the school andit's such a cool privilege to serve as an Adjunct Professor there now."

As a freshman, Ben Blascoe was playing his bass in the dorm one day when theBen Calhoun poked his head in. There was a connection and so when BenCalhoun was ready to record some songs he had composed, he asked the otherBen to join him in the studio. He also recruited his brother Josh, on drums then,who had been playing with the band Augustana while in college. After the projectwas completed, the trio continued to play together eventually adding David as theband’s drummer and Josh moving to keys.

Citizen Way has collaborated with acclaimed producer Seth Mosley (HawkNelson, Audio Adrenaline, former lead singer of Newsboys, Peter Furler) on theirdebut release. With the help of Mosley, the album merges the influences of allfour members, showcasing their melodically, talented songwriting and sound thataudiences have come to love. The recording process, helmed by Mosley, hasallowed the group to get an even clearer picture of who they are together and themagic that can happen when their collective God-given gifts merge. The result ismelodic, meaningful rock that melds the talents of all four members intosomething that shimmers with diverse influences that range from PFR, StevenCurtis Chapman, Newsboys and Andrew Peterson to P.O.D., Coldplay, TheKillers and Brad Paisley.

The name of the band comes from a few key ideas in scripture that are importantto the guys. "Ephesians reminds us that our true citizenship isn't here on earth,but rather in heaven," explains Josh Calhoun, "Jesus calls Himself the wayand the book of Hebrews talks about the new and living way we have because ofChrist's sacrifice, Acts actually calls believers followers of the way. So CitizenWay is an idea that we're part of something bigger, God's kingdom."

Now Citizen Way hopes to build on the immediate connection they've enjoyedwith people through their debut single, “Should’ve Been Me.” “Each time we sing‘Should’ve Been Me’ I still remember the moment when God moved in my life forthe first time and I go back to that special week at camp" says Ben Calhoun. “I’mreminded of what He did for us on the cross and how grateful I am for the life thatI have in Jesus. Our hope is that people will hear our songs and are alsoreminded and encouraged in this same way.”

SHAUN GROVES

SOCIAL MEDIAshaungroves.comhttps://www.facebook.com/shaungroveshttps://twitter.com/shaungroveshttps://instagram.com/shaungroves

SHORT BIOShaun Groves is an award-winning singer-songwriter, a communicator, and advocate for children living in poverty around the world.

LONG BIOShaun Groves is an award-winning singer-songwriter, a communicator, and advocate for children living in poverty around the world.