Friday, April 25, 2008

Christian rock tour targets mainstream fans


By Deborah Evans Price
1 hour, 45 minutes ago


NASHVILLE (Billboard) -
Christian music quartet Third Day
will headline a traveling festival it hopes will attract music
fans of all religious persuasions.

The 23-city Music Builds tour, also featuring Switchfoot,
Jars of Clay and Robert Randolph & the Family Band, kicks off
August 21 in Detroit and concludes October 12 in Denver.

The amphitheater trek will also include a side stage
featuring up-and-coming acts. MySpace will be the exclusive
online media partner.

"Hopefully the church and people who listen to Christian
music are going to be big supporters of the tour," says Third
Day frontman Mac Powell.

"But I think because of the lineup, it's going to be a
little bit more friendly to people outside of the church as
well. It's not going to be a normal Christian music festival."

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity
affiliates in tour cities. Artists on the tour will
collectively donate $1 to charity from every ticket sold. Money
will also be raised from ticket auctions, event packages and
special merchandise items. Plans even call for band members to
grab tools and help build some Habitat houses along the way.

"More than just playing music, this is something that's
going to reach a community and change the communities that we
go and play for," Powell says. "That's what really gives us a
huge reason to go do it, (in addition to) just making great
music together."

In the meantime, Third Day is gearing up for the July 29
release of its first studio album in three years, "Revelation."

Reuters/Billboard

    This content was originally posted on http://entertainews.blogspot.com/ © 2008 If you are not reading this text from the above site, you are reading a splog

    No comments: