Joanne Brokaw: November 2008 Archives

Thanks again to the lovely Google alert that led me to The Blah Blah blog's post about Christian music artist Josh Garrels.

I've never heard of him - no surprise. Like other indie acts with a blatant faith message but an unconventional delivery (see my post on Woven Hand) Garrels doesn't quite fit the typical Christian music mold.

Sorry, "Becky", this one won't be a head bopper in the mini van on the way to soccer practice, either. It's like a folk, roots, neosoul, acoustic sound.

The Blah Blah blog has a couple of free downloads you can check out for a few more days:
Zion and Babylon (I like this one.)
Don't Wait for Me

If you're on the West Coast December 31, why not ring in the New Year at Praise 2009, a special Christian music event at Knott's Berry Farm, just 10 minutes from Disney in California.

The event features Kutless, Todd Agnew, Brandon Heath, Addison Road and comedian Thor Ramsey. In addition, Rick Reyna will be presenting the Rallys for Christ Stage featuring Latin and hip hop performances by En Kairos, The Queens, Roca Firme, SOG, Devo, T-Bone and Aaron de La Cruz.

Concert goers can take advantage of the park's famous attractions, including the Silver Bullet, GhostRider and the new Pony Express.

Tickets can be purchased on-line for only $39.99 each. Regular pricing for the event is $46.99 pre-sale, $51.99 the day of the event, and $37.99 for groups of 15 or more with two-day advance notice. For group reservations call (714) 220-5211 or for Praise 2009 rebate and fundraising opportunities for your church group call (714) 220-5119. Discount coupons are available at selected Christian bookstores.

For complete information about Praise 2009, visit the Knott's Berry Farm website.

To get you into the holiday spirit, you can get a free download of the song "All Creation Sing (Joy To The World)" from worship band Fee as well as a download of Michael W. Smith's new song, "Mighty To Save," from his new album, A New Hallelujah.

Just head over to the 20 The Countdown Magazine. The links for the downloads are on the left hand side, about halfway down the page. The link to the Michael W. Smith download will take you to a preview page for his new album, where you can check out a video and preview the album tracks. The link for his free download is the last thing on the page.

The link for the Fee download will take you right to the song.

Have fun with the free Christian music downloads!

The "Keeping Me Alive," from Christian music artist The After's sophomore project Never Going Back to OK, is being used on the new reality show, "Secret Millionaire."

The new inspirational show sends millionaires undercover into the most impoverished neighborhoods in America and documents their investment in those less fortunate. The Secret Millionaire eventually reveals his/her true identity to those helping others and intentions - to give them a sum of money that is going to change their lives forever.

The Afters are gearing up for their 12 Days of Christmas tour, with guests Nevertheless and Remedy Drive. The tour will kick off December 2 in Indianapolis, IN and end December 13 in Dallas, TX. For complete tour dates, visit The Afters website.

Visit Beliefnet's Christian music blog, Gospel Soundcheck, daily for the latest news on your favorite Christian music artists as well as mainstream artists with ties to Christian music.

In this video clip from CMT, country music star Trace Adkins talks about teaming up with actor Stephen Baldwin for the video to Adkins' song, "Muddy Water."

In an interview with CMT, Adkins says the first time he heard the song:

I related to it. That's the way my life is. To me, it just kind of said, "This is how I was raised." The first kind of music that I sang was gospel music. I sang bass in a gospel quartet before I began singing in honky-tonks because that was the first door that opened for me, and this was my way of saying I haven't forgotten that. I know where I come from, and it's still very important to me. I don't want that to be lost -- and also to say to my mother that the way I turned out's not her fault.

We've all at one time -- or a lot of us anyway -- have been that prodigal that strayed and went down a different road that led us to a bad place, but that's what this song says. There's a place for us to go back to. It's still there.