If you go
› What: Big Church Night Out› Where: Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave.› When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22› Admission: $27, $47 and $102 VIP› For more information: 423-757-5580THE LINEUPNewsboysSidewalk Prophets7eventh Time DownBlancaDerek MinorAdam AgeeIllusionist: Brock GillWorship leader: Jamison StrainHost: Jeremy Willet
Newsboys, a band that has been a force in Christian music for more than three decades, is launching a new tour tonight, Sept. 21, that's been three years in the making: Big Church Night Out.
Similar to Newsong's annual Winter Jam concert, Big Church Night Out is a Christian music tour with seven acts - four of them with singles currently in Billboard's Top 40 - combining praise music with an illusionist and inspirational message for a night of music, ministry and unity. The 43-city tour will make its second stop in Chattanooga on Friday night, Sept. 22, at Memorial Auditorium.
"It something we've been thinking about for a long time," says Newsboys' drummer Duncan Phillips in a phone interview. "Winter Jam has been doing it a long time now. It's a model that works. This is our version that is a little smaller than Winter Jam initially, but is something we can build over time."
The biggest amount of prep time was taken up in scheduling, he says, coordinating Newsboys' gigs with those of six other acts.
Sidewalk Prophets is a Nashville band whose album, "These Simple Truths," helped them win a Dove Award for Best New Artist. Their 2011 single, "You Love Me Anyway," reached No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Singles chart. The group's current single, "Come to the Table," is No. 46 and rising on Billboard charts.
Kentucky Christian rock band 7eventh Time Down supports CURE International, a nonprofit that assists children with physical disabilities. The band's current hit, "Only King Forever," is No. 26 on Billboard's Hot Christian Chart."You have a bucketful of people you'd like to go on the road with, and you see who is available," says Phillips.
Joining Newsboys at Big Church Night Out will be Sidewalk Prophets and 7eventh Time Down - "Great friends of ours," says Phillips - along with Blanca, Derek Minor, Adam Agee, illusionist Brock Gill and worship leader Jamison Strain.
Phillips says the goal of Big Church Night Out is simply to spread the message of God's love.
"We see so much craziness in our world, there's so much hate going on between different factions. At the end of the day, it just shouldn't be. We live in the best country in the world, but there are a lot of people instigating strife. We just want to come to your town with the message of love.
"If people really understood what Christianity is about, they'd understand that Christianity is love. The word calls us to love people. We (the performers) don't care what denomination you are, we just want to unify the whole church. There are basic things we can agree on, and we just want to come together under one roof and have church as a family of God. That's what Big Church Night Out is all about," he explains.
Newsboys have sold more than 8 million units, notched eight Gold certifications, had 33 No. 1 radio hits, four Grammy nominations, two American Music Award nominations and won numerous Dove Awards. Their hit list includes "We Believe," "He Reigns," "Miracles" and current hit, "The Cross Has the Final Word." But it's their 2012 Platinum-certified single, "God's Not Dead," that continues to pack the house with fans.
Phillips says it's not unusual for fans to do their own spin on the video for "God's Not Dead," in which concert fans raise signs and placards printed with those words.
"People make all kinds of signs. They wait the whole show - because that's one of the last songs of the night - until that song comes on and then people erupt and signs come up," he describes, chuckling.
"I think the great thing with Newsboys now is that because we have been around so many years we were mom and dad's band when they were teenagers, and now they are bringing their own teenagers. That doesn't happen as often these days," says this dad of a teenager.
"There aren't too many things you can do as a family and everyone enjoy it. But this is one."
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.
Blanca is a Puerto Rican-born contemporary Christian musician, who was formerly a member of Group 1 Crew. Her first single as a solo artist, "Who I Am," reached No. 1 on Billboard Christian Airplay.