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Over on the Bud Light Stage tonight, another major Christian music group will be performing just prior to Coke Stage headliner Matthew West.
Since forming in 2000 in West Palm Beach, Fla., Tenth Avenue North (named after a street in that city) has made a slow, steady rise in Christian music. Even before being signed to a record label, it released three full albums and one EP, the three original members – vocalist Mike Donehey, bassist/vocalist Brian Homan, drummer Jason Jamison – raising the money for recording all on their own. While members have come and gone – in droves, actually – since their first CD, “Don’t Look Back,” came out in 2003, the group itself has soldiered on. Only Donehey and Jamison have remained constants, although guitarist Jeff Owen has come and gone and come back since 2005.
In 2007, the band signed a deal with Reunion Records, the Christian arm of Sony, and the CD “Over and Underneath” was released in 2008. It launched two singles, “Love is Here” and “By Your Side,” both of which hit the Top Five on the Christian charts. In 2009, Tenth Avenue North made their first ever appearance at the Christian Music Dove awards, winning 2009s New Artist of the Year.
In years since, they’ve landed two No. 1 singles on the Christian charts, “Strong Enough to Save” and “You Are More,” both in 2010. They’ve also won Doves for Song of the Year for “By Your Side” in 2010 and for Short Form Music Video of the Year for “You Are More” in 2012.