Earlier this week, Fair Trade Services' critically acclaimed artist Sara Groves released her 10th album Invisible Empires. Produced by Steve Hindalong (Sixpence None The Richer, Leeland, The Choir, City On A Hill) the landmark album is following in the acclaimed footsteps of her nine previous recordings, receiving stunning reviews from Christianity Today, Rhapsody.com, NewReleaseTuesday and more:
“Groves gives voice to both the struggle of living as a Christian and the unshakeable peace that comes from surrender and trust. In Sara Groves' capable hands, they expand and fill to take in all our lives, and Invisible Empires is another musical triumph.”
-Christianity Today
“On her 10th album, Invisible Empires, Sara Groves continues her habit of laying bare her most intimate feelings and fears in hopes that her warts-and-all truth will inspire the rest of us to live more examined, thoughtful lives…this underrated singer/songwriter sifts through the layers of life that pile up on us all to get to what’s really important.” –Rhapsody.com
“A collection of songs this deep and resonant are rare in any genre, and are truly ‘art’ in the truest sense of the word. Invisible Empires attempts to speak to that place in the heart that so rarely gets spoken to. Sara Groves has opened up yet another great conversation with the world." -JesusFreakhideout.com
“Sara’s excellent songwriting and captivating piano-based singer-songwriter style have made her my favorite female artist in any genre of music. Sara has now once again released her ‘best’ album topping all of her previous excellent work. Invisible Empires by Sara Groves is the top album of 2011.” -NewReleaseTuesday.com
"Each track on Invisible Empires has a quiet power and conviction. Sara Groves’ amazing ministry is packed within her exceptional songwriting. With her smooth folksy voice and warm piano, she proceeds to sweetly convict and convert listeners with each song." -The Fish
Featured on what-already-appears to be another hit project for the gifted artist is the first single “Eyes on the Prize,” which was originally adapted during the Civil Rights Movement and also features the young voices of a youth choir based in Jersey City, NJ: the New City Kids. While the message is universal, Groves had International Justice Mission (IJM) specifically in mind when recording this song, knowing that this social-justice organization, like many do, has reached its point of the “long haul.” IJM is currently featuring a unique video of Groves sharing her message behind the song on their website. Please click here to view. The powerful anthem is being played on major radio networks such as WBSN/New Orleans, WCIE/Tampa, Family Life Network, American Family Radio, and KNLB/Phoenix among others.
Additionally, in-depth interviews with Groves can be found on Beliefnet.com and the November issue of CCM as well as upcoming interviews with USA Radio, American Family Radio, Campus Crusade for Christ Radio and more. Always eloquent and honest, Groves recently took time to film a video where she shares what the album means to her and more here.
Groves is currently on the “Reason to Gather” Tour with this year’s GMA Dove Award “Female Vocalist” and “Best New Artist” nominee Audrey Assad and indie singer/songwriter duo Jenny & Tyler.
For more information on Sara Groves and Invisible Empires, please visit www.saragroves.com.
Throughout her career, critics have praised gifted songstress Sara Groves for her compelling yet intimate and honest lyrics. On October 18, the critically acclaimed artist will reach a career milestone as she unveils her tenth record Invisible Empires.
Cultivating a new relationship with producer Steve Hindalong (Leeland, City On A Hill & Sixpence None The Richer) the duo created Invisible Empires, Groves’ decade-marker album with her label Fair Trade Services. Invisible Empires is the follow-up to Fireflies and Songs, which was named Christianity Today’s 2009 "Album of the Year." The singer/songwriter describes the album as a process of sorting through the layers of life, gaining a new perspective and finding the truth.
“Fireflies is very much like a girl and her piano,” says Groves, “and I knew this record was going to be a little bit bigger than a girl and her piano. When you're raising children you are keenly aware of how the times that you grew up in are vastly different from the times they are growing up in and a lot of this record is reflecting on those differences in an effort to identify what never changes, what will always be true.”
Radio listeners will get a sneak peak of what is yet to come from her current single, the gospel-inspired “Eyes on the Prize,” one of the eleven tracks featured on Invisible Empires. It is a captivating anthem that was adapted during the Civil Rights Movement and also features the young voices of a group based in Jersey City, NJ: the New City Kids. While the message is universal, Groves had International Justice Mission (IJM) specifically in mind, knowing that this nonprofit social-justice organization, like many do, has reached its point of the “long haul.”
IJM is one of the organizations that will be supported through the upcoming Reason to Gather tour, spotlighting Groves, Audrey Assad and new duo Jenny & Tyler. Later this year, Groves will also embark on Christmas tour with GRAMMY ® nominated band Leeland. For a full list of tour dates, please go to www.saragroves.com.
Through all of the activity, the Groves, her husband Troy and three children keep their eyes on the prize with a mission statement they crafted in 1997 when she first started doing music full time. This mission statement serves as their goal for Invisible Empires: “We believe every person has a next step with God. Whether you’re an atheist or the ninety-nine-year-old woman who’s served God all of her life, I’m writing music about those processes, those moments to pause and ask, ‘Where am I on the road, and where would God have me go next?’”
For more information about Sara Groves please visit www.saragroves.com.
On October 13, critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Sara Groves will embark on the “Reason to Gather” tour in conjunction with the release of her upcoming album slated to release this fall. Sponsored by multiple organizations including Food for the Hungry, International Justice mission, Christianity Today Magazine and Art House America, the Fair Trades Services artist will be accompanied by this year’s GMA Dove Award “Female Vocalist” and “Best New Artist” Nominee Audrey Assad and indie singer/songwriter duo Jenny & Tyler.
“I am really looking forward to hitting the road this fall with our new friends Audrey, Jenny and Tyler,” says Groves. “It will be a thoughtful night of stories, music and conversation about the important things in life. All the things needed to provide a good reason to gather...except food...hmmm.”
Groves will perform brand new songs featured on the soon to be announced project, in addition to memorable fan favorites. The “Reason to Gather” tour will travel throughout the east visiting landmarks including Raleigh, NC and Chattanooga, TN through October 23. Leading into the Thanksgiving holiday, the tour will gather crowds out west spending time in California and Washington and several other cities. See a list of current tour dates below. (More dates to be added).
“I am looking forward to the 'Reason to Gather' tour this fall with much anticipation,” Assad exclaims. “It's an honor to get invited out on the road by an artist like Sara, who balances family, art and business so well and so intentionally. I can't wait to experience each night along with the audience.”
For more information about the “Reason to Gather” tour and a full list of tour dates, please go to http://saragroves.com/.
Known for her active role with International Justice Mission, singer/songwriter and justice advocate Sara Groves has been chosen to be one of 400 U.S. Delegates for the Lausanne Congress. Last month, joined by husband Troy Groves, she attended the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelism in Cape Town, South Africa. The Lausanne Congress, founded by Billy Graham and John Stott in 1974, convened Christian leaders in Lausanne, Switzerland to mobilize the global Church and respond to the issues of their day.
Groves gathered with over 4,000 pastors, teachers, ministry professionals and young visionaries from more than 200 countries for the Congress. The goal of the event was to promote unity, humbleness in service, and a call to action for global evangelization.
“The Congress reminded me that we serve a global God. I had the opportunity to meet, worship, get to know and study God’s Word with other Believers from a wide spectrum of the Body of Christ,” says Groves as she reflects on her experience. “When someone’s context is so completely different from your own- it asks you a million different questions about the way you are following Jesus. When you are sharing with friends from places such as Monte Negro where there are only 140 believers in the entire country who were praying for me to have more love…it was just amazing.”
The critically acclaimed singer/songwriter took her listeners along for the ride by posting “twitter-sodes” via twitter @grovesroad, where they filmed clips of the conference, which provided viewers a personal inside look at this historic event.
In the few years leading up to this event, Lausanne Working Groups and Lausanne International Deputy Directors are engaging leadership teams to determine the relevant issues of the day pertaining to the church and worldwide evangelization and holistic ministry. These issues were discussed before and during and after Cape Town 2010 with the hope that new strategies and new collaborative efforts will be started so that many more men, women and young people will be able to hear and respond to the message of Christ presented in a relevant and culturally appropriate manner.
In addition to being part of the Lausanne Congress, Groves has had the privilege to be chosen to be a part of the Board of Directors for John Stott Ministries. John Stott Ministries is the USA affiliate member of Langham Partnership International, which exists to help churches in the Majority World grow in maturity and be equipped for mission through three programs: Langham Preaching, Langham Scholars and Langham Literature. These programs work with local and national church leaders, equipping them to build on the work of evangelists and church planters, through biblical preaching, teaching and writing.
For more information on Sara Groves please go to www.saragroves.com and additional details on Lausanne Congress please go to http://www.lausanne.org/about.html.
Critically Acclaimed singer/songwriter Sara Groves brings the Christmas spirit to the women of an Illinois prison in her upcoming holiday release Sara Groves O Holy Night Tour: Live The Prison Show. In the spirit of giving, Groves is making the album available to everyone for free through www.sararoves.com starting today.
The INO Recording artist partnered with Hope Shows Ministry, an organization that produces Christian concerts in prisons and benefit events on behalf of prison ministry, and brought Christmas to the women singing some of her holiday favorites showcased on her album Oh Holy Night (2009) while also sharing the true meaning of Christmas.
“When we began planning our Christmas Tour last year, we found a theme emerging - the story of Christmas is that Jesus enters suffering that wasn't his own, and invites us to follow him in this type of life, providing a cup of cold water, clothing and feeding the poor, and visiting the prisoner,” explains Groves. “The night culminated around a live phone-call from a friend and ex-inmate that spent 18 Christmases in prison. He shared what it meant to him to have prison ministry volunteers enter his story week after week.
So it was simply providential that we got a call from Hope Shows asking us if we would be able to bring our O Holy Night Christmas Tour into a prison they partner with. Like any group of people, there is no monolithic persona for inmates. This is always the biggest surprise for anyone who visits. Our prison populations are made up of a diversity of men and women who are made in God's image, and Jesus himself asks us to not forget them (Matthew 25:36). We are giving this recording away for free so that you can enjoy the rawness of this night of music, and hear the fellowship we experienced.“
Groves was able to connect with the women in treasured conversation sharing personal experiences and the meaning of Christmas before giving two intimate performances to over 1000 enthusiastic women, giving Groves what she says to be the best audience on the tour. However, this experience is not a foreign one for Groves, it is actually a ministry she holds dear to her heart.
"In selecting Sara for the first Hope Shows prison concert, we knew we could trust her heart to deliver a hope-full Christmas performance, and her family's past experience in prison ministry uniquely prepared Sara to minister to and connect with the women,” says Robyn Lyn founder and director of Hope Shows. “My favorite moment was when the band stepped out from behind the microphones and stepped in to the audience to sing Christmas carols with them ... the sounds of the inmates voices mixed with Sara and her band were absolutely amazing."
To hear the unique and raw live recording, fans can download the full record for free through her website www.saragroves.com where you will be directed to Noisetrade where guests will be able to donate to Hope Shows, where the proceeds will go towards arranging more artists to participate in prison ministry around the country.
Groves will continue to share the Christmas story to audiences on her “O Holy Night Tour” as they visit select cities in the U.S. The joyous celebration will begin December 2 in Milwaukee, WI and carry through December 19 in Clearwater, FL.
For more information on Groves and tour date listing please visit www.saragroves.com.
In a fight against modern-day slavery, last week INO Records’ Sara Groves joined the International Justice Mission (IJM) and 5 Weeks of Freedom team as they rode 70 miles through Nashville as part of the organization’s 1,800-mile bike ride through the historic Underground Railroad.
"We had an amazing day with the IJM riders,” said Groves. “The dedication of these friends was staggering. They are really putting themselves in extreme conditions to identify in a small way what trafficked victims go through. Appreciate them letting us tag along for a day".
Groves has been a long-time supporter of IJM. In April 2009, she traveled to Washington, D.C. on behalf of the organization to advocate for victims of human trafficking, meeting with the offices of Minnesota Congress and Senate Aides.
IJM is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. In support of IJM’s work, 5 Weeks for Freedom is a major awareness and advocacy campaign to give a voice to victims of modern-day slavery and other forms of injustice. Additional information about these efforts can be found at www.ijm.org.
Since her debut release in 2001, Conversations, Sara Groves has become one of the most critically-acclaimed artists in the Christian music industry, receiving rave reviews across the board for each recording by the likes of Billboard, and consistently topping year-end reader's polls and album of the year nods from the likes of CCM magazine, Christianity Today online and more. On her latest album, Fireflies & Songs, her most personal recording to date, Groves expands on her life lessons and struggles including she and her husband’s determined efforts to nurture other marriages by being open about their own shortcomings and lessons learned. Since her 2005 release Add to the Beauty, Groves has been immersed in a series of global conversations and experiences, from the flood-ravaged gulf of Louisiana, to the genocide memorials of Rwanda, to the testimonies of Southeast Asia sex trade survivors. These experiences showed the disparity between some of the American pursuits of comfort and wealth and the joy of joining the difficult work of social justice and engaging in the suffering of the afflicted.
Nashville, TN…INO Records’ critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Sara Groves never ceases to amaze critics and fans with her compelling lyrics and stunning vocal style, and she continues to do so with her latest and most honest release Fireflies and Songs (November 17). With rave reviews continuing to pour in, Fireflies and Songs has proved to be another hit for Groves already being called one of the best of 2009 by NewReleaseTuesday.com and numerous others:
“It’s hard to imagine, but Sara has now once again released her “best” album topping all of her previous excellent work. This is one of my top 10 albums of 2009.”-NewReleaseTuesday.com
“I was certain Groves had already uncovered all of life's hidden layers. But Fireflies & Songs probes yet deeper, and even more beautifully, into the fears, doubts, and joys of the human soul.”-ChristianityToday.com
“The end result is an anthology of beautifully and delicately crafted songs that are steeped in emotion and filled with creatively-crafted lyrics that draw us in to her stories. Another reviewer called Groves “one of Christian music’s best-kept secrets,” and I would have to agree. If you’ve not experienced the musical treasury of this artist before, Fireflies and Songs is a great place to start.”-Gospelmusicchannel.com
“We’re privileged to get a glimpse into her own world, one of family and hope and struggles and dreams. From her childhood to her current life, it feels like we’re truly meeting Sara Groves for the first time, and this is one of those albums that deserves an hour sitting on the couch, doing nothing but closing your eyes and listening. It’s that good.”-Soul-Audio.com
In addition to her continuing success, Groves will embark on her first solo Christmas tour later this week, performing songs from her 2008 Holiday release O Holy Night. The tour has been in great demand by promoters, and is a family friendly show that starts off the holidays in Scotch Plains, NJ on December 3 and will carry on until December 20 closing in Springfield, IL.
“It is so refreshing to see people rally around an artist who at the core of her being represents what Christmas is all about-peace and justice in a hurting world,” says Bryan Myers with CAA. “The ultimate love comes down from heaven to affect real people. In an economy that is picky about much, we were not able to squeeze all the dates we were offered into this tour. I think that says something for the quality and purpose of this tour and artist. People want to see faith lived out. It’s inspiring.”
"Everyone in the band has anticipated this tour for a long time,” says Groves. “We have packed the night full of music, caroling, and Christmas reminiscing all surrounding the theme of how Jesus appeared and the soul felt it's worth!"
To see Groves LIVE this holiday season, please see tour dates listed below and for more information on Groves visit www.saragroves.com.
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O Holy Night Tour Dates (Subject to Change)
December 3 Scotch Plains, NJ
December 4 Presque Isle, ME
December 5 Bengor, ME
December 6 Manchester, NH
December 8 Hershey, PA
December 10 Des Moines, IA
December 11 Green Bay, WI
December 12 Lincoln, IL
December 13 Niles, OH
December 15 Austin, MN
December 17 Alexandria, MN
December 18 Maple Grove, MN
December 19 Indianapolis, IN
December 20 Springfield, IL
INO Records’ Sara Groves recently returned from Washington, D.C. after meeting with the offices of Minnesota Congress and Senate Aides on behalf of International Justice Mission as a part of the Day of Advocacy.
Groves was among 100 individuals from 25 states who took part in a day of advocacy organized by the human rights agency International Justice Mission (IJM). Participants met with more than 100 Congressional offices to build support for new legislation being introduced in the House by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ). The Child Protection Compact Act of 2009 aims to eradicate the trafficking of minors into forced prostitution and forced labor in a few target countries that have shown a demonstrated commitment to dealing with the problem but lack adequate resources.
"I'm appreciative that IJM is not only at the forefront of confronting this issue, but that they give us the tools and empowerment to take our advocacy to the next level,” says Groves. “Speaking directly to our leaders from Minnesota about the importance of ending the trafficking of minors gave me renewed hope in our ability to influence real change."
The trafficking of persons is the third largest criminal industry after drugs and weapons, and the fastest growing criminal activity in the world. According to UNICEF, there are nearly two million children in the commercial sex trade worldwide and, according to the U.S. Department of State, 80% of human trafficking victims are women and girls, as many as 50% are minors.
“When it comes to fighting human trafficking a relatively small amount of money goes extremely far because authorities can leverage the impact of the law,” said Holly Burkhalter, Vice President for Government Relations at IJM. “This can change the entire calculation of crime in that community and trafficking numbers go down.”
Groups like IJM are seeing big improvements over short periods of time. In just under two years of collaboration with local authorities in Cebu, Philippines, IJM has seen the number of child prostitutes reduced by 70 percent
“IJM is a team of lawyers and law enforcement officials who work around the globe to represent people who wouldn’t normally have access to that kind of intervention,” says Groves. “In Southeast Asia they work mostly freeing young girls from brothels. Over a million women and children are trafficked every year, but IJM is leading the way in setting new precedents in the fight against human trafficking. In Africa, they represent the oppressed, and work to restore land to widows who have been robbed of their land. In South Asia they work to free families and groups of people from bonded slavery. Basically, they are public defenders for the least of these.”
Amidst Groves’ trip to Washington D.C., her single “Love Is Still A Worthy Cause” from her latest studio recording Tell Me What You Know is currently at radio. To view a viral video of the song, please visit http://wmedia.buzzplant.com/content/ino/SaraGroves-Love-Cause_Viral.wmv.
Additional information about efforts to secure justice for victims of sexual exploitation, slavery and other forms of violent oppression can be found at www.ijm.org.
Since her debut release in 2001, Conversations, Sara Groves has become one of the most critically-acclaimed artists in the Christian music industry, receiving rave reviews across the board for each recording by the likes of Billboard, and consistently topping year-end reader's polls and album of the year nods from the likes of CCM magazine, Christianity Today online and more. On her new album, Tell Me What You Know, Groves explores what she has learned over the past two years, lessons on the value of long defeats, and the defiance of hope in the face of insurmountable odds. Since the 2005 release of Add to the Beauty, Groves has been questioning just how, exactly, she is called to do that. Her answers came in a series of global conversations and experiences, from the flood-ravaged gulf of Louisiana, to the genocide memorials of Rwanda, to the testimonies of Southeast Asia sex trade survivors. These experiences showed the disparity between some of the American pursuits of comfort and wealth and the joy of joining the difficult work of social justice and engaging in the suffering of the afflicted.
NASHVILLE, TN.... 11/6/08....This September and October, critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter Sara Groves gathered a group of fellow-acclaimed artists and friends Brandon Heath, Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken and author/artist Charlie Peacock, to join her on the ART*MUSIC*JUSTICE tour which benefited both the International Justice Mission (IJM) and Food For the Hungry (FH). The tour was such a success on so many levels that plans are already underway to put together a follow-up tour in the fall of 2009.
“ I can't say what a joy it has been to collaborate with these incredible artists to take a small step towards a night like we had on the Art Music Justice Tour,” remarked Groves. ”To be surrounded with like-minded artists with a common goal and message, to ask the larger questions about what Jesus is doing in our world, and how we can be the art of God was very life-giving. The responses from audiences confirmed what we had hoped, as they responded generously to the work of Food for the Hungry and International Justice Mission.”
In over 20 cities, the artists brought a unique concert opportunity to “add to the beauty, seek justice and give God praise,” each evening, desiring to further educate the church on God's heart for justice, gain advocates for the oppressed, and show evidence of a God at work in this world. Each evening brought with it inspired music and videos of God's people in action and their heroic experiences across the globe. Incredible stories of rescue from the International Justice Mission were told, while giving audience members the opportunity to be involved in Groves 'adopted' village in Rwanda thru Food for the Hungry.
As the tour wrapped, 550 kids had been sponsored in the Rwandan Village of Gisanga that the AMJ tour and Groves family support, and their goal to raise $50k for the International Justice Mission was surpassed. Food for the Hungry (www.FH.org) works in more than 26 developing countries providing disaster and emergency relief, and implementing sustainable development programs to transform communities physically and spiritually. The International Justice Mission (www.IJM.org) is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression.
About the shows, Heath stated, “The sound and feel of the night couldn’t have been more like a family joining other families to end slavery,” while Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken echoed those sentiments, commenting, "we have all been knit together on this tour like a traveling music community, and at the end of the day, we've been able to be part of this larger story of redemption through IJM and FFH."
To further cement their commitment to the oppressed, the Groves family will be traveling to Rwanda in March with Food for the Hungry. They will be taking a team of 12 people with them, working on clean water projects, an IJM day to hear from their office about the legal challenges for Rwandans 14 years after tragic genocide, and just loving the kids in the Village of Gisanga. Grove’s site will have updates, pictures, and video footage from the village to keep the FH sponsors plugged in to what is happening there.
Aside from the incredible success seen on the road each night, the tour also received critical acclaim, including the following from Relevant Magazine’s official blog, a sponsor of the tour:
“ Over the years, there have been many Christian festivals/events/tours, trying to promote some kind of cause/get people involved/push a message. The vast majority of them are quickly forgotten, tossed into the large bin of failed trends within our own subculture. This tour, however, is unique in that rather than pushing a certain action (”wear this purity ring!” “sign this petition against [fill in the blank depending on the year]!”) the audience was encouraged to take what they’d learned, pray deeply about it, and discover their own role in ending injustice.”
GRAMMY-nominated,
progressive rock band Leeland will be hitting the road with
Jars of Clay for the LOVE CAME DOWN: A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT tour.
The bands will be joined by the recently reunited Sixpence None The Richer,
along with Sara Groves as they embark on a 13-city tour filled with holiday
songs and stories in celebration of the Christmas season.
Catch LOVE CAME DOWN: A
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT on the following dates:
Dec
4
Montgomery, AL @ Montgomery Performing Arts Center
Dec
5
Longwood, FL @ Northland Church
Dec
6
Pompano Beach, FL @ Pompano Beach Amphitheatre
Dec
7
Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Echerd Hall
Dec
13
Grand Rapids, MI @ Sunshine Church
Dec
14
Merrillville, IN @ Star Plaza Theatre
Dec
17
Glenside, PA @Keswick Theatre
Dec
18
Plymouth, MA @ Memorial Hall
Dec
19
Lewiston, ME @ Androscoggin Bank Coliseum
Dec
20 Long
Island City, NY @ Evangel Church
Dec
21
Harrisburg, PA @ Whitaker Center for the Science and Arts
CCM Magazine Names Sara Groves' Add To The Beauty Album Of The Year
Sara Groves continues her career trek as one of the most critically-acclaimed singer-songwriters
in our industry, recently having her latest CD, ADD TO THE BEAUTY, lauded as CCM Magazine’s Album of the Year (see attached) in their current December issue. With a hit single, “You Are The Sun,” a successful tour with Jars of Clay this fall, and resounding praise in publications nationwide, ADD TO THE BEAUTY is definitely a benchmark album for Groves. Watch for Sara to appear on the cover of Today’s Christian Woman magazine this March
2006. Regarding how ADD TO THE BEAUTY has been so well-received, Groves commented, “I'm so thankful for the positive reception of the new album. It is a tribute to all of the great, creative people that contribute to the music.”
