After becoming the first Christian artist to sell out Staples Center in Los Angeles, logging sold out events at major venues coast-to-coast this winter/spring and subsequently gathering Pollstar Magazine’s April 11 “Hotstar” cover feature, modern worship band Hillsong UNITED returns to North America this summer to pick up where they left off. Hitting primarily the Midwest for the first burst of tour dates in June, the band announces today 11 newly added August events throughout the Southeast, as well as into Canada. Singing the favorites that have helped sell over 11 million albums, the band will also play songs from AFTERMATH, Hillsong UNITED’s acclaimed 2011 release that topped retail sales charts internationally, hit No. 17 on the Billboard Top 200 and continues to be its fastest selling album ever.
Premier Productions, which promoted the Staples Center event, as well as promoted sold out Hillsong UNITED events earlier this year at such major market venues as ShoWare Center (Seattle), Warfied Theatre (San Francisco), Memorial Auditorium (Sacramento), Music Hall (Dallas), Berry Center (Houston), Gwinnett Center (Atlanta), Hammerstein Ballroom (New York City) and two back-to-back events the same night at Boston’s Orpheum Theatre, announces that tickets will go on sale June 3 for all the August dates. Information on how to purchase tickets can be found through www.PremierProductions.com, with a special pre-sale offer using the promotional code “aftermath” available on this website beginning June 1. (All tour dates are listed below. Tickets for the Toronto, ON date 8/13, being promoted by Unite Productions, are already on sale: http://uniteinworship.com/.)
“The appeal of Hillsong UNITED is their love for the Church and creating an atmosphere where people engage and express their faith through dynamic worship music that creates an incredible unified experience,” says Shane Quick, owner and vice president of the concert division with Premier Productions. “To hear thousands of people singing together at the top of their lungs for three hours is nothing short of amazing.”
“There is a real sense of perseverance within our team, not performance,” says Hillsong UNITED member Joel Houston. “In 2011, we are pushing the boundaries and stretching ourselves; musically, lyrically and believing that God is going to do things He has never done before.”
While on tour, and in response to nationwide food bank deficits, Hillsong UNITED is partnering with local churches and agencies to again facilitate an I-HEART :: This Means Love Food Drive in each city they visit. “Yes, the world is a mess but the Good News is that it can get better; all it takes is a little more love and unity,” says Hillsong UNITED’s Jad Gillies as he urges people attending the tour to bring to the event non-perishable food to help meet the needs of their neighbors. Over 7,000 family meals were collected for those that need them most during the Feb/March US leg of the tour.
The full summer tour itinerary follows:
Mon, June 13 Milwaukee, WS Bradley Center
Tue, June 14 St Louis, MO Family Arena
Wed, June 15 Wilmore, KY Ichthus Festival at Ichthus Farm
Fri, June 17 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
Sat, June 18 Austin, TX Cedar Park Center
Mon, June 20 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse
Tue, June 21 Mineral City, OH Alive Festival at Atwood Park Lake Amphitheatre
Fri, Aug. 5 Tampa, FL SPT Forum (Arena)
Sat Aug. 6 Miami, FL American Airlines
Mon Aug. 8 Jacksonville, FL Moran Theatre
Tue Aug. 9 Greenville, SC BILO Center
Thu Aug. 11 Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Bank Center
Sat Aug. 13 Toronto, ON Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Mon Aug. 15 Grand Rapids Van Andel Arena
Tue Aug. 16 Columbus OH Veterans Memorial
Thu Aug. 18 Nashville, TN Allen Arena, Lipscomb University
Fri Aug. 19 Greensboro, NC GSO – Coliseum
Sat Aug. 20 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
Born out of the Youth Movement of Australia’s Hillsong Church, and fronted by worship leaders Joel Houston, Jad Gillies and Jonathon “JD” Douglass, the UNITED team is also an evolving collaboration of pastors, worship leaders, musicians and songwriters - all intentional about giving voice to a generation passionate about God. Having led worship in churches, stadiums and open fields in Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, Hillsong UNITED’s AFTERMATH is the first new album from the band in over two years. The recording sparked the band’s biggest radio hit to date, “Search My Heart,” and offers an unabashedly creative collection of new songs that celebrates the One who saves, redeems and is the true representation of Hope in a world where hopelessness abounds.
More information on Hillsong UNITED can be found at www.hillsongunited.com and www.facebook.com/hillsongunited, where the band has over 1.93 million friends.
After becoming the first Christian artist to sell out Staples Center in Los Angeles, logging sold out events at major venues coast-to-coast this winter/spring and subsequently gathering Pollstar Magazine’s April 11 “Hotstar” cover feature, modern worship band Hillsong UNITED returns to the U.S. in June to pick up where they left off. Hitting primarily the Midwest for this burst of tour dates, the band will continue leading event goers through not only the favorites that have helped move over 11 million albums sold, but songs from AFTERMATH, the band’s acclaimed 2011 release that topped retail sales charts internationally, hit No. 17 on the Billboard Top 200 and continues to be its fastest selling album ever.
Premier Productions, which promoted the Staples Center event, as well as promoted sold out Hillsong UNITED events earlier this year at such major market venues as ShoWare Center (Seattle), Warfied Theatre (San Francisco), Memorial Auditorium (Sacramento), Music Hall (Dallas), Berry Center (Houston), Gwinnett Center (Atlanta), Hammerstein Ballroom (New York City) and two back-to-back events the same night at Boston’s Orpheum Theatre, announces that tickets will go on sale for the June dates April 22. Information on how to purchase tickets can be found through www.PremierProductions.com, with a special pre-sale offer using the promotional code “aftermath” available on this website beginning April 20.
“The appeal of Hillsong UNITED is their love for the Church and creating an atmosphere where people engage and express their faith through dynamic worship music that creates an incredible unified experience,” says Shane Quick, owner and vice president of the concert division with Premier Productions. “To hear thousands of people singing together at the top of their lungs for three hours is nothing short of amazing.”
“There is a real sense of perseverance within our team, not performance,” says Hillsong UNITED member Joel Houston. “In 2011, we are pushing the boundaries and stretching ourselves; musically, lyrically and believing that God is going to do things He has never done before.”
With additional North American tour dates in August and September to be announced later, the full June tour itinerary follows:
Mon, June 13 – Milwaukee, WS, Bradley Center
Tue, June 14 – St Louis, MO, Family Arena
Wed, June 15 – Wilmore, KY, Ichthus Festival at Ichthus Farm
Fri, June 17 – Tulsa, OK, BOK Center
Sat, June 18 – Austin, TX, Cedar Park Center
Mon, June 20 – Indianapolis, IN, Conseco Fieldhouse
Tue, June 21 – Mineral City, OH, Alive Festival at Atwood Park Lake Amphitheatre
Born out of the Youth Movement of Australia’s Hillsong Church, and fronted by worship leaders Joel Houston, Jad Gillies and Jonathon "JD" Douglass, the UNITED team is also an evolving collaboration of pastors, worship leaders, musicians and songwriters - all intentional about giving voice to a generation passionate about God. Having led worship in churches, stadiums and open fields in Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, Hillsong UNITED’s AFTERMATH is the first new album from the band in over two years. The recording sparked the band’s biggest radio hit to date, “Search My Heart,” and offers an unabashedly creative collection of new songs that celebrates the One who saves, redeems and is the true representation of Hope in a world where hopelessness abounds.
More information on Hillsong UNITED can be found at www.hillsongunited.com and www.facebook.com/hillsongunited, where the band has over 1.79 million friends.
Modern worship band Hillsong UNITED wrapped up its North American “Aftermath” tour with huge crowds in every market, logging 10 sell outs at major venues coast-to-coast while simultaneously mobilizing a movement of people to help ease hunger in the local communities surrounding each worship night and inspiring donations to help with earthquake relief efforts. Becoming the first Christian artist to ever sell out Los Angeles’s Staples Center, Hillsong UNITED’s tour launched following the release of its 11th full-length album and second ever studio recording, AFTERMATH, which topped retail charts internationally and has become the band’s fastest selling album ever.
In addition to the Staples Center, major market venues that sold out along the tour included Seattle’s ShoWare Center, San Francisco’s Warfied Theatre, Sacramento’s Memorial Auditorium, Dallas’s Music Hall, Houston’s Berry Center, Atlanta’s Gwinnett Center, New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom and two back-to-back sold out events the same night at Boston’s Orpheum Theatre. Partially driving the success in each market were Hillsong UNITED’s more than 1.6 million friends at www.facebook.com/hillsongunited. Plans for a fall 2011 North American tour will be announced soon.
“For us, it’s all about serving Jesus and His Church. Our focus has and will ALWAYS be building God’s House,” says Hillsong UNITED’s Jonathon "JD" Douglass during the tour. “There is NOTHING BETTER than knowing that we no longer have to live in the aftermath of our past mistakes, but we can choose to live in the aftermath of what Jesus did for us on the cross, and we can live in his love, freedom and grace!”
“These were the most energetic, diverse and passionate crowds I’ve ever seen,” adds Shane Quick, Premier Productions co-owner, following the tour. “The passion these guys show for the church and lost people is inspiring and life changing. It’s one of the most rewarding tours/events I’ve ever been a part of.”
With thousands attending each worship night along the “Aftermath” tour, and in response to nationwide food bank deficits, Hillsong UNITED partnered with local churches and agencies to facilitate a food drive in every city visited. Over 7,000 family meals were collected for those that need them most through the generosity of worshipers attending the tour. Audiences were also invited to use their cell phones to text a donation to New Zealand earthquake relief efforts. More than $33,000 was raised to help those working to rebuild in New Zealand even as Japan deals with the aftermath of its latest major earthquake. People can still donate $10 by sending the text “IHEART” to 85944 and confirming with a “yes.”
Prior to the sold out worship night in Sacramento’s Memorial Auditorium, Hillsong UNITED worship leaders were featured on the K-LOVE Christian Radio Network. Pictured (l-r) in the studio are: Kelli Caldwell, KLOVE afternoon host; Jonathon "JD" Douglass and Jad Gillies, Hillsong UNITED; Scott Smith, K-LOVE music director and afternoon host; and Joel Houston, Hillsong UNITED.
“We believe that worship isn’t just singing songs; worship is a way of life,” says Hillsong UNITED’s Joel Houston. “It’s loving God and others.”
Along the tour, Hillsong UNITED met with radio, retail, label and media associates, completing inteviews with K-LOVE (Click here to hear interview), CNN, PBS NewsHour Extra and many others as its first single from AFTERMATH, “Search My Heart,” a pulsing, urgent cry to be used by God for His – not simply our own – purposes, has become the band’s most successful radio single ever. Hitting the Top 20 on Billboard’s national Christian radio audience chart, the single continues to gather radio adds each week and has already been heard by millions of people nationwide.
In addition to the radio success, Hillsong UNITED claimed it’s highest sales charting success to date. Topping the overall “Christian, Praise & Worship” and “Christian/Gospel Mainstream” charts, landing at No. 17 on the Billboard Top 200, becoming Hillsong Music’s 10th Top 10 album in Australia and hitting the top 10 on iTunes in numerous countries around the world, Hillsong UNITED’s AFTERMATH debut sales were 55% ahead of the last, critically acclaimed album, A Cross the Earth: Tear Down The Walls. Four weeks later, AFTERMATH remains the band’s fastest selling album ever and marks Hillsong UNITED’s first new recording since the alliance announced last year with EMI Christian Music Group.
AFTERMATH is also the first new album from Hillsong UNITED in over two years, and offers an unabashedly creative collection of new songs that celebrates the One who saves, redeems and is the true representation of Hope in a world where hopelessness abounds.
For more information, please visit: www.hillsongunited.com and www.facebook.com/hillsongunited.
Best-selling modern worship band Hillsong UNITED offers its highly anticipated, 11th full-length album and second ever studio recording, AFTERMATH, today on Sparrow Records. Having its pulse consistently in tune with the heart cry of congregations across the globe and a fresh, forward-thinking soundtrack to match, Hillsong UNITED has been the veritable gold standard of modern worship music for the past decade and counting. The new album continues this journey, releasing amidst wide acclaim, immediate sales success, a radio single being heard by millions and a major market North American tour that has already sold out five venues even before the tour is set to begin.
Hillsong UNITED is featured on the iTunes main page, front cover and has already reached Top 5 on the overall sales chart.
Traversing six continents of the world into 42 nations just since 2006 in a cross-cultural journey, Hillsong UNITED returns to North America Feb. 23 for the 12-city “Aftermath” tour. With tickets for the tour selling quickly in all markets, sellouts have already been logged in San Francisco (The Warfied Theatre, 2/26), Los Angeles (Staples Center, 3/1 – 12,310 tickets sold), Dallas (Music Hall, 3/5), New York City (Hammerstein Ballroom, 3/10) and Boston (Orpheum Theatre, 3/11). Adding an encore event in Boston at 10 pm, the full Hillsong UNITED Aftermath tour itinerary can be found on the band’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/hillsongunited, which has more than 1.5 million friends. (All tour dates are also listed below.)
The band is also poised to gather a strong debut in its first week at retail as AFTERMATH has already climbed to the iTunes Top 5 on its overall U.S., No. 1 on Overall Australia, and No. 1 Christian/Gospel album sales charts.
The band is futher gathering momentum from radio for its first single from AFTERMATH, “Search My Heart,” a pulsing, urgent cry to be used by God for His – not simply our own – purposes. The song is on track to become the band’s most successful radio single ever, having already been heard by millions of people nationwide though K-LOVE and Air 1 networks, as well as other stations throughout the US that have added it to rotation.
The first new album from Hillsong UNITED in over two years, AFTERMATH is also reaping high marks from critics as the album offers an unabashedly creative collection of new songs that celebrates the One who saves, redeems and is the true representation of Hope in a world where hopelessness abounds:
“Most bands would consider an album like this to be their magnum opus, but that would connote an apex and Hillsong shows no indication that they are going anywhere but up…AFTERMATH shows that Hillsong continues to set the bar high and blur the lines between studio albums and live worship…listening to AFTERMATH is truly an experience – an event as real and engaging as the worship team’s well-documented stage show that has been seen by the masses on six continents.” – All Music Guide
“The beats are great, the music is interesting…Hillsong has raised the bar yet again.” – www.ultimate-guitar.com
“…the Australian Worship tour de force is back and arguably better than ever…This is the artistic statement many of us have been waiting for…a fantastic worship album.” – CCM
“I’m impressed by the consistent quality and fresh worshipful songs that come from Hillsong UNITED. AFTERMATH is no exception. … AFTERMATH is a must-have for your praise and worship collection. – www.newreleasetuesday.com
“It is great to see Hillsong UNITED growing and providing consistently excellent albums that serve both corporately and devotionally. Make some space to revel in the Aftermath.” – Foursquare Leader (www.foursquare.org)
As Hillsong UNITED’s team of songwriters penned and recorded the tracks for AFTERMATH, the theme of genuine, paradoxical hope in the wake of the apparent tragedy of the Cross emerged in track after track.
“Normally ‘aftermath’ has a negative, even traumatic, connotation,” says Hillsong UNITED member Joel Houston. “At the same time, when I look at the Crucifixion as an event, it paints an extraordinarily negative and horrific picture. But the aftermath of the Cross is hope for all mankind. It’s grace, freedom, peace, life and everything that is good about God. I absolutely love that picture.”
Hillsong UNITED is offering a live stream on its website tonight, taking questions via Twitter at 10 pm ET http://bit.ly/ggH0Ws.
Creative, diverse and not limited to any one demographic, the heart of Hillsong UNITED is to create music that reveals the truth of who Jesus is. Fronted by worship leaders Joel Houston, Jad Gillies and Jonathon “JD” Douglass, the UNITED team is also an evolving collaboration of pastors, worship leaders, musicians and songwriters - all intentional about giving voice to a generation passionate about God.
Hillsong UNITED was born out of the Youth Movement of Hillsong Church, where the Youth group meets weekly and now has over 3,000 attendees. Young people are encouraged and empowered to use their creativity in music, arts and film to serve in ministry. In 1999, UNITED recorded its first album Everyday, which featured original songs written by the young people, and has since built a very large brand image and following all around the world. Its 2007 album, All Of The Above, and 2009 album, A Cross the Earth: Tear Down The Walls, launched to No.1 on U.S. Billboard Christian charts, and the latter and most recent album also grabbed the No. 2 position on the iTunes mainstream chart, just behind Eminem.
Based in Sydney, Australia, Hillsong Church is one of the world’s fastest-growing ministries, with a 25,000-plus strong congregation in Australia, as well as one of the largest evangelical churches in London, Cape Town and Kiev. Hillsong also has churches in Stockholm and Paris, and recently announced plans to establish a new church in New York City. Hillsong Music has sold over 11 million albums to date and has earned 30 Gold and Platinum awards around the world.
For more information, please visit: www.hillsongunited.com and www.facebook.com/hillsongunited.
The full Hillsong UNITED 2011 Aftermath North American tour itinerary follows:
Wed, Feb 23, 2011 Vancouver, BC Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre
Thu, Feb 24,2011 Seattle, WA ShoWare Center Kent
Sat, Feb 26, 2011 San Francisco, CA The Warfield Theatre SOLD OUT
Sun, Feb 27, 2011 Sacramento, CA Memorial Auditorium
Tue, Mar 1, 2011 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center SOLD OUT
Wed, Mar 2, 2011 Phoenix, AZ US Airways Center
Fri, Mar 4, 2011 Houston, TX Berry Center
Sat, Mar 5, 2011 Dallas, TX Music Hall SOLD OUT
Mon, Mar 7, 2011 Atlanta, GA Gwinnett Center
Tue, Mar 8, 2011 Birmingham, AL BJCC
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom SOLD OUT
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 Boston, MA, 7 PM Orpheum Theatre SOLD OUT
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 Boston, MA, 10 PM Orpheum Theatre, Part II
Traversing the world’s continents, Hillsong UNITED announces its return to North America Feb/March 2011 for its AFTERMATH North American Tour. The tour dates will be revealed every half hour today beginning at 5:00 pm EST / 2:00 pm PST. As the tour dates are announced, an event page will go up on Hillsong UNITED’s Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/hillsongunited), where the band has 1.2 million friends. On this page, fans can RSVP to receive a password to allow them to buy tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
Check out the announcement at: http://www.vimeo.com/16909793
Hillsong UNITED is currently back in the U.S. this month for an 11-city major market tour that builds on its events last year that saw major venues sell out coast-to-coast. Continuing its string of sold-out concerts, Saturday’s tour date in Hoffman Estates, IL (Chicago) not only drew the largest crowd ever at Sears Centre Arena, but also captured the attention of a whole community.
“The Village of Hoffman Estates was excited to welcome Hillsong UNITED to the Sears Centre Arena over the weekend,” says Mayor William D. McLeod, Village of Hoffman Estates. “In honor of Hillsong UNITED’s record-setting sell-out concert, the group was presented with keys to the Village, a proclamation that proclaimed April 17th as ‘Hillsong United Day’ in the Village and temporarily renamed Hoffman Boulevard [to Hillsong UNITED Boulevard] in their honor.”
“In just our first four months of managing the Sears Centre Arena, Global Spectrum was delighted to achieve a record breaking attendance with Hillsong UNITED,” adds Global Spectrum’s Ben Gibbs, General Manager of Sears Centre Arena. “Between the record attendance and their performance, the bar has been set very high.”
Selling out the Nokia Theatre (Los Angeles) to Roseland Ballroom (New York City) to Bank United Centre (Miami) on its tour last fall, Hillsong UNITED’s current spring tour opened with a capacity crowd at The Wang Theatre in Boston followed by a sold-out Tower Theatre in Philadelphia, and over 11,000 people attended the Sears Centre Arena event outdrawing recent concerts there by such legendary performers as Billy Joel, Elton John and the Eagles. With Austin Music Hall already sold out (April 24, Austin), tickets are still available and selling fast for events in Kansas City (April 22, Starlight Theatre), Oklahoma City (April 23, Lloyd Noble Center) and more.
At each Hillsong UNITED tour date, the group is mobilizing a movement of people to help ease hunger in the local communities surrounding each worship night. Asking people to bring in nonperishable food to be distributed to local families in need, the donations will be facilitated through local ministry and organization contacts in each city as part of the I-HEART:: This Means Love food drive, which is a practical expression of Hillsong UNITED’s mission of helping people.
Having led worship in churches, stadiums and open fields in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, the remaining Hillsong UNITED spring U.S. tour dates follow:
April 22 (Thursday) - Kansas City, MO - Starlight Theater
April 23 (Friday) - Oklahoma City, OK - Lloyd Noble Center
April 24 (Saturday) - Austin, TX - Austin Music Hall - SOLD OUT
April 26 (Monday) - San Antonio, TX - Municipal Auditorium
April 27 (Tuesday) - Baton Rouge, LA - All Access 2010 Conference
Hillsong UNITED was born out of the Youth Movement of Hillsong Church, where the Youth group meets weekly and now has over 3,000 attendees. Young people are encouraged and empowered to use their creativity in music, arts and film to serve in ministry. In 1999, UNITED recorded its first Album Everyday, which featured original songs written by the young people. With nine albums in as many years to its credit, Hillsong UNITED has built a very large brand image and following all around the world.
With concerts of 60,000-plus in attendance, UNITED’s touring has taken them to six Continents and 46 Countries, including 80 cities in the USA alone. Its 2007 album, All Of The Above, and 2009 album, A Cross the Earth: Tear Down The Walls, launched to No.1 on U.S. Billboard Christian charts, and the latter and most recent album also grabbed the No. 2 position on the iTunes mainstream chart, just behind Eminem. Hillsong UNITED has sold over 1,000,000 albums in the U.S. alone, and recently entered into a recorded music licensing and marketing agreement with EMI Christian Music Group.
Based in Sydney, Australia, Hillsong Church is one of the world’s fastest-growing ministries, with a 25,000-plus strong congregation in Australia, as well as one of the largest evangelical churches in London, Cape Town and Kiev. Hillsong also has churches in Stockholm and Paris, and recently announced plans to establish a new church in New York City. Hillsong Music has sold over 11 million albums to date and has earned 30 Gold and Platinum awards around the world.
For more information, please visit: www.hillsongunited.com and www.theiheartrevolution.com.
Hillsong UNITED returns to the U.S. this month for an 11-city major market tour that builds on its events last year that saw major venues sell out coast-to-coast, from the Nokia Theatre (Los Angeles) to Roseland Ballroom (New York City) to Bank United Centre (Miami). Continuing its string of sold out events, the current spring tour opened with a capacity crowd yesterday at The Wang Theatre in Boston, with additional sellouts already logged at Tower Theatre (April 15, Philadelphia, PA) and Austin Music Hall (April 24, Austin). (See the full spring tour itinerary below.)
With over 9,400 tickets already sold for the Sears Centre concert April 17 in Chicago, IL, tickets are moving fast for all the U.S. spring tour dates as Hillsong UNITED is set to mobilize a movement of people to help ease hunger in the local communities surrounding each worship night. At each of these events, Hillsong UNITED is asking people to bring in nonperishable food to be distributed to local families in need. The donations will be facilitated through local ministry and organization contacts in each city as part of the I-HEART:: This Means Love food drive, which is a practical expression of Hillsong UNITED’s mission of helping people.
“This is important. Bring with your ticket some nonperishable food that we, with the help of some local folk, will be giving to needy families in your city. We’re talking cans of soup, pasta, rice, that kind of thing,” requests Hillsong UNITED member Jad Gillies.
“Did you know that one in four American children live in families that will use food stamps for five or more years?…We sing ‘let justice and praise become my embrace’ and this is how we show it,” adds Jad. “Together we can make a BIG difference. So don’t just bring your ticket, bring your contribution to the I-HEART :: This Means Love food drive….We will have collection points at the entry to each event, so bring your items in a bag or box. We will see you there!”
Inspiring people into action, Hillsong UNITED launched in 2008 The I Heart Revolution: With Hearts as One double CD and DVD. Its aim was to capture the heartfelt worship of people at Hillsong UNITED Worship Nights around the world and calling them to a life committed to bringing justice to hurting and broken people. Then in 2009, Hillsong UNITED released in 500 U.S. theatres The I Heart Revolution: We’re all in this Together (http://www.theiheartfilm.com/), a feature-length documentary that illustrates the inseparable union of worship and justice, inspiring people to think creatively about helping people, and then act, contributing to the global I-HEART movement (I-HEART.ORG). Filmed over a period of two years, the documentary follows the worship band through six continents, 42 nations and 93 cities in a cross-cultural journey of music, animation and interviews. The resulting DVD will be available in North America toward the end of 2010.
Hillsong UNITED songwriter and worship leader Joel Houston expresses the purpose of I-HEART: “There are a lot of people who need to know Jesus. If our worship is just great youth meetings, nice songs, lots of jumping around and a few CDs, then we’re missing it. Our vertical expression must have a horizontal effect. So, we’ll continue to worship, praise and honor God with heart, soul, mind and strength the best we know how, but the fruit of that must be a generation who are totally committed to reaching the lost and helping those who need help, locally and globally.”
“One of the strengths of our Church is the way the youth are embraced and encouraged to be a part of all that is happening,” adds Houston, also the Creative Director of Hillsong Church. “It’s what makes UNITED distinctive. We’re not just a band. The very nature of who we are and what we do is inclusive. It’s a discipling model. Everything we (the current band) do is because someone gave us an opportunity.”
Having led worship in churches, stadiums and open fields in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, the full Hillsong UNITED spring U.S. tour itinerary follows:
April 13 (Tuesday) - Boston, MA - The Wang Theatre - SOLD OUT
April 15 (Thursday) - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre - SOLD OUT
April 16 (Friday) - East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Centre - BATTLECRY Conference
April 17 (Saturday) - Chicago, IL - Sears Centre
April 19 (Monday) - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Center
April 20 (Tuesday) - St Louis, MO - The Fox Theater
April 22 (Thursday) - Kansas City, MO - Starlight Theater
April 23 (Friday) - Oklahoma City, OK - Lloyd Noble Center
April 24 (Saturday) - Austin, TX - Austin Music Hall - SOLD OUT
April 26 (Monday) - San Antonio, TX - Municipal Auditorium
April 27 (Tuesday) - Baton Rouge, LA - All Access 2010 Conference
Hillsong UNITED was born out of the Youth Movement of Hillsong Church, where the Youth group meets weekly and now has over 3,000 attendees. Young people are encouraged and empowered to use their creativity in music, arts and film to serve in ministry. In 1999, UNITED recorded its first Album Everyday, which featured original songs written by the young people. With nine albums in as many years to its credit, Hillsong UNITED has built a very large brand image and following all around the world.
With concerts of 60,000-plus in attendance, UNITED’s touring has taken them to six Continents and 46 Countries, including 80 cities in the USA alone. Its 2007 album, All Of The Above, and 2009 album, A Cross the Earth: Tear Down The Walls, launched to No.1 on U.S. Billboard Christian charts, and the latter and most recent album also grabbed the No. 2 position on the iTunes mainstream chart, just behind Eminem. Hillsong UNITED has sold over 1,000,000 albums in the U.S. alone, and recently entered into a recorded music licensing and marketing agreement with EMI Christian Music Group.
Based in Sydney, Australia, Hillsong Church is one of the world’s fastest-growing ministries, with a 25,000-plus strong congregation in Australia, as well as one of the largest evangelical churches in London, Cape Town and Kiev. Hillsong also has churches in Stockholm and Paris, and recently announced plans to establish a new church in New York City. Hillsong Music has sold over 11 million albums to date and has earned 30 Gold and Platinum awards around the world.
MOBILE, Ala. (May 27, 2009) – Australian-based Christian rock/worship band Hillsong United has earned the #2 spot on the iTunes Top Album Charts for its just released CD A Cross The Earth:Tear Down The Walls, selling only less digital music copies than Eminem’s new CD Relapse.
Hillsong United’s accomplishment on the iTunes Chart comes as no surprise to the millions who have helped make the band a worldwide phenomenon, including here in the U.S. where United is currently touring. Now through August, the band is playing to capacity crowds, including sell-outs at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, the Roseland Ballroom in New York and the Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre in Atlanta.
“People of all ages, especially students, are connecting with United’s message of compassion and social justice and their genuine passion for a real connection with God and each other,” says Chris Estes, Director of Digital Marketing for Integrity Music, the label that distributes United in the U.S. “They’re identifying with the band’s passion to live out their faith and make a difference in the lives of those next door and around the world.”
“For a band that is virtually unknown outside the Christian culture to be selling more than Green Day and Lady Gaga and almost as many as Eminem on iTunes, it says something about United’s amazing trajectory as an impact artist beyond just the Christian music scene,” continued Estes. “And, they did all this without traditional industry drivers like heavy radio play and mainstream TV. Not only do they sell out major venues, churches around the world are singing their songs every Sunday.”
A Cross The Earth:Tear Down The Walls is United’s first new live CD since 2006. The CD features 12 tracks, including 10 new songs of Hillsong United’s signature power pop/rock brand of worship. A sample can be found at http://unitedacrosstheearth.com/ where a free song and song chart can be downloaded.
Hillsong United is making more than 20 appearances in the U.S. between April and August. Remaining shows are:
5/29 Birmingham, Ala.
5/30 Nashville, Tenn.
6/1 Washington, D.C.
6/2 Boston, Mass.
6/3 Virginia Beach, Va.
6/5 New York
6/6 Toronto
6/8 Grand Rapids, Mich.
6/9-10 Chicago (Willow Creek Conference)
8/21-22 Los Angeles (Encounterfest)
8/24 Denver, Colo.
8/25 Dallas
8/28-29 Miami (Encounterfest)
Updated tour details for Hillsong United can be found at http://www.hillsongunited.com/ and http://www.integritylive.com/.
United frontman Joel Houston says of the band’s music, “We must live out our worship through action by reaching out to the lost and the broken... helping the poor and oppressed, pursuing justice and fairness for all people. We must be a generation of people expressing their heart for worship and realizing God’s purpose for all of us, to love people and be His hands and feet.”
“Every generation needs a revolution,” adds Houston, “And this one needs to look, sound, walk and breathe like love.”
The passion to “live out their worship” is at the heart of Hillsong United’s ministry and also at the heart of Hillsong Church, Australia’s largest evangelical congregation and home to the dynamic youth ministry from which the band emerged. Hillsong’s “Mighty To Save” won this year’s Dove Award for Worship Song of the Year and they are also a recent recipient of the Gospel Music Association’s International Award given in recognition of their impact on the global Church. The various concert events and conferences they have hosted around the world have drawn thousands of young people and their church leaders looking to immerse themselves in worship and gain a better understanding of how to bring a lifestyle of worship to everyday life.
MOBILE, Ala. – December 5, 2008 – Hillsong United, one of the world’s most popular worship bands, will “encounter” the United States in 2009 during their most extensive visit to America to date.
Their American journey starts with the 2009 Hillsong United Encounter event April 17-18 in Miami and will also include a worship tour in May and June and a final Encounter event in Los Angeles in August.
Produced by Integrity Live Events, Hillsong United Encounter will be held April 17-18 – at the Miami Bank United Center on the University of Miami campus in Coral Cables, Fla. The event features two days of speaker presentations, teaching and concerts. The conference will focus on the subjects of worship and justice and equipping young people to bring both to their local communities.
The Miami Encounter conference, which is designed for pastors, youth leaders, worship leaders, musicians and students, and will feature guest speakers including Hillsong United’s Joel Houston and Hillsong Church’s senior pastor Brian Houston among others. Seminars will demonstrate how young people can transform churches and communities. Some of the breakout sessions will teach the art of worship songwriting; building great worship teams and youth ministry programs; and building the next generation of worshippers.
Of course, the Hillsong United band will provide plenty of music throughout the weekend, leading music at the worship events and ending with a concert on Saturday night.
Pre-registration for the Hillsong United Encounter Miami has already begun online at www.integritylive.com. Until December 31, the registration fee is $69 per person which is 50 percent off the full door registration price. Space will be limited for this event and United’s previous Florida visit in 2007 sold out and included registrants from 43 states.
Details about Hillsong United’s additional U.S. appearances May through August will be announced in the coming months.
Australia’s Hillsong United, which was the Gospel Music Association’s International Impact award-recipient in 2007, is one of the most popular young modern worship bands in the world. The various conferences they have hosted around the world have drawn thousands of young people and their church leaders looking to immerse themselves in worship and gain a better understanding of how to bring a lifestyle of worship to everyday life.
Hillsong United’s latest project, the With Hearts as One DVD, captures the sounds and sights of global worship as United traveled the globe from Rwanda to Capetown, Buenos Aires to Mexico City; Los Angeles to Toronto; London to Budapest; Shanghai to Sydney. The end result is the sound of a generation worshipping God with one voice.
When the DVD released in October, Relevant and Integrity Music promoted a world premiere of With Hearts as One at RELEVANT TV. The premiere of the DVD produced the highest 3 viewership day total in the history of RELEVANT TV. The DVD is the visual companion to the band’s previous With Hearts as One CD which released in April.
More than 5,000 pastors, youth leaders, worship leaders, musicians and students from around the world will gather for the Hillsong United Conference in Orlando, Fla., this fall.
For the first time, the popular Australian modern worship band is bringing its popular youth events to North America this year, with the Orlando event slated for Nov. 9-10.
The Hillsong United Conference will feature two days of speaker presentations, teaching and concerts. The conference will focus on the subjects of worship and justice and equipping young people to bring both to their communities.
Australia’s Hillsong United is one of the most popular young modern worship bands in the world, and the various conferences they have hosted in Europe have drawn thousands of young people and their church leaders who are looking to immerse themselves in worship and gain a better understanding how to bring a lifestyle of worship to everyday life.
The Orlando conference will feature guest speakers including Hillsong Church senior pastor Brian Houston and youth leader Phil Dooley, while the seminars will demonstrate how young people can transform churches and communities.
Some of the breakout sessions will teach song writing; building a great worship team; youth ministry programming; evangelism; and using TV and media. The Hillsong United band will lead music at the worship events and will also be accompanied by Hillsong worship leader Reuben Morgan.
Australia’s Hillsong United scored its first No. 1 album by landing atop the Billboard Top Christian/Gospel Albums chart with the release of their eighth CD, “All of the Above” in May. The CD also debuted at No. 1 on iTunes’ chart of Christian music digital album sales and at No. 60 on the Billboard Top 200 of all albums, not just Christian/Gospel.
Registration for the conference is available at
www.hillsongunitedconference.com.
