Steven Curtis Chapman

Saturday, April 23

Steven Curtis Chapman to Perform Grammy Winning Album

Steven Curtis Chapman received the Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in February for his newest album titled “All Things New”, which he will be performing at the Erwin Center April 23rd. This is nothing new for Chapman as he has already earned an additional four Grammy Awards, 47 Dove Awards, an American Music Award, two certified platinum and seven gold albums, nine million total albums sold and 41 number one radio hits. He has had quite a career in his seventeen years of making music.

“All Things New” is Chapman’s fourteenth record with Sparrow Records. This is not only the project’s title, but also a theme interwoven throughout. Steven said of the album,“The challenge for me was this: If I'm going to write an album about the reality that God makes all things new, that He is the one who will be continually rolling back the curtain on Himself, revealing more and more of Himself for all of eternity, then I need to do my job as an artist with diligence and with freshness, lyrically and musically.” And he achieved this freshness by writing much of the new album on piano instead of guitar. He recorded it in Los Angeles, limiting himself to a month to finish the album. In addition, he worked with musicians and engineers he had not worked with before.

Rather than use the usual crowd of Nashville musicians, he utilized an impressive band of L.A. talent. Engineer Trina Shoemaker, who has worked with Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, Joe Crocker and The Neville Brothers, was one of the newcomers. She isn’t the only contributor with an impressive resume, though. The studio musicians had all worked with some big names in the business – Lyle Workman, guitar (Lisa Marie Presley and Sheryl Crow), Chris Chaney, bass guitar (Celine Dion, Alanis Morisette), Matt Chamberlain, drums (Elton John, John Mayer, Faith Hill), George Cochini, guitar (Third Day, Anointed), and Patrick Warren, keyboards (Jewel, Michelle Branch).

The record also features cameos ranging from Third Day's Mac Powell to Lifehouse's Jason Wade to a guitar solo by blues-pop rising star Jonny Lang. The conception of many of the lyrics was inspired by the books “Rumors of Another World: What on Earth are We Missing?” by Philip Yancey and John Piper's “Don't Waste Your Life”. All the factors combined created a formula for not only success, but a Grammy for Steven Curtis Chapman.

Chapman will bring his tour through Austin on April 23rd. Opening for him will be another of the premiere artists of this genre, Chris Tomlin. His contributions have only come in the last three years, but already he can boast a solid number of today's great modern worship songs, like “Forever”, “We Fall Down”, “Enough”, “The Wonderful Cross” and “Famous One”. That list is certainly to grow with his third studio recording, “Arriving”, for which he wrote nine of its eleven songs. The album's first single, "Indescribable" (a song not written by Tomlin, but powerfully performed) became his very first No. 1 radio single. The album has been nominated for a Dove Award for Praise and Worship Album of the Year as well.

Tomlin, an Austinite, says he felt called to write songs for the church when he was 13. “Arriving” is said to reflect his Austin roots with its guitar-driven pop melodies. In addition, Tomlin says his musical style has been motivated by Chapman. “Without a doubt, Steven’s been the biggest influence on me musically. He’s been from afar a mentor to me. He’s a man of integrity and a great musician, songwriter and performer. And lo and behold, here we are going out on tour together! It’s just unbelievable.” He jokingly added “Yeah, I like to tell people Steven will be closing for us.”

The album's title is inspired by Isaiah 40, a reflection upon God’s arrival among his people. "I feel as though we're like this landing strip in the desert for our great, incredible God to arrive on; a way for Him to come into people's lives," Tomlin says of the album's metaphorical moniker. “Arriving” was created with corporate/group worship in mind, as opposed to devotional/personal worship, which means the songs are generally easy to sing, instantly creating interaction with the audience. The album has already won him a 2004 Praise Award from Worship Leader Magazine, the preeminent trade magazine for pastors and worship leaders. These awards carry the unique significance of being chosen by church leaders who are using devotional songs and music to lead in worship.

Tomlin shows a great interest in communicating with college students. He co-founded Austin Stone Community Church, whose congregation ministers to college students and has grown 500% in the last year and a half. He also performs at the Passion Conferences, which began in Austin in 1997. The Passion Conferences is a worship tour with a vision of bringing together Christian college and university students from campuses and ministries everywhere.

The combined talents of Steven Curtis Chapman and Chris Tomlin produce a show that has already received high acclaim around the country and shouldn’t be missed. It is a remarkable showcase of talent united with an unforgettable worship experience.

Tickets for Steven Curtis Chapman with special guest Chris Tomlin at The Theatre at the Frank Erwin Center Saturday, April 23 are $20.50 and $30.50 and are ON SALE NOW at all Texas Box Office Outlets (includes H-E-B stores in Austin, Bastrop, Bee Caves, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Round Rock, and San Marcos; Ft. Hood Bldg. #136 and Renaissance Records in Killeen), charge-by-phone at 512/477-6060 or 1-800-982-2386 or order on-line at TexasBoxOffice.com. THE FOLLOWING DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE ON ALL TICKET PRICES. NO DOUBLE DISCOUNTS: $3 off for groups of 20 or more. Groups should call the Group Sales department at 512-471-7744. Convenience charges may apply. All information subject to change. The Frank Erwin Center is a smoke-free facility. Convenient parking is available within walking distance in nearby state and University lots. For more information, call 512/471-7744. uterwincenter.com.