Christian Music Online

NYPENN Franklin Graham Festival

June 8, 2007 – 9:19 am

It’s a big weekend for Christian music fans — Third Day, Point of Grace and others bands will all be in town performing as part of the NYPENN Franklin Graham Festival, which runs Friday through Sunday at the Binghamton University Events Center. All concerts and events related to the festival are free.

* Dove Award-winning Third Day was formed during the 1990s in Marietta, Ga., by Mac Powell and Mark Lee. Lead singer Powell, guitarist Lee, bass player Tai Anderson, drummer David Carr and guitarist Brad Avery released their eighth album, “Wherever You Are,” last fall. Two of their previous albums received Grammys for Best Rock Gospel Album: “Come Together”(2003) and “Live Wire” (2005).

* Point of Grace has sold 5 million albums, has won eight Dove Awards, had two Grammy nods and garnered two platinum and five gold records as well as 24 consecutive No. 1 singles. The four women — Shelley Breen, Heather Payne, Denise Jones and Leigh Cappillino (with Dana Cappillino on guitar and Tommy McGee on bass) — are known as one of the top contemporary Christian bands in the nation.

* SONICFLOOd, known for its modern worship music, started in 1999 with a self-titled debut album. The group has been nominated for a Grammy, earned two Dove Awards and has sold more than 1.5 million records, as well as produced the top hits “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever,” “I Want to Know You,” “Your Love Goes on Forever,” “Shelter” and “Holy Cry.”

* Tree63 is a Christian rock band from Durban, South Africa. Tree63’s recording of Matt Redman’s “Blessed Be Your Name” was featured on the 2005 edition of WOW Hits. On a Feb. 2 broadcast of 20, The Countdown Magazine, Tree63’s rendition of “Blessed Be Your Name” was described as “… the definitive recording of one of the most all-encompassing songs in the entire world of Christian music.” The song was then announced as the No. 3 Praise and Worship song of all time.

* Christian rock band Building 429 was the Gospel Music Association’s 2005 New Artist of the Year. The group headlined one tour and were joined by TAIT, the solo project of dc Talk member Michael Tait. Building 429 joined another dc Talk member, tobyMac, for his “Portable Sounds Tour” this spring

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