[ 14.04.2008 ]

Free Spanish Concert in May

Graham and his 10 piece band will be performing a free concert in the grounds of the Castillo Sohail, Fuengirola, in southern Spain on Saturday May 3rd at 9pm.

Everyone is welcome!

For free tickets call 663 376004.

Earlier in the day, Graham will be recording from the venue with the BBC for two forthcoming Songs of Praise programmes. Details of broadcasting times wil be released soon.

[ 26.02.2008 ]

CompassionArt RECORDING BEgins AT abbey road

Compassionart, a charity based in Littlehampton, and dedicated to seeing works of art generate income for the poorest of the poor, has reserved the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, this week to begin recording songs written collectively at a retreat in January by a team of internationally recognized songwriters. Several of these songwriters are re-grouping in the UK today for the recording, including: Paul Baloche, Stu G (Delirious?), Israel Houghton, Graham Kendrick, Matt Redman, Martin Smith (Delirious?) and Michael W. Smith. The resulting music will be for a Compassionart studio album being planned for a late fall release.

Although not able to attend last month’s retreat, 2006/2007 Gospel Music Association Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year Chris Tomlin contributed to one of the songs written at the retreat and will be joining the others at Abbey Road to record.

“I know that Compassionart is in the heart of God,” says Tomlin. “I am so honored and thrilled to be a part of it. What an amazing gathering of people and songwriters.”

While all of the Compassionart songwriters will not be able to gather in London for this recording session, future recording opportunities are being planned now. Additionally, Michael W. Smith, who has called the recent Compassionart retreat “one of the most significant weeks of his life,” and 2008 GRAMMY winner, Israel Houghton, have already recorded the song, “So Great.” The song will become the first from the Compassionart retreat to be released to the public in April and on the popular WOW Hits 1 brand.

“There are two amazing forces that exist in the world: Compassion for those in need and Art that helps us see beyond ourselves,” notes Martin Smith, Delirious? lead vocalist and Compassionart writer/founder. “What could happen if you brought the two together? What could happen if you gathered some of the top songwriters in our scene to bring their art to the table for the sole reason of raising money for the poorest of the poor? Well I can tell you, it was amazing! 'So Great' is taken from the forthcoming Compassionart record and I hope it gives you a taste of what’s to come.”

Compassionart hosted an unprecedented gathering of award winning songwriters in Scotland, UK Jan 7 – 11, including the aforementioned songwriters and Steven Curtis Chapman, Tim Hughes, Andy Park and Darlene Zschech. Working together toward a common goal involving no personal gain, the songwriters set out to write 10-12 songs and, by the end of the retreat, had completed 22 new songs. Together these songwriters account for at least 42 million albums sold, 82 No. 1 songs, 10 GRAMMY Awards, 110 Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, two American Music Awards, and 98 current CCLI Top 500 songs sung by millions in churches around the world.

In addition to the songwriters, the publishers, managers, copyright institutes and agents involved have all waived their rights and are donating their efforts on this project to Compassionart. The songs are to be given through Compassionart to the world not just to sing, but also to raise money for the relief of suffering around the planet. One half of the monies received over the songs’ lifetimes will go to the songwriters’ charity of choice, and the other 50% will go to a charitable project agreed upon by all the songwriters involved.

For more information on Compassionart, go to http://compassionart.co.uk/.

North America: For more information contact: Rick Hoganson, Hoganson Media Relations, 615-459-9870, Hoganson@comcast.net.

UK/Europe: For more information contact: Paul Smith, Compassionart, paulsmith@compassionart.co.uk.

[ 11.02.2008 ]

CompassionArt unites songwriters for the poor

Compassionart hosted an unprecedented gathering of award winning songwriters. Pictured (l-r) in Scotland, UK are: Matt Redman, Paul Baloche, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Steven Curtis Chapman, Israel Houghton, Michael W. Smith, Darlene Zschech, Andy Park, and Martin Smith and Stu Garrard (Delirious?).

Together these songwriters account for at least 40 million albums sold, 76 No. 1 songs, nine GRAMMY Awards, 98 Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, two American Music Awards, and 78 current CCLI Top 500 songs sung by millions in churches around the world.

What began as a vision for Delirious? frontman Martin Smith and his wife Anna over a year ago finally came to fruition last month. Some of the world’s greatest songwriters were brought together for the Compassionart songwriter’s retreat in an effort to create ongoing global relief for the poorest of the poor. Setting out to write 10-12 songs, these songwriters far surpassed that goal completing 22 new songs during the retreat held last week at the House of Cantle in Perthshire, Scotland. The songs are to be given to the world not just to sing, but also to raise money for the relief of suffering around the planet. One hundred percent of the proceeds derived from the songs will go directly to charity. Internationally recognized songwriters working together toward a common goal involving no personal gain.

While many of the writers were only professional acquaintances at the beginning of the week, by the end of the week they not only created what may come to be world changing songs, but also life-long friendships.

“I can’t even tell you how rewarding it was to hang out with people who really get you and what you’re about,” Paul Baloche says. “It’s a great way to start a new year, that’s for sure. That deep connection has made all the difference in collaborating together.”

News of the songs recordings and availability will follow soon!

[ 25.01.2008 ]

Host a 'Dreaming of a Holy Night' concert

Dreaming Of A Holy Night is the title of Graham Kendrick’s brand new Christmas album, which is receiving much appreciation for it’s excellent songs, clear message and high music production values.

Make Way Music are giving tour organisers notice of our intention to make Dreaming Of A Holy Night available as a special Christmas concert [especially as good venues get booked up a long way ahead in the run up to Christmas], and invite you to consider hosting in it in your area.

Graham will bring his top class band and singers, technical support that needs to travel with the ‘show’, and supply a choir director who will oversee and support a local choir director.

Interested? Click here to download further info.

Also visit the Hope08 website for more.

[ 04.01.2008 ]

dreaming of... the musical

Just before Christmas Graham performed songs from the new album Dreaming of a Holy Night as part of a dramatised adaptation of the album written by members of Clive Calver's Walnut Hill Community Church in Connecticut USA.

The musical entitled 'Dreaming of...' ran for 5 performances and featured a host of actors, musicians and a full choir.

Picture: Chuck May Photography

[ 14.12.2007 ]

dreaming of a holy night backing tracks

Dreaming of a Holy Night is now available on Backing Tracks through 7Digital. Click here for more info.

[ 06.12.2007 ]

Dreaming of a holy night now on itunes

Graham's latest release, the Christmas album DREAMING OF A HOLY NIGHT is now available to download on iTunes.

[ 28.11.2007 ]

Dreaming of... THE MUSICAL

Graham's new album Dreaming of a Holy Night is being performed as part of a musical this December in Connecticut, USA.

Clive Calver's Walnut Hill Community Church are staging 5 performances of 'Dreaming of' with Graham leading the songs. For more information see Graham's diary here.

Hope. Peace. Restoration. These were the dreams of humanity more than 2000 years ago. Do they sound familiar? Do the longings of the heart hold true over the centuries of time? Our cry is the same. Does God hear?

"Dreaming of...The Musical," Walnut Hill's annual Christmas production, will grapple with those questions when it hits the stage for five shows.

The musical is an original collaborative effort between Graham Kendrick, a world-renowned worship leader and composer who lives in England, and Steve & Heather Sartin, who lead Walnut Hill's music and dramatic ministries.

The original music is from Kendrick's latest Christmas CD, "Dreaming of a Holy Night." The CD jacket describes the music within as "songs of wonderment at the nativity, and longing for the fulfillment of what began on that holy night."

"Dreaming of ... The Musical" uses those songs - based on the biblical characters of Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah - and weaves them into a dramatic story, written by the Sartins, that zips back and forth between biblical and contemporary times.

The Broadway-style production features a cast of more than 80 actors, singers, musicians and technicians, all from Walnut Hill's church family.

[ 07.11.2007 ]

Dreaming of a Holy Night Virtual Songbook...

Need the sheet music for songs from Dreaming of a Holy Night? They are right here and available for download. This means you need only buy the music you want rather than having to purchase a whole songbook.

Special Introductory Offer!
If you have purchased a Dreaming of a Holy Night CD you are entitled to ONE FREE DOWNLOAD of all 13 songs! These may not be recopied. This offer closes on 31st December 2007.

For more information click here.

[ 15.10.2007 ]

New Christmas Album Released...

This week sees the release of Graham's third album for the Christmas season. Dreaming of a Holy Night features 13 brand new songs. Anyone who attended one of the Out of the Ordinary tour nights would have heard the title track during the Compassion presentation. Graham says:

'Every year since I wrote and recorded Rumours of Angels I have looked forward to writing another set of songs for the Christmas season, particularly as every year we have a wave of requests for sheet music and backing tracks for 'Rumours', and indeed The Gift, the Christmas album previous to it.

This year at last I have felt the time is right and been able to make it a priority. It is quite challenge for a songwriter writing for the Christmas season, because so much has already been done - it is hard to be original! However I was quickly encouraged with a flow of lyrical concepts and musical ideas, and ended up with more songs than I could fit in.

Songs have been written with Christmas events in mind, so soloists and choirs will find fresh material to draw on as they plan carol services and concerts.'

Visit Purashop.com to purchase your CD now at a special discounted rate.

[ 04.10.2007 ]

The Tour Diaries

'What an evening!!!!!!'

Check the diary reports for all the latest on the Out of the Ordinary tour.

For news archives click here >>