Known for its congregational favorite “God Of This City,” Bluetree returns with its sophomore album, Kingdom, which released this month amidst acclaim on Exchange Media.  Inspired by what singer, primary songwriter and Bluetree founding member Aaron Boyd and the congregation at Exchange Church Belfast have been studying in their Sunday morning and evening services, the songs on Kingdom also officially mark a new era for the group.
 
Reborn not just as a band, but a community of believers worshipping, learning and doing life together, one of the significant changes the band has undergone includes a reorgainzation of the band’s financial structure.  Proceeds from the album sales now go directly back into ministry work through Exchange Church.
 
“The money raised from Kingdom literally goes into Kingdom building,” says Boyd, who is on staff at Exchange Churh as associate pastor.  “Bluetree’s tagline is Worship. Music. Justice.  Worship is a holistic way of life, where we can really allow creativity to run through everything we do.  Part of that is being creative with finances, and when you buy Kingdom, you’re investing into a ministry wider than Bluetree.”
 
Supporting the local and international ministry of Exchange Church, Bluetree also continues its passionate pursuit of wiping out human trafficking in this generation as a part of its mission work with the church.  A passion that was fueled in the Red Light district of Thailand, sparking the song, “God Of This City,” and the charity to help end child sex exploitation, StandOut International, the band re-fueled that passion earlier this month while leading worship at the NO MORE TRAFFIK ON OUR STREETS (www.nomoretraffik.com) seven day event in Belfast.  The event raised awareness about the problem of human trafficking and the need to provide long-lasting help for victims.
 
“We want to see human trafficking wiped out during our lifetimes,” says Boyd.  “We are committed to justice done in this world and being a voice for those who have no voice.”
 
And with the launch of Kingdom, Bluetree’s voice is getting louder.  Here is how the critics have been responding to the new music:
 
“Bluetree is back with a mix of swirling guitars, signature electro/techno sonics, pulsing beats, rock meets pop (plus a DJ, drum corps, and Electrical Parade) brand of worship.  But that’s not all, there are lovely sensitive ballads that burn bright, go deep, and reach high. The sound and the message is big—huge—and reflects the size of the life and message of Christ, even in its tender, quiet and gentle moments. This is so musically hooked, vocally alive, and scripturally rich, that it’s almost irresistible.” – Worship Leader Magazine
 
“A true worship album at heart, Kingdom is an album that will definitely stand out as one of my favourites in 2012! ……Bluetree have started from where Delirious? have left off.” – IndieVisionMusic.com
 
“..the band is ready to unfurl a new round of church anthems spun in the Euro-pop/rock tradition…compare to Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Delirious?” – ChristianityToday.com
 
“Their voice is developed beautifully by their victorious lyrics and the energetic techno charge surging throughout each track.  Every songs is strongly vertical, addressing a powerful and glorious God, inviting listeners to experience Him.  This album vividly captures a freeing encounter with a conquering, healing Savior and a present and coming kingdom of God.” – NewReleaseTuesday.com
 
“Guaranteed these songs will be part of this generation’s staple ‘worship song diet,’ and that’s definitely a good thing. What Bluetree have cleverly done is create and craft songs that will change lives, and will impact people regardless of what walks of life and circumstances. In my opinion, these rockers are the new ‘Delirious?’! Watch out world! Bluetree will be the band on everyone’s lips very soon!” – ChristianMusicZine.com
 
“Could this album surpass what the band did with their debut album? For me, yes, this feels like a more complete album from a solid band who are growing and really know how to write a killer chorus.” – LouderThanTheMusic.com
 
“Kingdom is an absolute treasure to listen to and enjoy… Never at a lack of energy, even in the slower tempo songs, Bluetree breathes life in their worship songs.  They are full of life, contagious and oozing into the subconscious and permeating the spirit. ” – Relate Magazine
 
“Bluetree once again presents exciting, inspiring, and contemplative music on this eclectic new album that will hit churches and youth groups alike by storm.” – CitizenUSA.net
 
Produced and mixed by Paul Mills (Third Day, Lincoln Brewster), the album was recorded in Coldplay’s studio in Liverpool and edited and mixed in Mills’ studio in Franklin, TN. In addition to Boyd, Martin Smith [Delirious?] contributed vocals while Ryan Griffith, a worship leader at Exchange Church Belfast, contributed songwriting to the project.
 
Kingdom is a passionate reminder of Jesus’s redemptive work on the Cross. Mirroring the grace-centered approach that’s a hallmark of Exchange Church Belfast, the album is meant to encourage believers to walk in the fullness of life.  Boyd tells the story of and hope for the album at www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgDTgxHKLa4, and the album’s first single and video, “Jesus Healer” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB-9ZkROkBY), is one of Kingdom’s most personal snapshots as Boyd writes about the journey with his young daughter, Lily, who has cystic fibrosis.
 
Belfast, Ireland-based modern worship band Bluetree, whose acclaimed album, God Of This City, became one the best selling Christian recordings of 2009, was also nominated for a Dove Award for New Artist of the Year and received Worship Leader’s Readers’ Choice Awards for “Breakout Artist of the Year” and “Song of the Year” (“God Of This City”). In addition to recording, Boyd also released a book in 2010, God of This City: Greater Things Have Yet to Come (Regal).
 
For more information on Bluetree and Kingdom, please visit www.exchangechurchbelfast.com.

For most bands, it’s a mark that you’ve officially “made it” when you’ve got a hit radio single, plenty of positive press and a jam-packed tour schedule where nomadic living is essentially the new normal.

But for the Belfast, Ireland-based band Bluetree, best known for their stirring reminder that God’s light still shines, even in the darkest of places—like Thailand’s Red Light district where “God of This City” was born—living the so-called “dream” was nothing but a giant step backward.

If anything, they felt unsettled, uninspired and eventually, more sure of their true place in the Kingdom than ever before.

“When we were traveling so much, I didn’t write one song, I just couldn’t,” says Bluetree’s singer, primary songwriter and founding member Aaron Boyd. “When you’re always busy, you’re not being fed, and it can’t help but catch up with you. When you’re called to be a worship leader, there’s no greater call than leading your own church in worship. That’s what I’ve learned from the journey I’ve walked through.”

What also served as a wake-up call were conversations Aaron had with a few of his industry peers on the road, some of whom hadn’t gone to—or connected with—their home church in six months, or in some cases, even a year.

“That really shook me up - doing what we’re doing isn’t supposed to be about traveling, traveling, traveling,” Aaron shares. “At the end of the day, you can’t be chasing this idea of running around the world and being Christian superstars. It’s about staying grounded and investing in meaningful relationships back home and getting the priorities in order—love God, love family and serve your church. If God wants you to go sing and minister to people, it’ll be an overflow of what’s genuinely happening in your own life.”

So instead of continuing on a path that no longer meshed well with the group’s philosophy of ministry, Bluetree carved an entirely new path altogether. They cleared their schedule, changed their relationship with their booking agents and management and moved forward independently. And if God wanted Bluetree to do anything outside of their home church in Belfast, well, Aaron believed He was more than capable of opening those doors.

Throwing himself completely into his growing congregation, Exchange Church Belfast, new songs naturally began emerging. Inspired by the sermon series the body was studying together, Bluetree was reborn, not just as a band, but a community of believers worshipping, learning and doing life together.

“Now whenever anyone’s booking Bluetree, you’re booking the heart of our church,” Aaron says. “What’s going on here in Belfast, you get to be part of that.”

An outgrowth of what they’ve been working on together at Exchange, Aaron, along with Ryan Griffith, a fellow worship leader at Exchange, started collaborating on songs that’s become part of Bluetree’s new album, Kingdom.

A conversation about understanding who we are as children in the Kingdom of God, the songs themselves dovetail with what’s been preached in Sunday morning and evening services at Exchange.

“What’s been great about writing with Ryan is we go to the same church. We’re listening to the same teaching. We’re in the same meetings,” Aaron says. “Our relationship isn’t forced because we’re regularly leading worship there, and that’s a beautiful thing.”

Also helping set the tone for the project is the album’s evocative cover artwork. Underscoring the idea of what it means for believers to be part of the new covenant, an existence that’s defined by love, power and God’s unmerited favor, the visuals are inspired by the story of David and Goliath.
            
“When David put on Saul’s armor, he ended up taking it off and saying it hadn't proved itself to him,” Aaron explains. “David knew what had proved itself to him in his life—the power of God. David had seen the power of God at work during his whole life. He knew he was in covenant with God. So to try and put on another’s armor would be him trying to operate in his own strength.”

When recording the project, Aaron says there’s “a sense of journey” that simply wasn’t possible whenever he was writing with complete strangers. Case in point is the album’s first single, “Jesus Healer,” a personal snapshot of Aaron’s journey with his daughter who has cystic fibrosis.
            
“The beauty about being in the church is when worship and the word go hand in hand,” Aaron shares. “You have the songwriters and people gifted in that area writing from what they hear and how the Holy Spirit has prompted them in that area. The church is singing them back in to response what's happening there, and ‘Jesus Healer’ came out of a 10-week sermon series by the same name.”
            
Another key track, “It is Finished,” mirrors the grace-centered approach that’s the hallmark of Exchange Church Belfast. A passionate reminder that no matter what we’ve done, we’re always in right standing with God because of what Jesus did on the cross.  It’s a song meant to encourage the Body to walk in the fullness of life.
            
“The song tracks the life of Jesus, how he came down, not as this glorious ruler, but as a man. He came to serve,” Aaron says. “He died on the cross and then He rose again. The resurrection validated who he was. Sometimes I don’t think churches really understand what that means to be the righteousness of Christ here on Earth, and that’s what sets people free.”
            
Continuing the conversation, “Destined to Reign,” is the declarative response to what Jesus has done and the free, unmerited gift of grace that referenced so eloquently in Romans 5:17.
            
“With the songs on Kingdom, we wanted to build up the church. We can see people released—and set free—from what they’re walking through because of what Jesus did,” Aaron shares. “At the end of the day, church shouldn’t be about agendas or flashy programs. If people aren’t encountering God, we’re missing the whole point, and church becomes just another social club. That’s why I’ve wanted to pour everything I have into the Body and say ‘God, here’s all I’ve got. Whatever you want to do, I’m here.’”
            
For more information on Bluetree, please visit www.exchangechurchbelfast.com.
 

After serving up the stirring reminder of how God’s light still shines, even in the darkest of places, like Thailand’s Red Light district where congregational favorite “God of the City” was born, Bluetree is back with Kingdom, releasing May 8 on Exchange Media. Inspired by what singer, primary songwriter and Bluetree founding member Aaron Boyd and the congregation at Exchange Church Belfast have been studying in the Sunday morning and evening services, the songs on Kingdom also officially mark a new era for the group.
 
Finding themselves unsettled and uninspired from spending so much time away from their home church in Ireland, Bluetree cleared their schedule, changed their relationship with their booking agents and management and was reborn, not just as a band, but a community of believers worshipping, learning and doing life together.
 
As a result, new songs naturally started emerging for Bluetree’s sophomore project, Kingdom. Produced and mixed by Paul Mills (Third Day, Lincoln Brewster), the album was recorded in Coldplay’s studio in Liverpool and edited and mixed in Mills’ studio in Franklin, TN. In addition to Boyd, Robin Mark, Kathryn Scott and Ryan Griffith, a worship leader at Exchange Church Belfast, also contributed their songwriting to the project.
 
Serving as the album’s first single, “Jesus Healer” is one of Kingdom’s most personal snapshots as Boyd writes about the journey with his young daughter who has cystic fibrosis.
 
“The beauty about being in the church is when worship and the Word go hand in hand,” Aaron shares. “You have the songwriters and people gifted in that area writing from what they hear and how the Holy Spirit has prompted them in that area. The church is singing them back in to response what’s happening there, and ‘Jesus Healer’ eventually came out of a 10-week sermon series by the same name.”
 
With the overarching theme about who we are as children in the Kingdom of God, the album’s evocative artwork also helps set the tone. Underscoring what it means for believers to be part of the new covenant, an existence that’s defined by love, power and God’s unmerited favor, the visuals are inspired by the story of David and Goliath.
 
“When David put on Saul’s armor, he ended up taking it off and saying it hadn’t proved itself to him,” Aaron explains. “David knew what had proved itself to him in his life—the power of God. David had seen the power of God at work during his whole life. He knew he was in covenant with God. So to try and put on another’s armor would be him trying to operate in his own strength.”
 
Kingdom is a passionate reminder of Jesus’s redemptive work on the Cross. Mirroring the grace-centered approach that’s a hallmark of Exchange Church Belfast, the album is meant to encourage believers to walk in the fullness of life.
 
“With the songs on Kingdom, we wanted to build up the church. We can see people released—and set free—from what they’re walking through because of what Jesus did,” Boyd shares. “At the end of the day, church shouldn’t be about agendas or flashy programs. If people aren’t encountering God, we’re missing the whole point, and church becomes just another social club. That’s why I’ve wanted to pour everything I have into the Body and say ‘God, here’s all I’ve got. Whatever you want to do, I’m here.’”
 
Belfast, Ireland-based modern worship band Bluetree, whose acclaimed album, God Of This City, became one the best selling Christian recordings of 2009, was also nominated for a Dove Award for New Artist of the Year and received Worship Leader’s Readers’ Choice Awards for “Breakout Artist of the Year” and “Song of the Year” (“God Of This City”). In addition to recording, Boyd also released a book in 2010, God of This City: Greater Things Have Yet to Come (Regal).
 
The full Kingdom track listing follows:
1. Glorious Victorious
2. You Were You Are
3. Exalt Him
4. Destined to Reign
5. Rest
6. Lightens Up
7. It Is Finished
8. Jesus Healer
9. Shine
10. You Are My Rock
11. Under My Feet
 
For more information on Bluetree and Kingdom, please visit http://www.exchangechurchbelfast.co.uk/.

(Nashville, TN) November 11, 2009 – Belfast, Ireland-based modern worship band Bluetree, whose acclaimed album, God Of This City, has become one the best selling Christian recordings this year, announces the formation of StandOut International.  The new charity is an organization that has become a natural, non-profit extension of Bluetree’s pursuit of worship, music and justice.  The worldwide success of Bluetree’s song, “God Of This City,” has given the band a platform for sharing its message of hope for the exploited and voiceless around the world.

“God Of This City” was written by Bluetree during a mission trip and while the band was on stage performing worship songs in the Climax Bar, a club which doubles as a brothel in the Red Light district of Pattaya, Thailand.  Forever changed by what they saw in Pattaya, the band is determined to make a difference through StandOut International.

“We created StandOut International to help end child sex exploitation on a global scale, while loving, educating and releasing those rescued into the fullness of life that God has for them,” says Bluetree deejay Pete Kernoghan (“Petey K”).

“We believe that when people worship, they encounter the genuine heart of God for all humanity,” adds lead singer/guitarist Aaron Boyd.  “From His platform of love, we are compelled to serve the needs of others and we ultimately become a voice for those who have no voice.”

Ways to become involved with StandOut International in its mission is through financial giving, prayer, short-term mission trips and through organizing events to raise awareness and support of those fighting to end child sex exploitation.

According to available information, one out of every five people on earth is a child at risk: at risk of malnutrition, forced labor, disease, drug addiction and abandonment.  There are also risks for those working with and for struggling children. The staff and projects that provide care, the churches that offer assistance and resources, and the leaders who affect social agendas can also be vulnerable if they are not given the right support.

“Our aim is to raise awareness and channel funds through organizations who are active on the ground making a difference in children’s lives every day,” says Bluetree drummer Johnny Hobson.  “As believers, we are all called to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Let’s together stand out and make a difference.”

Go to www.standoutinternational.co.uk to learn how you can help.

Bluetree, which includes the aforementioned members and guitarist Conor McCrory and bassist Pete Nickell, has never been interested in writing feel-good worship songs that may incite a few goosebumps on Sunday morning, but don’t inspire change and action once the church service has ended.  It is that vision that led to the creation of “God Of This City” and StandOut International.

“We really want ‘God of this City’ to be more than a song that we just proclaim in the safety of our churches. We want to see the hope of the song worked out in the lives of millions of children who are exploited throughout the world today. Let ‘God of this City’ inspire you into action. Join us and ‘stand out’,” encourages Petey K.

Originally a message of hope to the people of Pattaya, “God Of This City” has now been sung in thousands of churches and auditoriums across the world. It has also become a Top 5 radio hit for the band, been sung by this year’s American Idol winner Kris Allen and been recorded by Chris Tomlin and Passion.

Bluetree also brought the song to tens of thousands through its energetic concerts in major Canadian cities and at US festivals for the first time this summer, and is bringing its brand of worship-rock to cities across the US now while on tour through November 15 with NewSong. (See itinerary below)

With an unabashed attitude of worship running through all of the songs on God Of This City, the album released March 3 on the Lucid Artist label and stayed atop the SoundScan sales charts for a full month, a remarkable feat considering the band at that time had never toured in the US or Canada.  The album also received praise from critics ranging from the Lexington Herald-Leader and Belfast Telegraph to Worship Leader, ChristianMusicToday.com, CBN.com and more. With critics describing the album as “stunning,” “inspired and inspiring,” “an experience,” and calling the band the “next big leader” and “freshest sounding” with “compelling musicality,” Billboard magazine went on to say, “Look for this talented outfit to become one of the Christian market’s most enthusiastically embraced new worship bands.”

For more information on Bluetree, including a compelling acoustic video performance and explanation of the song “God Of This City,” as well as a free download of the congregation-ready song “Each Day” from its acclaimed God Of This City debut album, go to http://www.givmusic.com/bluetree.

Bluetree “Give Yourself Away” Tour with NewSong and Chynna & Vaughan:

Date    City/State    Venue
11/12/09    Chattanooga, TN    Tennessee Temple University
11/13/09    Anderson, SC    Anderson Christian School
11/14/09    Columbus, GA    Columbus State University Hall
11/15/09    Corinth, MS    Crossroads Arena

(Nashville, TN) May 21, 2009 – Belfast, Ireland-based modern worship band Bluetree, whose acclaimed album, God Of This City, has become one the best selling Christian recordings this year, receives a boost this week from American Idol winner Kris Allen.  Allen has been performing the title track to Bluetree’s album, “God Of This City,” a song birthed by the band in a brothel in Thailand.  See video of Allen performing the song at http://blog.givmusic.com/.

An anthem being sung worldwide, “God Of This City” was written by Bluetree during a mission trip and while the band was on stage performing worship songs in the Climax Bar, a club which doubles as a brothel in the Red Light district of Pattaya, Thailand.  The song became a message of hope for the people of Pattaya and is now being sung in churches across the world, with the Willow Creek Association recently concluding its worship pastor seminar with the song.  It was further recorded by Chris Tomlin and became the name and theme for the latest Passion project and world tour.

Bluetree will be playing “God Of The City” and its brand of worship-rock on its first ever tour of the U.S. that begins July 17 and follows concerts for an estimated 35,000 people on a six-city tour of Canada that began May 17 in Montreal, QB and ends June 7 in Toronto, ON.

Having spent four consecutive weeks on top of SoundScan’s Christian retail sales chart, a remarkable feat considering the band has never toured in the U.S. or Canada, Bluetree brings its energetic concerts this summer to major Canadian cities and U.S. festivals that include Alive Festival (Akron, OH), Creation Northeast (Mount Union, PA), Cornerstone (Bushnell, IL), Kings Fest (Doswell, VA), Spirit Song (Cincinnati, OH), Lifest (Oshkosh, WI), SoulFest (Gilford, NH), Rock the Desert (Midland, TX) and more.

Following the summer concerts, Bluetree will join NewSong this fall on a tour to major markets throughout the U.S. beginning in September and running through November.  Tour cities to be announced soon.

Ahead of the tour, Billboard's correspondent Deborah Evans Price predicted the band’s success: “Look for this talented outfit to become one of the Christian market’s most enthusiastically embraced new worship bands.”

After seeing the band perform during Gospel Music Week in Nashville, Beth Bacall, Star 99.1 FM midday air personality in New York City, echoes that a Bluetree tour is one not to miss: “What an amazing explosion of sound. Bluetree cuts straight to the core after the first chord. Musically, spiritually they pull you and you can’t let go until they finish, and even then you’re left with lyrics floating all about. There is an obvious connection between all the band members that really permeates through the crowd and within their music.  Add in some serious rock and Bluetree has a sound that definitely deserves airplay plus a show that needs to be seen.”

One of the reasons Bluetree has found such quick success in North America stems from the song that has preceded the band’s arrival.  In addition to Kris Allen, Chris Tomlin and other artists and church worship leaders singing the song, the title track to the acclaimed debut album, God Of This City, has become an R&R multi-format radio hit, landing this week at No. 14 on the AC Indicator, No. 13 on the CHR and No. 6 on the Soft AC / Inspirational charts and continuing to climb.
 
With an unabashed attitude of worship running through all of the songs on God Of This City, which released March 3 on the Lucid Artist label, the album also reflects the highs and lows that inevitably come with the journey of faith.  Critics from Billboard, Lexington Herald-Leader and Belfast Telegraph to Worship Leader, ChristianMusicToday.com, CBN.com and CBA Retailer + Resources and more are heralding Bluetree’s God Of This City, describing it as “stunning debut album,” “inspired and inspiring,” “an experience,” and calling the band the “next big leader” and “freshest sounding” with “compelling musicality.”

For more information on the band, including a compelling acoustic video performance and explanation of the song “God Of This City” by Bluetree lead vocalist/guitarist Aaron Boyd, as well as a free download of the congregation-ready song “Each Day” from its acclaimed God Of This City debut album, go to http://www.givmusic.com/bluetree.