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