When we started this school year, we did so with great anticipation and excitement for what was to come with fall events. And we still feel that way – running events has given us so much life. But if we’ve learned anything over the last six months, it’s that there is a lot of unknown and tough decisions to be made in order to keep people safe. The health, well-being, and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and campus guests are our utmost priority during this unprecedented time. For this reason, we feel that the COVID-19 situation has not changed enough for us to properly host our concerts in the spaces we have available to us.

What does this mean for each show and ticket holder?

Skillet feat. Ledger on Sept. 25 has been canceled. All ticket holders to the show will be emailed details regarding a refund for your ticket(s).

The Devil Wears Prada feat. My Epic on Oct. 16 has been canceled. All ticket holders to the show will be emailed details regarding a refund for your ticket(s).

John Mark McMilllan feat. John Mark Pantana on Nov. 13 is being rescheduled for the spring. A new date will be announced in the coming weeks. All ticket holders to the show will be emailed details regarding the option to hold on to your ticket or request a refund. Ticket sales will be suspended until a new date is announced.

All ticket holders will be emailed within the next 48-72 hours. Due to the high volume of refunds, please allow 10-14 business days for those to process. If you do not receive a refund after this time, email tickets@liberty.edu.

Thank you for understanding and your patience in the matter. We are looking forward to the day this is all behind us! For now, we’ll continue to bring you great events that are safe and allow adequate distance for our guests.

On April 3^rd, Student Activities will be hosting a concert put on by none other than the band Skillet. Founded in 1996 by the lead singer John Cooper and guitarist Ken Steorts, the band quickly created waves initially within the Christian music world. Adding a couple more band members enabled Skillet to climb onto the Billboard Top 200 in 2001 with their song Alien Youth. Up until 2009, the band still had not made its big break throughout the secular music world, until their album Awake was released. Ever since, the band has won two Dove Awards for “Rock Song of the Year“ and their songs have been featured in movies such as “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” “Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” as well as the theme song of some NFL and WWE commercials. Their fame has not gone unnoticed in the secular music world, as they continue to be relevant over the years.

Hailed as a “Christian” band, Skillet has had to defend themselves in both Christian and secular circles for their faith simply based on the sound of their music. In an interview with CBN News, John Cooper made sure to emphasize that Skillet is indeed a Christian band whose sole focus is to honor Jesus. Their message within their songs are encouraging for Christians to be “bold in their faith” as well as to glorify the one Who created them. Cooper and the rest of the band are using their platform and talents to be an encouragement to Christians but also to be witnesses to those who do not believe.

Make sure to join us in welcoming Skillet feat. Ledger on April 3^rd as the last event in the Vines Center! This show is on sale now – click the Tickets drop down!

Sources

https://www.learnreligions.com/skillet-biography-709852

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/skillet-mn0000749571/biography

https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/entertainment/2016/december/skillets-john-cooper-were-a-christian-band-rock-and-roll-is-not-about-sex-and-drugs

Kings Kaleidoscope is a faith-based band from Seattle, Washington. Although they can be lumped into the Christian genre, their music is far different from anything else that is currently being produced in that department. Led by the singer/songwriter Chad Gardner, Kings Kaleidoscope, or KK, was formed in 2010 at Mars Hill Church, where Gardner led worship.

In the following year, KK recorded their first EP titled Sin. As time went on and the band developed, in 2016, they released their album Beyond Control, which reached number 6 on Billboard’s Christian Albums chart and number 16 on the Independent Albums chart. Their truly unique sound is what separates them from the rest. They can incorporate rap, worship, instrumentals, and everything in between into their projects. A more recent example would be their popular rendition of Grace Alone which starts out slow and worshipful but ends with a bang as the full brass and instrumental sections come in. Additionally, the truly iconic voice of Chad and his genius behind the beats helps to give their music a lasting impression in your mind. Once you hear a song like Sticks and Stones, which was recently featured on a Lexus commercial with almost 200,000 views on YouTube, it will most likely be stuck in your head for the rest of the day. Just try not to make an emotional decision and buy a Lexus after listening to this song.

Come laugh, sing, and dance with us as Kings Kaleidoscope feat. Rhineland will be performing at 7:30pm on March 6! Information regarding tickets and concert details will be available on our website. See you there!

Sources

https://www.kingskaleidoscope.com/join

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kings-kaleidoscope-mn0002999854/biography

In an era of sequels, prequels, and book adaptations, it is a rare occurrence for a single story to claim such high praise. Knives Out and Dark Waters both fall into such a category as they have received major success at the box office, as well as extremely positive reviews from critics. Student Activities is going to treat you guys to a double-feature of these incredible films at the Vines Center on February 8^th! With that being said, here is a preview of what to expect before seeing these movies.

From director Rian Johnson, Knives Out tells a mind-bending mystery that leaves audiences completely speechless with how the story unfolds. With a star-studded cast including Daniel Craig, Toni Collette, Chris Evans, and Jamie Lee Curtis, the audience is able to see this modern “whodunit” elevate the mystery-thriller genre. This film tells the story of how a wealthy crime novelist, Harlan Thrombey, invites the characters to his luxurious mansion for his 85^th birthday. Shockingly, Thrombey is found dead in his study. Thus, a classic whodunit story is carried out and will leave you, the audience, stunned at the conclusion and the truth behind the death of Thrombey. This film has been nominated for “Best Original Screenplay” at the Oscars this year, and it was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, including Best Actress (Ana de Armas), Best Actor (Daniel Craig) and Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (this film being the latter).

Todd Haynes, director behind Dark Waters, tells the true story of detective Robert Billot and his discovery of a dark truth that connects a growing number of unexplainable deaths to one of the largest corporations in the world, the DuPont chemical corporation. Billot, played by Mark Ruffalo, finds himself risking his career and the relationships with his family to bring justice to this dark case. Also starring Anne Hathaway, Dark Waters expertly displays the very real-world effects of deception, crime, and injustice and puts the audience in the shoes of an exhausted yet righteous detective.

Grab some blankets and your friends and come out to the Vines Center on February 8^th for some free popcorn and to see how these brilliantly crafted stories play out!

Sources

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dark-waters-movie-review-2019

https://www.focusfeatures.com/dark-waters/about

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8946378/

 

Written by: Alex Quan

Alex is a Junior Business Communications Major and enjoys writing for the blog because of the opportunity to express his thoughts and interests through the medium of a blog! It’s a healthy way to share his opinions with others and hopefully start a dialogue with them.

 

At just 30 years old, Jonathan McReynolds has accumulated more critical acclaim musically than some artists do in their entire careers, and for good reason. The Chicago-raised singer’s angelic voice has raised the eyebrows of recent stars such as Tori Kelly and Justin Bieber as well as legends like Stevie Wonder and Kirk Franklin. Franklin went so far as to say that Jonathan is “the future of gospel music”. Considering Franklin’s mountain of influence, that compliment is high praise.

Critics evidently agree with Kelly, Wonder, and Franklin, as McReynolds’ work has been nominated for multiple Grammy awards. Jonathan is no stranger to the Dove awards either, taking home a GMA Dove Award for his second album, Life Music: Stage Two, as well as numerous Stellar Gospel Music Awards for other projects. While musically intelligent and talented, McReynolds is also intellectually genius, being recently named a member of Mensa, a high IQ society. Other honors include being named to Apple Music’s “The A-List: Gospel” playlist, McReynolds was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. It seems like whatever McReynolds touches turns to gold.

Those who are wise enough to purchase tickets to Jonathan McReynolds’ February 21^st concert in the LaHaye Event Space will be able to brag for years that they saw him for a cheap price before he is selling out arenas all over the country and world. McReynolds’ musings promise to leave you astounded at his songwriting, blown away by his voice, and in awe of the God he proudly sings about. From fan-favorite song “Cycles” to the show-stopping hit “Make Room”, those in attendance are in for a great night of worship music and vocal talent. Make Room on your schedule for this night that promises to be worth the price of admission.

Sources

https://www.jonathanmcreynolds.com/

On November 9^th, Liberty University will be welcoming a performance from Rend Collective. Originally from Bangor, Ireland, the band has influenced the lives of many with their clear message of the Gospel woven into their music. Originally playing in churches and homes, Rend Collective’s folk-Gospel music quickly started to spread its encouragement around the world and still does to this day.

Rend Collective’s talent did not go unnoticed for long. Their first single, Build Your Kingdom Here, rose to the 12^th spot on the National Christian Audience Chart, and their album The Art of Celebration climbed to the Top 15 of the Billboard 200 in 2014. Other notable Christian artists such as Christ Tomlin, Lecrae, and Kari Jobe have brought the band on tours as well.

The band is rooted in principles that reflect the life of a believer in Jesus Christ. They portray messages of hope to people that struggle in their faith, finding joy in Christ, and dealing with the weight of the world. Their latest album release, Good News, is a response to all the bad news that is going on in this world, according to lead singer Gareth Gilkeson. One of the songs in the album, Counting Every Blessing, was a response to a low point that the entire band went through. Rend Collective’s music is raw and full of truth, greatly reflecting the life of a struggling Christian. Their encouragement has and will continue to impact the lives of many. Make sure to purchase your tickets to see them in concert on our Concerts page!

Sources

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rend-collective-mn0002120504/biography

https://www.premierproductions.com/blog/rend-collective-hits-highs-several-music-charts

https://rendcollective.com/pages/bio

David Leonard, formerly from Christian band All Sons & Daughters, will be performing with Evan Egerer on October 25 in the LaHaye Event Space. Leonard released his first solo project, “The Wait”, on March 15, 2019.

David Leonard and Leslie Jordan (the counterpart of All Sons & Daughters as well as Leonard’s wife) decided to end the musical group in February 2018. Since then, Leonard has delved into making and producing solo projects. “The Wait” was his first solo album, and a live recording of the album was released at the end of this August. In this album, Leonard embraces some of the challenges faced by a believer. He doesn’t shy away from tackling subjects like loneliness, heartache, and other struggles of a person’s heart. Leonard, through all of these songs, explores the struggles of being human, but he always makes it clear that there is a solution through Jesus.

“The Wait” is an incredible album that believers are able to easily relate with. We are so excited to have him perform here at LU!

Sources

https://www.thechristianbeat.org/index.php/news/5576-david-leonard-formerly-of-all-sons-daughters-to-release-first-solo-album

Tenth Avenue North, a Christian contemporary band, will be performing at Liberty on September 27 at 7:30 p.m. The band got their start in the early 2000’s in West Palm Beach, Florida. In their beginning days, they played cafes and local student conventions and opened for rising Christian singer, Katy Hudson (now known as pop icon Katy Perry).

After making three independent albums, they released their first record label album in 2008, Over and Underneath. In 2009, they won “New Artist of the Year” at the Christian Music Dove Awards, and in 2010, “By Your Side” was named song of the year. With the release of their next two albums, The Light Meets the Dark and The Struggle, the band gained even more momentum.

Their blend of a rock and pop styles seek to bring light to unpopular and not-often-talked-about issues within the church, such as addiction, abuse, lust, and other many other topics. Lead singer Mike Donehey has been in the band since its conception, with other members joining and leaving through the years. They recently came out with their ninth album, “No Shame,” and will begin their No Shame Tour this October. Purchase your tickets to see them in concert here!

Sources

https://www.tenthavenuenorth.com/

https://www.klove.com/music/artists/tenth-avenue-north/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenth_Avenue_North

Andy Mineo, an American hip hop artist who displays self-reflection and vulnerability to connect with his listeners, will be performing at Liberty on September 13 at 7:30pm. The 31-year-old Christian rapper has been making music since 2009 when he dropped Sin Is Wack Vol. 1. Ever since, Andy Mineo has produced a multitude of records making it to the Billboard charts as well as selling out on tours in the United States and Europe.

After moving to New York City, he accepted and began following Jesus Christ and restarted his career, going a new direction. Andy Mineo has used his platform to reach others and empathize with them using his musical gifts. This can be evidently seen in his two-part series I: The Arrow and 2: The Sword. In “Anxiety” from I: The Arrow, he discusses the effects of anxiety and uses imagery that listeners can clearly understand. Andy Mineo’s music is more than just a catchy beat with fun and exciting choruses and hooks. He uses his music to spread God’s truth and the Gospel.

Work In Progress, his newest album, is expected to release on August 23, 2019. And from the couple songs that have been released, “I DON’T NEED YOU (DEMO.)wav” and “Anything But Country (break beat_no trap version).mp3”, we can expect more songs that have unique beats and thought-provoking lyrics. Purchase your tickets for Andy Mineo now!

Sources

https://andymineo.com/

https://genius.com/artists/Andy-mineo

https://www.billboard.com/music/andy-mineo

Spring 2019. A semester that seems to have flown by twice as fast as it did in the fall. This semester was especially loaded with multiple concerts that already seem like they took place a year ago! Student Activities offers such a wide variety of concerts, and there is always something for everybody to be looking forward to.

Shortly after the start of this semester, we were treated to Drew and Ellie Holcomb on February 8. The husband and wife duo took turns sharing the stage before uniting near the end to bring their show home. Coming off of a Christmas break where many were at home with their families, this show was the perfect way to kick off the semester simply because of the feelings of unity and family that Drew and Ellie communicated. They made us feel comfortable and at home just by watching them do what they love together. This warm blend of indie, folk, and worship was the perfect way to kick off the spring concerts.

On February 23, Bethel Music came and brought in yet another husband and wife duo. Except this time, it was a little bit different. Brian and Jenn Johnson came and performed a night full of worship. There was no opener for the concert; it was simply these two co-founders of Bethel Music who led us in praise to our God, while still showing their love for what they do. It was a wonderful experience because in addition to the music, we got to hear from Brian and Jenn directly as they spoke about their testimonies and how Bethel has come about. This was a beautiful night where we were not only entertained, but were able to spend time in worship as well.

Moving into March, the Gray Havens performed as a part of our Every Square Inch Conference. The Conference was a weekend of learning from Trevin Wax about culture, identity and Christianity, and there was no better way to wrap it up than having the Gray Havens perform. The duo was preceded by openers Gray, a Liberty student, and Chris Renzema, an important name in singer/songwriter music. The couple even stayed after the show to answer a Q&A on stage, where the audience learned more about their story.

Josh Garrels wrapped up the March lineup of concerts, and his was definitely one to remember. Ask anybody who was at the March 22^nd concert and they will all agree that Josh has one of the most unique voices around. In order to match his unique voice, he showed off a personality that is also unique to the music industry. This was made evident when he chose to stay after and talk with anybody who desired to meet him. In a time when big name artists are charging hundreds of dollars for meet-and-greet passes, Josh elected to take the time to meet everybody, which says a lot about his character and is reflective of his wide variety of music.

The most recent big-name concert of the semester was Tori Kelly on April 6. She has one of the purest voices in the industry right now and that was made evident during her concert. Those who came really got their money’s worth of entertainment as well as the length of the show. On her acoustic tour, it was just Tori and her guitarist up on stage. The two of them made the arena sound like it was filled with 20 people on stage. This experience was surely one to remember.

Our final show of the spring was Tyson Motsenbocker, opened by Cole Loomis. This free show in the LaHaye Event Space was intimate and special for those who came and love Tyson and Cole. It was Tyson’s birthday, and he said to the audience that they made his birthday great. We were so glad we could be a part of his special day. Tyson and Cole were such a great way to close out an awesome semester!

Check out our social media for concerts that will be happening this fall – see you there!