hillsong united returns to toronto

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 20, 2011
HILLSONG UNITED RETURNS TO TORONTO
Hillsong UNITED AFTERMATH Tour stop
Traversing six continents of the world into 42 nations just since 2006 in a cross-cultural journey,
best-selling modern worship band Hillsong UNITED returns to Toronto August 13 on the
“Aftermath” tour. Supporting UNITED in Toronto is “Royal”, an immerging worship band with
Ontario locals Nathan and Gabe Finochio fronting the group. Royal’s debut album is due to
release later this year with songs like “Heart Beat”, “Mighty Hands” and “October” it’s sure to
become a household favorite. (@theroyalROYAL)
The UNITED tour follows the Feb. 15, 2011 release of the band’s highly anticipated, 11th fulllength album and second ever studio recording, AFTERMATH, on Sparrow Records. This is the
first new recording from the band in the alliance announced last year with EMI Christian Music
Group.
With more than a decade’s worth of worship favorites, Hillsong UNITED will also play new
music from AFTERMATH while on tour, including the first radio single from the album, “Search
My Heart.” The song went to radio Jan. 21 and is a pulsing, urgent cry to be used by God for His
– not simply our own – purposes. Having its pulse consistently in tune with the heart cry of
congregations across the globe and a fresh, forward- thinking soundtrack to match. As Hillsong
UNITED’s team of songwriters penned and recorded the tracks for AFTERMATH, the theme of
genuine, paradoxical hope in the wake of apparent tragedy emerged in track after track.
“Normally ‘aftermath’ has a negative, even traumatic, connotation,” Hillsong UNITED’s Joel
Houston says. “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.”
“Ultimately, through these songs, our upcoming tour – even the album’s packaging – we want to
take people on a journey that leaves them feeling empowered to be about what God’s calling us to
be about – not out of this sense of burden,” continues Joel.
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, the full
Hillsong UNITED team returns to Toronto. The full Hillsong UNITED Aftermath tour itinerary
can be found on the band’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/hillsongunited, which has more
then 2.2 Million fans.
Hillsong UNITED was born out weekly gatherings and there are now over 3,000 attendees of the
Youth Movement at Hillsong Church. Here 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 sold
over 1,000,000 albums in the U.S. alone and 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.
Ticket info for the Toronto Show visit: www.itickets.com or www.ticketmaster.com
For more information, please visit: www.hillsongunited.com and
www.facebook.com/hillsongunited.
For more U.S. information, contact: Rick Hoganson, Hoganson Media Relations, 615.459.9870,
[email protected].
For Canadian information, contact: Paul Kelly, Unite Productions Inc, 905.271.0202,
[email protected]