Hi Everyone.
Well it feels like it was just last week that I sat down to write the June/July newsletter for you, and yet here we are already in the middle of August. It has been a busy few months, with lots of exciting news to fill you in on.
HILLSONG CONFERENCE
In July the band and I had an opportunity to play two shows on the outside stage at Hillsong Conference. It was a lot of fun to entertain the sea of people lining up for the evening sessions at Acer Arena. I also spoke at an input session on 'The Music Industry' for the Gospel Music Association - ANZ (www.gma-anz.org). I shared from my experiences on the reality of life on the road and working in full time Christian music and ministry.
It was really great to be able to be involved with this years conference and I would like to thank my new friends at Hillsong Church for inviting me to be involved.
WYD 08
The week following Hillsong Conference the band and I began a busy schedule of shows for World Youth Day. First we made a trip over the Blue Mountains to Bathurst where we played 3 shows in under 15 hours to more than 2,000 pilgrims.
On 'Super Thursday' we travelled into Darling Harbour where event organisers tell me 5,000 people gathered to here us play our show. The atmosphere was electric as we took to the stage. It was amazing to experience so many people gathered together from all over the world having such a good time. There was even a couple of German camera crews filming our show ... look out Germany here I come!
Earlier that day as I walked around Darling Harbour, I was struck by how strange it felt to be strolling around some of Sydney's most famous land marks listening to Christian songs playing over the P.A System. God appears to be on peoples minds and lips right now in a way that we haven't experienced in a very long time (if ever) ... it would seem to me we have a great window of opportunity to engage with people on issues of faith right now.
HISTORY MAKERS
Q. What do Guys Sebastian, Darlene Zschech, Casting Crowns, Rebecca St James and Matt Lucas have in common?
A. We all appear in a new book called History Makers In Music.
History Makers In Music is a book by Matt Prater. Matt is the host of a radio program called History Makers. He has compiled radio transcripts of interviews he has conducted with some of Christian Music's leading names. Also in the book are interviews with James Morrison, Colin Buchanan, Randy Stonehill and Nathan Tasker to name a few. History Makers In Music makes for a very inspiring and entertaining read. To buy your copy or to purchase one as a great gift idea simply visit www.mattlucas.net
AIRWAVES
Once again I am humbled by the fact that my new single The Long Way Home is receiving national radio play. The single is at number 17 on The Rock Across Australia national Christian radio charts for the week of 18 August. Radio play is never guarenteed, so I always appreciate it when radio stations support my music by adding it to their play list. You can hear The Long Way Home by listening to your local Christian radio station.
MUSIC OZ AWARDS
The Long Way Home has been entered into the 2008 MusicOz Awards. The MusicOz Awards is the 'ARIA' Awards for independant artists in Australia. Please click on the link below and vote for The Long Way Home ... You could win a guitar!
LOOKING AHEAD
I am looking forward to taking some much needed time out from touring for the rest of August. Quality time at home with my family is precious with soccer games and swimming lessons to watch; school runs to make and bed time stories to read - not to mention pleanty of nappies to change! In September I will be hitting the road again for some speaking engagements, high school seminars/concerts and various other bookings.
Well that is it for this newsletter. Thank you for taking the time to share in the journey with me. Until next time ... BE GOOD TO OTHERS!
Hi Everyone, Well it has been a very busy couple of months to say the least. So much has been going on and I am really excited to be able to share some of the highlights with you.JUNE saw me play a home town concert in Sydney with my band for Riverwood Presbyterian Church's 'Cafe on the Corner' event, tour to Adelaide and Toowoomba (where I made some great new friends), and do a live on air performance at Brisbane's 96five radio station.JULY has had a flying start. Last week I played two shows with my band and also spoke at a session on the Music Industry for the Gospel Music Association - Australia/New Zealand at Hillsong Conference. This past weekend I played three shows in under 24 hours in Bathurst to 2000+ World Youth Day Pilgrims. It was a real thrill and privilege to witness so many people gathered from all over the world to celebrate their faith in God. This Thursday night (17 July) I will be playing an outdoor concert at Darling Harbour as part of World Youth Day's 'Super Thursday' celebrations. Early reports are estimating over 100,000 people will be gathered in and around the Darling Harbour precinct. Needless to say I am very excited about this particular show. I am really looking forward to having a great time and leading thousands of people in worshiping our awesome God!EVERYONE NEEDS COMPASSION ... As some of you may know, I have been working along side Compassion Australia as a 'partner artist' for the past 18 months. What this means is that whenever I have an opportunity at my events to share about the work and ministry of Compassion - I do so. My wife Melinda and I had the opportunity on 25 June to join Compassion Australia in a praise and thanks giving service to celebrate 75,000 children sponsored. This was a great night where God was truly honored! I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the generous people of Hallett Cove Baptist Church, Marion Church of Christ and Toowoomba North Church of Christ. Over two weekends, 19 children were sponsored at these three churches as I shared about the work of Compassion and the need of children who are living in poverty all over the world. If you do not already sponsor a child, now is the perfect time. Compassion Australia are in the middle of a campaign to see 10,000 children sponsored in 10 days. This campaign is drawing to a close, but there is still time to be part of this incredible venture of faith. For just $44 per month, you can change the life and future of a child forever. To sponsor simply visit www.compassion.com.au/10000childrenAIRWAVES This week I released my new single The Long Way Home to radio stations nationally. This is a powerful song that talks about the 'prodigal' person - that person who gets distracted and resists the call of God on their lives ... perhaps we are all like that at times. For those of you who live in Sydney, I will be doing an exclusive, live acoustic performance of The Long Way Home as well as an interview on FM103.2 this Thursday 17 July at 7:30am - Tune in on your radio or listen online at www.fm1032.com.auDEVOTIONAL THOUGHT Recently I have been reading through the Psalms and the book of Proverbs. I am constantly amazed at the passion and emotion that pour out of these pages. Just the other day I re-read a couple of my favourite verses of scripture:"Trust the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge HIM and HE will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6) What an incredible reminder. I don't know about you, but sometimes I get so busy that I just go about my day to day life, caught up in the hectic pace of work, family, ministry etc. What I have been reminded of is the fact that I am reliant on God in every aspect of my life. I can't even take my next breath unless HE allows it. HE is the giver of life, and I am reliant on HIM for my very existence. GOD is the one that directs our path, HE is the one that guides our journey ... HE is the one that is worthy of praise for any successes we might have, and HE is the one that we can depend on in the tough times as well.STAY TUNED What do Darlene Zschech, Rebecca St James, Casting Crowns, Nathan Tasker and Matt Lucas have in common? You will have to stay tuned until the next update to find out ... Let's just say that I am very excited to be bringing you this news in the very near future. Well that is it for now. Once again I would like to thank you all for your interest in and support of my music and ministry. I appreciate all of you. Until next time ... don't just sit there ... pray something! -Matt Lucashttp://www.reverbnation.com/mattlucas
Well the new album is mixed and mastered and sounding fantastic! We can now reveal that the album is going to be titled "Some Days are Better". The album will have 11 tracks of which Matt wrote 8. He has also recorded songs by Kasey Chambers, Paul Colman and Phil Collins. Below is the name of all 11 tracks (not necessarily in the order they will appear on the album).Some Days are BetterYou Are Not AloneI Still Pray (Kasey Chambers)The Long Way HomeMercy Lights My WayWanna Be Where You AreMy Confession/Your Grace (Paul Colman/Jack Jones)Perfect LoveWinter In My SoulWatching Over YouLong Long Way to Go (Phil Collins)Please keep checking back for release dates, Tour Dates (soon to be released), Audio samples and more!
