It’s almost time to Winter Jam
The Winter Jam 2012 concert tour kicks off tonight in Charleston, W. Va.
The multi-city tour will stop in Oklahomoa City on Feb. 18 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena and in Tulsa on Feb. 25 at the BOK Center.
Winter Jam will feature the concert’s hosts, NewSong, as well as several contemporary Christian recording artists and groups like Sanctus Real (pictured); former Newsboys frontman Peter Furler, Kari Jobe, Building 429 and Group 1 Crew. A Pre-Jam Party will include performances from Dara Maclean, For King & Country and We As Human. Veggie Tales’ Bob and Larry also will make a guest 
appearance.
Aside from the musical performances, here’s the other thing that makes Winter Jam such a hit with fans: Cost for the event is $10 at the door.
You have time to put it on your calendar.
For more information about the tour, go to www.jamtour.com.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
#NewsOK
Concert alert: Mary Mary
Here’s another concert on the horizon: “A Mary Mary Christmas Concert.” 
Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell, the sisters who make up the gospel duo Mary Mary will perform in concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 11 in the Douglass High School auditorium, 900 Martin Luther King Ave.
BLAC Inc. is sponsoring the concert.
Tickets are $35 and $45. They may be obtained at the following locations: Capital Square Station, Charlie’s Jazz Rhythm and Blues Store, Hopkins Hair Care, KM66, Learning Tree Toy Store, Urban Roots and BLAC Inc.
Mary Mary burst onto the gospel music scene with their hit “Shackles” back in 2000 and they haven’t looked back since .
I had a chance to interview them in 2003 when they performed at the wedding of a metro area couple who had a really special love story.
For more information about the Christmas concert, call BLAC Inc. at 524-3800.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Concert watch: Switchfoot
We have another round of contemporary Christian and gospel concerts coming up, beginning with Switchfoot on Saturday, Aug. 13 at Frontier City.
The concert will be from 7 to 10 p.m. It’s free with paid admission to the park. 
Other concerts heading to the Oklahoma City metro area include:
FFH, 6 p.m. Sept. 25, Southern Hills Baptist Church, 8601 S Pennsylvania. For more information, call 682-1636.
Sandi Patty & Friends, 6 p.m. Sept. 25, Crossings Community Church, 14600 N Portland. Event includes Wayne Watson, Heather Payne, Larnelle Harris and Jim Lyon. For information, go to www.crossingsokc.org.
And in Tulsa:
Third Day, 7 p.m. Oct. 8, Mabee Center. For Mabee Center information, go to www.mabeecenter.com.
Gaither Homecoming Tour, 6 p.m. Nov. 5, Mabee Center.
Michael W. Smith’s “Two Friends” tour with Amy Grant, Nov. 12, Mabee Center.
Concert alert: Marvin Sapp
TULSA — Gospel recording artist Marvin Sapp (pictured) is set to headline the Most Powerful Voices Gospel Concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Mabee Center, 7777 S. Lewis.
The concert is part of a seven-city tour featuring Sapp, Myron Butler and Levi, Ted Winn and Brian Courtney Wilson. The event is sponsored locally by St. John Hospital. 
The Most Powerful Voices Gospel Tour is designed as an evening of empowering music fused with healthy lifestyle messages. It is part of the American Heart Association’s Power to End Stroke campaign to educate the black community about its increased risk for stroke.
Sapp’s 2007 hit single “Never Would Have Made It” held the No. 1 spot on gospel radio for nearly one year. His latest hit single is “The Best in Me” from his 2010 album “Here I Am.”
Cost is $20. People who purchase their tickets before Oct. 27 will receive $5 off the ticket price.
To purchase the tickets by phone, call (918) 495-6000; online at www.MabeeCenter.com or in person at the Mabee Center Box Office.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Concert alert: Amy Grant
Contemporary Christian recording artist Amy Grant will perform in concert Oct. 28 at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. 
Grant brings her “Pieces of Our Lives” tour to the city to benefit Compassion International’s Leadership Development Program. The program is designed to take young people out of poverty by equipping them with a college education and empowering them to return home as leaders who can influence their own families, churches, communities and nations.
A “Pieces of Our Lives” Art Gallery Reception will open at 7 p.m. and the concert begins at 8 p.m. The concert will be limited to 300 guests and some items from the art gallery will be available for auction after the concert.
Tickets are $250 for the concert and art gallery reception, meet and greet with Grant, an exclusive gift book and preferred seating at the concert.
Tickets for the concert only are $150.
All tickets may be purchased by calling (615) 829-8472 or online at www.PiecesOfOurLives.com. Special prices are available for groups.
Oklahoma City is one of only 10 cities across the country being targeted for the tour.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Concert alert: NewFire, 33 Miles, Tenth Avenue North and more
Chris Tomlin and tobyMac started the Christian concert summer season off with a bang last week.
Good news is there are more concerts coming.
Contemporary Christian rock band Tenth Avenue North (pictured) will perform at the State Fair on Sept. 20. That info was just released. 
Here are more concerts, many of them coming to an arena near you soon:
The contemporary Christian duo NewFire is making their way across the state in a series of concerts. I’ve listed several here.
NewFire
July 4, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Cushing;
July 11, Interactive Ministries, Sapulpa;
Aug. 8, Lakeside Church of God, Norman;
Aug. 29, First Baptist Church, Newkirk
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Food for the Hungry Block Party with 33 Miles, Aaron Shust, Among the Thirsty and NewFire
July 17, 5:30 p.m. Southern Hills Baptist Church, Tulsa. Tickets: $5 at the door.
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Lincoln Brewster (pictured) with Leeland and Group 1 Crew
Aug. 14, Christian Family Day at Frontier City.
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Stay tuned — I’ll share information on other concerts as I receive it.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Concert alert: tobyMac and Chris Tomlin
With the Memorial Day holiday signaling the unofficial beginning of summer, there are several Christian concerts on the horizon.
One of the most anticipated concerts is the “Hello Tonight” tour with Christian worship artist Chris Tomlin and contemporary Christian recording artist tobyMac (pictured). The concert is set for 7:30 p.m. June 17 in the Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre, 2101 NE 50.
General admission is $25; Expressline admission is $35.
Meanwhile, the Burchfield Brothers are set to perform a free concert at 6 p.m. June 13 at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1451 E 45 in Shawnee. The concert is free and open to the general public. A love offering will be taken. Brothers Jon and Ben Burchfield just released their 11th album, “Times and Seasons.”
Christian rock band Stellar Kart is set to perform in concert July 31 at the Southeast Expo Center in McAlester. That concert is set for 7 p.m. at the center, 4500 U.S. Highway 270. Admission is $10 in advance and $12.50 at the door.
In August, contemporary Christian recording artist Britt Nicole (pictured below) is schedule to perform in concert at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. Nicole’s concert is set for 10:30 a.m. Aug. 7 at the center, 2900 Jenkins Ave. Her performance is part of the Oklahoma 
Youth Evangelism Conference hosted by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Kirk Franklin heading to OKC
It’s official: Gospel recording artist Kirk Franklin is bringing his “Fight of Our Life Health Tour” to Oklahoma City on Nov. 22. 
Franklin’s concert will be at 6 p.m. at Fairview Baptist Church, 1700 NE 7. The concert is free and will feature guest appearances by local Gospel artist Sean Johnson and Wings of Harmony, a performing arts ensemble.
The tour is in partnership with the American Heart Assocation’s Power to End Stroke initiative. Franklin performed in concert in Tulsa over the summer. An Oklahoma City concert was planned, but officials were working with Franklin’s busy schedule and trying to find an Oklahoma City location to host the event. Many people had been asking me if a date had been set for the Oklahoma City concert so I’m glad that I can finally give them some facts.
I just saw Franklin perform at the 2009 Woman Thou Art Loosed Conference at Bishop T.D. Jake’s church The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas. He was, as usual, outstanding. As part of the upcoming health tour, the Grammy Award-winning artist will encourage concert-goers to pledge to take control of their health, reduce their risk of stroke and learn the warning signs of stroke.
Save the date.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Concert alert: Natalie Grant and Jeremy Camp
Here’s the latest in concert news:
Contemporary Christian recording artists Natalie Grant (at bottom left), Jeremy Camp (below right) and Bebo Norman are to perform in concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at First Baptist Church of Moore, 301 NE 27 in Moore.
The Speaking Louder Than Before” tour will feature Grant opening for Camp.
Grant has won four consecutive Dove Awards for best female artist for her signature song “Held.” She’s released four albums since 2001, including “Stronger,” “Deeper,” “Awaken,” and “Relentless.”
After finishing the “Make it Matter” tour in July 2009 with Chris Sligh and Meredith Andrews, Grant was invited to open for Camp’s fall tour.
For ticket information, go online to iTickets.com or purchase tickets at the Moore church, Lifeway Christian Store or Mardel. For more information, call 793-2600 .
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Seeing Sandi
The Sandi Patty and Friends concert was the first time I got hear Sandi sing in person and it was delightful.
I have interviewed Sandi several times over the years and listened to her music, of course.
But it was great to see and hear her in person Tuesday night at Crossings Community Church.
The best part of the evening was that it served as a benefit for White Fields boys home. Sandi and her friends Anita Renfroe, the Tabors and Miss America 2009 Katie Stam made it so pleasant that I heard many people say they could have stayed to hear more.
What struck me the most was Sandi’s obvious rapport with all her guests, from the folks in the audience to the friends she had invited to entertain us.
She sang some of her songs that the crowd has deemed favorites over the years and a medley of Southern Gospel classics had everyone singing and up on their feet at the end.
My favorite song was “The Prayer” which Sandi sang with her husband Don Peslis. I found myself hoping that they would sing it. I’d heard them sing the song for the first time at the 10th anniversary of the Murrah Building bombing several years ago. They did not disappoint on Thursday.
All in all it was such a worthwhile evening. I entered the sanctuary tired from a long day and left knowing that the heaviness that had beset me had been lifted — all with a little help and music from Sandi and her friends.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
