Winter Jam: The Christian Vans Warped Tour

It is the world biggest concert tour.

PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, February 16, 2018.

By Daniel Locke

 

What is Winter Jam? Wikipedia called the following: Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, also referred to as simply Winter Jam (and formerly known as January Jam from 1995–2000), is an annual American music tour featuring contemporary Christian music artists of all genres, stunt and/or comedy performances, as well as a tour speaker. It is the United States’ largest annual Christian Music Tour.

But in truth I like to think of it as the alternative Christian Music Vans Warped Tour. But unlike the Vans Warped, the whole family usually go. Because tickets are not required for the tour, as a $10 general admission is collected at the door of each arena. But in 2018 the amount was raised to a $15 suggested donation. During the show near the end there is an offering by the crowd. And this is the way they are able to keep it running after all these years. For as many people as possible.

And over the years the tour has been rated the number one or two tour in the world. For example; the tour outpaced attendance for all other tours in the first quarter of 2011, including Bon Jovi, U2, X Factor Live, Lady Gaga, Brad Paisley and Justin Bieber, according to Pollstar’s 2011 Worldwide First Quarter Ticket Sales “Top 100 Tour” chart. With more than 500,000 people attending Winter Jam in 2011, it surpassed all other tours around the globe for that year.

At this year’s services in Pittsburgh, you had the following bands performing: Skillet, Kari Jobe, Building 429, John Crist, KB, NewSong, Jordan Feliz, Dan Bremnes, Mallary Hope, Westover and Nick Hall.

It started with a pre-concert with Mallary Hope, Westover, Nick Hall and Dan Bremnes.

After the pre-concert the main show started with the excitement of a MTV awards show. This was a concert not for the believers of god. And they always circle back to that fact. But even if you are not a church going person you would still enjoy the music and the message they have to offer.

Pre-Concert
Mallary Hope (born in Cohutta, Georgia) is an American country music singer-songwriter. She released her debut

single, “Love Lives On”, in July 2009, followed by an EP of the same name on August 4, 2009. Both this song and its follow-up, “Blossom in the Dust,” have made the Hot Country Songs charts.

Mallary Hope released a digital EP entitled Love Lives On on August 4, 2009. This EP includes the title track, as well as “Times Like These” and “Wildflowers”. “Love Lives On” debuted at 57 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts dated for August 22, 2009.

She co-wrote Lauren Alaina’s late 2011 single “Georgia Peaches” along with “The Locket”, another song on Lauren Alaina’s debut album. She sang background vocals on “I Will Love You Still”, a track from True Believers, a 2013 album by Darius Rucker and performed a duet with Rucker on the song “Baby, I’m Right”, which is included on his fourth album called “Southern Style” which was released in 2015.

Her latest single Now reach 34 on the US Christian Chart.

Dan Bremnes: (born May 11, 1983) is a Canadian Christian musician, guitarist, and drummer. He released an

extended play, Where the Light Is, and studio album, Where the Light Is, in 2015 through Sparrow Records.
His music career commenced in 2010, with his album, Your Strength, that was independently released. He then released two independent singles, “Hear Your Voice” in 2012 and “After All” in 2013. During this time, Bremnes released an extended play, Light My Way, which was independently released on September 25, 2012.

The extended play and singles got him Covenant Awards at the 35th Annual Awards in 2013 for Male Vocalist of the Year and Music Video of the Year for “This Life”. The subsequent year, Bremnes was awarded at the 36th Annual Awards for having the Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year and Recorded Song of the Year for “Beautiful”, where he got the Male Vocalist of the Year along with Artist of the Year. Where the Light Is.The song, “Beautiful”, charted at a peak of No. 17 on the Billboard magazine Christian Songs chart.

 

Jordan Feliz (born March 15, 1989) is an American Christian musician, who plays a folk rock and soul style of

Christian pop. He has released two studio albums, Beloved in 2015 and The River in 2016, with Centricity Music. His song, “The River”, has charted on the Billboard magazine Christian Songs, Christian Airplay, and Christian Digital Songs charts.

His music career started in 2006, with the band, A Current Affair, but it was not until 2015 that his solo music career commenced. The first studio album, Beloved, was released on October 2, 2015, from Centricity Music. The song, “The River”, charted on three Billboard magazine charts the Christian Songs at No. 2, Christian Airplay at No. 1, and Christian Digital Songs at No. 2. His second studio album, The River, was released on April 22, 2016, from Centricity Music.

His latest single “Witness”, charted on the US Christian at 14, US Christian Airplay at 11 and US Christian Digital at 13.

 

 

NewSong is an American contemporary Christian music group that was founded in 1981, at Morningside Baptist

Church in Valdosta, Georgia. They have had eight GMA Dove Award nominations. They are the founders of the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, the United States’ largest annual Christian music tour. It began in 1995, and is hosted by NewSong. It has had many of the most popular Contemporary artists perform each year, including Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeremy Camp, Newsboys, Anointed, Mercy Me, TobyMac and Skillet.

NewSong has frequently provided support for organizations working with abandoned and underprivileged children. For years they worked with World Vision, a humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their community to rid them of poverty and injustice. Then in 2006, the band became involved with Holt International, a world leader in child adoption and child welfare.

Their last album Faithful: Live Worship charted on the Christian chart at 3 and US charts at 88.

KB: Kevin Elijah Burgess (born July 21, 1988), better known by his stage name KB, is an American Christian hip

hop artist and music executive from St. Petersburg, Florida. He is the leader of the hip-hop group HGA, and was signed as a solo artist to Reach Records in 2010. He is also a member of the Reach Records-based hip-hop collective 116 Clique. After releasing a mixtape in 2011 entitled Who Is KB? his debut album, Weight & Glory, was released on July 17, 2012, to critical acclaim. On March 4, 2014 he released his first EP, 100. On April 21, 2015, he released his second album, Tomorrow We Live.

On October 20, 2017, KB released his third studio album Today We Rebel. The first single off the album “Tempo” was released a year prior to the album’s release date. The second single off the album “Monster” featuring Aha Gazelle was released on September 15, 2017. Which charted 39 on the US Charts.

Today We Rebel reached 91 on the US Charts, 1 on the US Christian Charts and 8 on the US Independent Charts.

 

John Crist: With over 300 million video views, comedian and viral sensation John Crist is the next big thing in

standup comedy. Whether you know him from viral videos like “Millenial International,” “Road Rage in the Church Parking Lot,” or BuzzFeed’s “Signs You Grew Up Christian,” Crist has solidified his comedic prowess with over 200 live shows a year, highlighted by recent television appearances on Live at Gotham and Laughs on Fox.

Nine years in, Crist has shared the stage with some of the best in the business, including Dave Chappelle, Jeff Foxworthy, Tim Hawkins, Seth Meyers, Trevor Noah, Dana Carvey, Adam Carolla, Chris D’Elia, Anjelah Johnson and Louie Anderson. Anderson, named one of Comedy Central’s Top 100 Comedians of All Time, says of Crist, “It’s only a matter of time until John Crist is a household name.

He is so likable and his stand-up is top notch.” Tim Hawkins, who Crist has performed with over 100 times says, “This guy aren’t no opener. John Crist is the real deal.”

Named by ChurchLeaders.com as one of the “Top Five Comics to Watch,” Crist is no stranger to accolades. He was a finalist in Comedy Central’s Up Next Comedy Competition, a finalist in the Comedy Works New Faces Contest, and named to the Burbank Comedy Festival’s Best of the Fest. “The most meaningful award I’ve ever won?” Crist says, “When I was first starting out, I’d just go anywhere I could find an open mic. One time I did a show at a bar and the winner won a free appetizer. Best cheese sticks I’ve ever had.”

Crist has created and starred in several videos for BuzzFeed and has made several appearances on the Bob and Tom Show. He has been featured in Men’s Humor, Relevant Magazine, The Adam Carolla Show, Cracked, The Catalyst Conference, The Nerdist Network, TBN, The Daily Wire, and Huffington Post. He was even once a voice actor on the popular children’s radio show Adventures in Odyssey.

Building 429 is a Christian rock band signed to Essential Records. They were the Gospel Music Association 2005 New Artist of the Year. Their name is derived from a Biblical passage known as Ephesians 4:29, which, in the New International Version of the Bible, reads as follows: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” The band members originated from Snyder Memorial Baptist Church and various areas in North Carolina as well as Texas.

In 2005, Building 429 was nominated to three Dove Awards at the 36th GMA Dove Awards: New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“Glory Defined”), and Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for the same song. It ended up winning New Artist of the Year.

Kari Jobe (born April 6, 1981) is an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter. Since her first

album in 2009, she has received one Grammy Award nomination and nine Dove Award nominations, four of which she won.

In August 2014, Jobe confirmed via Instagram that she became engaged to fellow Gateway Worship artist Cody Carnes. Jobe married Cody Carnes on November 21, 2014.

On the red carpet at the Dove Awards 2015, Jobe announced she and her husband were expecting a son. On February 18, 2016, Jobe gave birth to her son, Canyon Morrison Caine Carnes.

The Garden was release and the lead single, “The Cause of Christ”, of an album to be released in 2017 was released on November 4, 2016. Three other singles, “Heal Our Land”, “Fall Afresh” and “The Garden”, were released before Jobe’s fourth full-length studio album, The Garden, was released on February 3, 2017.
The Garden charted on US Charts at 22, US Christian Charts at 2, US Digital Charts at 6 and UK Christian Charts at 1′

Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996. The band currently consists of

husband John (lead vocals, bass) and wife Korey Cooper (rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals) along with Jen Ledger (drums, vocals) and Seth Morrison (lead guitar). The band has released ten albums, two receiving Grammy nominations: Collide and Comatose. Two of their albums, Comatose and Awake, are certified Platinum and Double Platinum respectively by the RIAA while Rise, is certified Gold as of November 10, 2017.

In January 2011, Skillet confirmed that they would be touring with Stone Sour and Theory of a Deadman on the Avalanche Tour. The tour began at the end of March 2011 and concluded on May 8 in Jacksonville, FL. Other supporting acts include Halestorm and Art of Dying. The band had a small international tour in January and February 2011 visiting Australia, New Zealand’s Parachute Music Festival, and Japan. In October 2011, the band continued their Awake and Alive tour with Disciple, We as Human, and Manafest.

Skillet headlined the Winter Jam Tour 2012 for the central and eastern parts of the United States.
Skillet performing in the Komplex457 in Zurich in October 20, 2014

Starting on August 13, 2013 Skillet toured with Shinedown, Papa Roach and In This Moment on the Carnival of

Madness tour. In October and November the band arrives Europe supporting Nickelback’s tour in twenty one shows. The band closed the year headlining their own tour in Russia and a show in Ukraine.

Skillet started 2014 coheadlining the Roadshow 2014 with Third Day during January and February. Upon completion, the band continued coheadlining alongside Third Day in a Spring tour. Later in May, toured with TobyMac and Lecrae in the Summer Shed Tour. Starting in the end of May, the band traveled to be part of European festivals during six weeks. In August and September they joined Godsmack, Seether, and Buckcherry in the Rockstar Uproar Festival in twenty one American cities. In October and November the band had its own tour in Europe and Russia, offering twenty-two shows.

Starting January 2, 2015, they will co-headline the Winter Jam Tour 2015 in the central and eastern part of the United States alongside Jeremy Camp. They will also be part of the Winter Jam Tour 2015 West Coast.
On May 11, 2016, Skillet announced a European tour from May 28 through July 3 including Rock am Ring.

In July 2016, it was announced that Skillet would be going on a headlining Unleashed Tour with Sick Puppies,

Thousand Foot Krutch and Devour the Day, playing at club-sized venues in 18 cities primarily located along the East Coast of the United States to take place during September and October 2016. In December 2016, a 27-city, second leg of the tour was announced. Opening for Skillet on this second leg were Sick Puppies and Devour the Day.

In 2017, Skillet opened for Korn and Stone Sour on the second half of The Serenity of Summer tour which started in Syracuse, New York on July 19 and finished in Cleveland, Ohio August 2. Starting November 5, 2017, Skillet joined Britt Nicole, Colton Dixon, Tauren Wells and Gawvi for five shows on the Air1 Hits Tour across the central United States.

In 2018, Skillet headlined the Winter Jam tour for the third time, making it their fourth appearance to date. Other bands that appeared on the 2018 Winter Jam tour include Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, Building 429, Newsong, Jordan Feliz, and comedian John Crist, among others. In January 2018, Skillet announced they would be partnering with For King & Country to present the “joy. UNLEASHED” tour in April 2018, hitting a handful of mid-western and southern US cities.

The main thing you have to remember, is both give a positive message.
Many performers- Winter Jam about a dozen, while Vans Warped has over 60 performers
Both have an education message. Everything from Health to Education
Both gave an interactive atmosphere to have fun. – DL

 

Winter Jam Website | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram |

Tour Dates

Jan 5, 2018 Charleston, WV Charleston Civic Center

Jan 6, 2018 Louisville, KY Freedom Hall

Jan 7, 2018 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena

Jan 12, 2018 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena

Jan 13, 2018 Tampa, FL Amalie Arena

Jan 14, 2018 Sunrise, FL BB&T Center

Jan 18, 2018 Reading, PA Santander Arena

Jan 19, 2018 State College, PA Bryce Jordan Center

Jan 20, 2018 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center

Jan 21, 2018 Charlotte, NC Spectrum Center

Jan 25, 2018 Springfield, MO JQH Arena

Jan 26, 2018 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena

Jan 27, 2018 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center

Jan 28, 2018 Tulsa, OK BOK Center

Feb 1, 2018 Mobile, AL Mitchell Center

Feb 2, 2018 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena

Feb 3, 2018 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena

Feb 8, 2018 Ft. Wayne, IN Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

Feb 9, 2018 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center

Feb 10, 2018 Indianapolis, IN Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Feb 11, 2018 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena

Feb 15, 2018 Evansville, IN The Ford Center

Feb 16, 2018 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena

Feb 17, 2018 Cincinnati, OH U.S. Bank Arena

Feb 18, 2018 Birmingham, AL Legacy Arena at the BJCC

Feb 22, 2018 Tupelo, MS BancorpSouth Arena

Feb 23, 2018 Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boling Arena

Feb 24, 2018 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum

Feb 25, 2018 Chattanooga, TN McKenzie Arena

Mar 2, 2018 New Orleans, LA Lakefront Arena

Mar 3, 2018 Memphis, TN FedExForum

Mar 4, 2018 Houston, TX Toyota Center

Mar 9, 2018 Wichita, KS INTRUST Bank Arena

Mar 10, 2018 Bossier City, LA CenturyLink Center

Mar 11, 2018 N. Little Rock, AR Verizon Arena

Mar 15, 2018 Council Bluffs, IA Mid-America Center

Mar 16, 2018 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center

Mar 17, 2018 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena

Mar 18, 2018 Ft. Worth, TX Ft. Worth Convention Center

Mar 22, 2018 Augusta, GA James Brown Arena

Mar 23, 2018 Columbia, SC Colonial Life Arena

Mar 24, 2018 Raleigh, NC PNC Arena

Mar 25, 2018 Greenville, SC Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Mar 29, 2018 Peoria, IL Peoria Civic Center

Mar 30, 2018 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena

Mar 31, 2018 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena