Southeast Iowa will have the pleasure and opportunity to hear the Band "Downhere", recent winners of the Canadian Juno award for Christian/Gospel Album of the Year 2009 (equivalent to the American Grammy Award) in Kalona Friday, April 17th. The band's latest album "Ending Is Beginning" won the Juno award but is not the only nationally celebrated album that has come out of this very talented group of Christian musicians. They also won the album of the year in 2007 for their release "Wide-Eyed and Mystified" and in 2002 for their album "Downhere".
Fresh Flow Concerts, a Christian concert ministry based out of Kalona has worked hard to make arrangements to have the Canadian band travel from their US base in Nashville to Kalona for a Friday night concert. The event will be held in Celebration Hall at Iowa Mennonite School and then the band will continue on to do a concert Saturday night near the campus of Iowa State University in Ames. Pam Evans director of Fresh Flow Concerts says that she is excited about bringing a positive influence to the Iowa State campus during their annual spring celebration, "Veiysha". The concert ministry is combining their efforts with a campus ministry in Ames called "The Rock" and the concert will be held in their concert venue, "Zeke's".
The excellent acoustics in Celebration Hall will be enhanced by the addition of top- notch sound technology being brought in by the band. They are also providing professional lighting to add to the ambiance of the evening.
Tickets available at the door $12.00
Or from itickets.com pre-purchase for $10.00
For more information contact Fresh Flow Concerts at: (319)656-2350
The following snippets of a review of "Downhere" and their latest album "Ending Is Beginning" came from Christian Music Today.com.
Released September 2008
reviewed by Russ Breimeier
Christian Music Today.com
Sounds like ... the melodic pop/rock of MercyMe, The Afters, and Sanctus Real, with some impressive nods to Maroon 5, Queen, and Electric Light Orchestra
At a glance ... as has become the norm for Downhere after seven years, Ending Is Beginning again demonstrates the band's deft balance of artistry and ministry with songs that reveal new depths in music and lyricism
Rather than go overboard with the hyperbole, let's just say that Martel and Germain are one of the best songwriting duos we've got in Christian music. Indeed, it's become increasingly hard to distinguish where one ends and the other begins in the creative process. Plus their voices continue to play off each other superbly, Germain's warmth a perfect contrast to Martel's high-end acrobatics. But let's not leave out the rhythm section of bassist Glenn Lavender and drummer Jeremy Thiessen either-by now, Downhere would not be the same without their varied foundation to build on. They've all grown into a well-oiled machine.
Their best album so far? In many ways, yes, though each Downhere album has had its share of pop/rock highpoints. At the very least, Ending Is Beginning further cements the band's place in Christian music for their artful expressions of our faith. Downhere has hit their stride with this album, and assuming that their following continues to grow, it appears that we can expect continued excellence from them for years to come.