Jason Gray, will launch his 4th annual Christmas Stories Tour in December with guest artists and labelmates Carrollton and Jonny Diaz. The 11-city tour will begin December 3rd in La Harpe, IL and will conclude on December 20th in Wisconsin. Tickets are available for purchase at iTickets.com and at each venue. The tour began in support of Gray’s first holiday project,Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy, which released in 2012 and presents a deeper story celebrating the birth of Christ. Due to strong support for the tour, it has become a Christmas staple.
“Of all the music I’ve been privileged to make, I’m the proudest of my Christmas album,” states Gray.“By digging into the stories of the well-known nativity characters, I discovered myself in all of them in a way where I feel like they gave me back to myself. I also believe that the heart of God’s work in our lives is to make us children again and there is something about the Christmas story that brings out the child in all of us. For these reasons the Christmas tour is my favorite thing I get to do all year long. If these two reasons aren’t enough, I get to have my two sons in the band and on the road with me!”
Gray is currently on tour with Big Daddy Weave’s My Story Tour that will run through Nov. 22nd. Gray is performing his radio hits that include his No. 1 single, “With Every Act Of Love” that became the talented artist’s first chart-topping AC single. The song is from Gray’s current album, Love Will Have the Final Word, with New Release Today (formerly NewReleaseTuesday.com) hailing the project as a “stellar offering.” Gray’s current single, “Glow In The Dark,” reached Top 20 on Bilboard’s NCA Chart and Top 40 on the Christian Digital Tracks Chart.
Gray is busily co-writing for his new studio album that is scheduled to release in June 2016. One of his high-profile writing partners include Jars of Clay frontman, Dan Haseltine, with the song, “The Wound Is Where The Light Gets In” that will be on the new record.
About Jason Gray
Jason Gray had a record-breaking release with Love Will Have The Final Word that debuted No. 10 on Billboard’s Christian Albums Chart, and the single “Every Act Of Love” became Gray’s first No. 1 AC song. Gray began building a loyal fanbase as an independent artist and recorded five independent projects before signing with Centricity Music. His first national release, All The Lovely Losers (2007), received rave reviews and was heralded as one of the top albums that year. Gray’s sophomore project, Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue, firmly established him as a solid artist in the Christian music genre. The project produced a No. 4 single with “More Like Falling In Love,” additionally garnering Gray a 2011 ASCAP Performance Award. In 2012, Gray released A Way To See In Dark, resulting in two Top 5 singles that year–“Remind Me Who I Am” and “Good To Be Alive.” The latter song also earned Gray his second ASCAP Performance Award. Last year, the third radio single from A Way To See In Dark, “Nothing Is Wasted,” landed Gray his first No. 1 hit. Gray remains an active touring artist, performing with such acts as Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Big Daddy Weave, Sanctus Real, The Afters, and Andrew Peterson, among many others.
About Carrollton
Carrollton has made an impact with the band’s new EP, Sunlight And Shadows, that reached No. 9 on iTunes Christian Albums Chart. The project once again garnered strong reviews with New Release Today saying, “talent matches the best in the business.” Carrollton is comprised of Justin Mosteller (lead vocalist/guitarist), Jeremy Menard (guitarist), Jordan Bailey (bassist) and drummer, Michael Loy, who formed the group in 2008 while leading worship at youth camps, conferences and churches. National recognition and an increased fan base followed, with the release of the band’s independent project, This Is Life. Carrollton’s talent and success captured the attention of Centricity Music, and the group was signed in 2013. The group’s first EP for the label in 2014, Breathe In Deep, earned critical acclaim with JesusFreakHideout.comstating, “an impressive six-song collection.” Carrollton maintains a heavy touring schedule and the group has shared the stage with such high-profile artists as for King & Country, Matt Maher, TobyMac, Switchfoot, LeCrae and Newsboys.
About Jonny Diaz
Jonny Diaz signed with Centricity in October 2013 and released his second project for the label September 18, 2015, Everything Is Changing. He began his music career by leading worship for a youth group in Lakeland, FL, and released his first independent project in 2003. Two more independent albums followed before Diaz signed with INO Records in 2008 and released his first major label national debut, More Beautiful You in 2009. The title track reached No. 1 on Billboard’s AC Indicator chart, No. 2 on Hot Christian Songs chart and led to strong reviews that included Christian Manifesto describing Diaz’s music as “stellar acoustic pop.” Another INO album followed, Jonny Diaz, which led to three more singles before Diaz departed from the label. After singing with Centricity, Diaz released Let It Fly that earned a 4-star review at CCM Magazine, which called the project “a work of art.” An active touring artist, Diaz has shared the stage with such notable Christian acts as Building 429, Matthew West, Steven Curtis Chapman, MercyMe and Bebo Norman.
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Christmas Stories Tour Dates: (Subject to change)
December 3 – La Harpe, IL
December 4 – Orland Park, IL
December 5 – Cambridge, MN
December 6 – Waukesha, WI
December 10 – Hartford, CT
December 12 – Macungie, PA
December 13 – Kingsville, MD
December 17 – Cedar Rapids, IA
December 18 – Eau Claire, WI
December 19 – Fort Dodge, IA
December 20 – De Pere, WI