Monday, 3 December 2007

album & launch

You may have heard me mention once or twice that we have recorded a new album which is due for release in about 10 days. I really hope you go out and buy one for yourself and all your friends and family.

I also just want to make you aware of the fact that you can purchase the album and a ticket for the launch gig on 4th Jan, The Spires, for £20 (bargain!).

BlueTree will be supporting and we are pleased to have Tré Sheppard along to speak at the event. Promises to be a fantastic evening, just what you need after a week of family, board games and turkey sandwiches. Tickets are on sale in CFC and the JohnnyParks website. Get your ticket soon!

Can't wait to see you there.

x

Thursday, 15 November 2007

New Album Launch

Hey – just updating you about the latest info from the JP camp. Lot’s going on at the mo.

‘Break The Silence’
The new album from the Johnny Parks Band entitled ‘Break The Silence’ is due out at the end of November!!! It is going through the final stages of production at the moment and is sounding sweet. The band are feeling really pleased about how things have been developing and can’t wait to get out gigging the new songs. We think you are going to like them. If you want a copy, you can pre-order the album at the website (www.johnnyparks.com) and it will be sent out to you as soon as we get it!

Launch:
The Johnny Parks Band will be launching the album in The Spires (Belfast) on Friday 4th January ’08 along with their friends Bluetree and Tre Shepard (who will be speaking on the night). It's going to be a great night. Tickets are on sale now from the website priced £10 and we are doing an exclusive deal where you can purchase the album and ticket for just £20 (plus postage). The band are aiming to fill the place to capacity and make an almighty sound – they really want to break the silence (excuse puns), so please get a ticket early and get your place! (Plus it’s a pretty tasty Christmas pressie for someone….)

Worship Community Ireland:
The next meeting of WCI is going to be on the morning of the 5th January (10am-1pm) and we are really pleased to have Tre Shepard be with us. Tre is a legend. He leads worship with the band One Hundred Hours and is an international speaker (known locally for speaking at Summer Madness). He has a whole lot to say to us about the world of worship and will stimulate, encourage and challenge us. It will be a great morning. Again, we’d encourage you to get in early cos it’ll book out soon. It’s priced £20 for the morning. Email the team if you want to book at info@johnnyparks.com

Other Bits and Bobs:
Johnny’s and his wife (Cathy) are expecting their number 3 baby this Friday!!!!! They have 2 wee boys already and are waiting in anticipation to see if this will be a boy or girl. Please pray for a really smooth delivery.
Johnny’s mum (Pat) is still receiving her chemo treatment for breast cancer. She has a great attitude however the chemo has been taking its toll and she has had a tough couple of weeks. This has been difficult for all the family so we’d appreciate your prayers into this situation.

That’s all from us for now. Hope you are all well – take good care!

Peace

The JP Team

Wednesday, 31 October 2007

Accordion Wanted!

Dearest fans!
I am on the look out for a wee accordion (not button). If you happen to have one lying around the house or know someone who has, maybe somone who used to be in a band, then let me know. I would love to get one asap for the band in order to reproduce some of the fine sounds put down on the album. If you can be of any help in this little (actually, rather large) request then get in touch asap. The world needs to hear and see my refined technique on this truly scrumptious instrument!

Thanks
Claire

Monday, 29 October 2007

CFC Third Service

The band had a great night at CFC with both new members Matt (drums) & Mash (bass). Our set was: Arise, Brand New Day (a new one!), Our God is Mighty (another new one!), Our God Reigns and Here I am to Worship. The set flowed really well and the new songs went down sooo well. We have played 'Brand New Day' before and got a good response and people seemed to have remembered it and got stuck in this time. It is such a great song to play and works really well at the opening of a set. JP introduced 'Our God is Mighty' and then taught it. We ended up playing it twice in a row because it went so well and people really began to engage. It is such a great song, probably because it just points to God and who He is. It is sooo encouraging to see people respond to this song - I hope you like it when you get the album.

We had been praying before hand that God would do something significant and that we would lead people gently but boldly and I think we did ok. In fact Johnny lead really well!!!!! The last two songs in the set were really poignant in that people began to physically respond to God and take on a posture of humility, reverence and worship. It was so encouraging to see people respond in this way. To be honest, I was kinda hoping I could just bow down. God is soo awesome and so unbelievably worthy of our worship. The least we could do last night was bow down, raise our hands and sing our vocal chords to death. It is such a privilege to be involved in leading people in worship. Never let me forget that!

Saturday, 20 October 2007

ALBUM LAUNCH

The Album launch will take place on Friday 4th January 2008 in Spires, Belfast.
Tickets available soon! (But get it in your diary now!)

Saturday, 13 October 2007

Worship Community Ireland

Worship Community Ireland is an event for anyone involved in worship who wants some support and teaching on a variety of worship-related topics. We have just had our 2nd meeting today which was held at City Church, Belfast. It was a very successful morning in that people felt encouraged and challenged and hopefully supported. It is so fantastic when people get together and share their experiences with one another. It seems to me that regardless of how long you have been involved in worship there are always new things to learn. We can't allow ourselves to stand still and assume we have it all figured out.

I had the opportunity to speak on 'Building Community' this morning focusing in on our values, the importance of community and some practical tips on how to build community. I am going to sort out a version suitable for posting so that those of you who sadly missed the event can have a read and hopefully be encouraged or challenged or both.

This is a life-giving event. I would absolutely love it if you could really encourage anyone you know who's involved in worship to come along to the next event which will be held in City Church again on Saturday 5th January (the morning after our album launch!!!!!!!). What would be fantastic is to send me an e-mail address so we can keep in contact with them and make sure they find out relevant details about the coming events.

We really want to encourage each other in the area of worship. It is a gift, an honour and a privilege to be involved and so we want you to participate and share whatever unique experiences you have in order to build this community and discover more about our unique contribution to 'the church'.

Claire

Saturday, 29 September 2007

Album Finshed?

It has been just under 2 months since we started recording in Windmill Lane and eventually we have come to the end of the recording process. There are a few wee bits and pieces to tie up but JP flies out to Nashville on Tuesday to be part of the first few days of mixing with our wonderful American friend, Shane Wilson. We arrived home in the early hours of this morning after finishing up the backing vocals. I think we have done a good job with them so I hope you really like what's on there. It is a relief in some ways to have it over as I am absolutely shattered but I will miss hanging out with the band in the studio. We have had alot of fun and we've got to know each other which is such a privilege - what a great band!

We have just got home after our final photo shoot up in the north coast. It seems to have been successful - I guess you will see them soon enough.

We are launching the album in Spires, Belfast on Saturday 15th December so I really want to encourage you to put that in your diary. It will be a very special night for us and we would love to have all our friends there to support us and worship with our new songs.

Thanks so much for reading all the posts in the relation to the recording. We appreciate your interest and all the support, prayers and encouragement you have given. I am now looking forward to getting back to writing my regular posts on worship but I will keep you updated on the band!!!!!!!!!!!!

Music You Need to Hear

  • The Rend Collective Experiment
  • Mumford & Sons
  • Bat For Lashes
  • Rilo Kiley
  • Lavender Diamond
  • The National
  • Lucinda Williams
  • Lunasa
  • PJ Harvey
  • Bjork
  • Wheat
  • The Weepies
  • Midlake
  • Joan As Policewoman
  • Amy Winehouse
  • The Jayhawks
  • Ryan Adams
  • Thom Yorke