The Winter Jam Concert Tour is coming to Long Beach on Saturday, November 8, when the Long Beach Convention Center will be home to this tour for the evening. For those of you who are unaware of what the Winter Jam Concert Tour is, it is a Christian concert tour that was formed by the band NewSong in 1995.
The tour features a combination of live concerts by top Christian artists, worship, and ministry, and advocates for an environment that “encourage[s] believers, and share[s] the good news with those who have yet to trust Christ.”
The goal of the Winter Jam Tour is to remove cost barriers for those who would normally be unable to afford seeing such a spectacular line-up. They do not sell pre-sale tickets and in order to enjoy this evening of worship, it will only cost you $10 at the door on the day of the event.
This year’s Winter Jam Concert at their Long Beach stop, held at the Long Beach Convention Center, will include top Christian artists such as Hillsong United, Jeremy Camp, Francesca Battistelli, Colton Dixon, Disciple, NewSong, Trip Lee, Everfound, About a Mile, and Veridia.
In preparation for the tour’s Long Beach stop, the Post had the privilege of speaking with one of Hillsong United’s front men, Jonathan Douglas (or, as he is most commonly referred to, JD).
JD sat down with the Post to discuss how Hillsong United came to be, what the future of Christian music looks like, the pure joy of playing in larger venues, the movie him and the other band members have been filming, and much more.
When speaking with JD, Hillsong United had just finished playing a show at the LA Forum the previous evening. Playing the Forum was one of the last venues that would be filmed for the movie Let Hope Rise, which is set to be released in April 2015.
According to JD, the movie came to fruition by way of Hollywood producer that approached the band after attending one of their worship events. The producer was captivated and compelled by the fact that Hillsong United is made up of “a bunch of kids from Australia,” and that their music has had such a profound effect on millions of worshipers and believers across the world. The hope is that the movie will capture the pure motivation behind Hillsong United’s incredible journey, which is to “present the gospel, and encourage followers in the story of Jesus,” JD said.
“Nothing about the film has really affected our musical process,” JD said. “If anything, it’s bettered it… The movie has shed light on and captured the struggle of wrestling with God and our creativity, revealed the tension that is there. It helped reveal the creative struggle.”
While many are aware that any creative or artistic endeavor is often burdened with periods of creative drought or angst, the responsibility of catering to millions of believers would carry extra stress and implications.
The members of the band have known each other for the better part of 15 years and have been attending church together since they were little. The collective that is now Hillsong United, which is comprised of various worship leaders, pastors, musicians, and songwriters, began together in the youth ministry at Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia, and from there the band has grown into the powerhouse it is now.
As far as the songwriting process is concerned, JD said that it is a collaborative and collective effort. The group stays open to the creative process, whenever and wherever, and then they come together for the album they are working on.
“Our inspiration comes from a combination of scripture and real-life situations—it is a result of the revelations that are the product of living out scripture in their day-to-day lives. We write songs for people to connect with Jesus,” JD said.
It was evident in talking with JD that he and the other members of Hillsong United are passionate about using their gifts to spread the word of Jesus.
While the ultimate goal of worship music may be to encourage followers of Jesus in their spiritual journey, and to introduce newcomers to the power of Christianity and trusting Christ, it is still an artistic medium, and part of attracting followers and fans alike, is appealing to the sensibilities of the masses. Keeping that idea in mind, JD noted his thoughts on where Christian music was headed—toward a mainstream direction with more pop/rock influences on the music itself?
“Christian music is broad and vast, and it doesn’t necessarily need to be nailed down to one style,” JD said. “As long as Christian music is glorifying Jesus, there is room for any style, any genre.”
As to what the “best” way to experience worship music—whether it is meant for more intimate settings like a Sunday church service, or if venues like the Forum and the Hollywood Bowl are more conducive to worship—JD’s response fit his open mindedness: both.
“Every Sunday you’ll find us [the members of Hillsong United and their families] in church, and being in that kind of setting is the type of worship we grew up with,” JD said. “However, playing large venues, and worshipping in that kind of setting, is like having a big party with and for Jesus. It’s not about a size thing, it’s about a heart thing.”
If you’re in Long Beach this Saturday night and want to experience the heart of Hillsong United, and the other phenomenal bands that are in the line-up for the Winter Jam Concert, be sure to check out the Long Beach Convention Center. Doors open at 5PM and the concert begins at 6PM. Tickets are $10 at the door.