Parachute Band

Parachute Band is a Christian worship band from Auckland, New Zealand, formed out of the New Zealand-based Christian organisation Parachute Music.^[1] The band makes pop/rock music and is currently in its second generation.^[2]

1995–2006

The first Parachute Band line-up was formed in 1995 to lead worship at Parachute Festival, and has since grown into a full-time endeavour. Parachute Band records New Zealand-written contemporary worship music, and performs it both in New Zealand and worldwide.^[3]

The original line-up, led by Wayne Huirua, Libby Huirua and Chris de Jong, released seven studio albums, toured extensively in the U.S., won numerous New Zealand Music Awards for Best Gospel/Christian Album, won the Gospel Music Association's International Achievement award (in the U.S.) and paved the way for what the band is today.

In 2006 the original members retired from the band^[4] and a generational changeover took place. This was marked by a ceremony at the 2007 Parachute Festival.

2006 – present

The second generation Parachute Band (formerly known as Victor Rose) has released three studio albums; Roadmaps and Revelations (September 2007), Technicolor (September 2008) and Love Without Measure (February 2011). The band toured the USA, Canada, Asia, South Africa, UK, Europe, New Zealand and Australia, including performances at Creation Festival, Kingdom Bound Festival and also being the house band for the annual Parachute Festival.^[5]

The band won the 2008 VNZMA Peoples Choice Awards.^[6]

Love Without Measure is the first recording that the band has self-produced.^[7][8]

In 2012, The Band announced Omega would be leaving the group in order to "have more time to enjoy marriage and to invest more into his local church community."^[9]

Without Omega, Parachute Band collaborated with American Christian rock band Leeland at the 2013 Parachute Festival and The Almost frontman Aaron Gillespie in 2014 for worship sets.

Awards and recognition

1995–2006

• Five gold albums in NZ
• Three NZ Music Awards (Tuis)
• Winners of 2006 GMA International Award^[10]
• All the Earth debuted at No. 12 on US Billboard Gospel Chart
• All the Earth No. 1 US Gospel radio hit single
• Over 120,000 units sold in NZ

2007–2009

• "Technicolor" debuted at No. 12 on the NZ iTunes mainstream album charts, No. 10 on the U.S. Christian/Gospel charts and No. 1 on the NZ iTunes inspirational charts.
• Parachute Band won the coveted mainstreamPeoples Choice Award at the 2008 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards and was a finalist for the Best Gospel Album award.^[6]
• The band was a finalist at the 2009 VNZMA's, for Best Gospel/Christian Album, with its album Technicolor.

2010–present

• The band won the 2011 VNZMA Award for Best Gospel/Christian Album with their album Love Without Measure.
• The band won the 2012 VNZMA Award for Best Gospel/Christian Album with their album Matins: Vespers.

Discography

Albums

• 1997 – You Alone^[11]
• 1998 – Always and Forever^[12]
• 1999 – Adore^[13]
• 2000 – The Collection V1^[14]
• 2000 – Love^[15]
• 2000 - Love & Adore^[16]
• 2001 – Amazing^[17][18]
• 2003 – Glorious^[19][20]
• 2005 – All the Earth^{[21][22][23][24]}
• 2007 – Roadmaps and Revelations^[25][26][27]
• 2008 – Technicolor^{[28][29][30][31][32]}
• 2011 – Love Without Measure^{[33][34][35][36]}
• 2012 – Matins: Vespers^[37][38][39]

References

1. ↑ "Artists". Parachute Music. Retrieved 29 January 2012. 
2. ↑ "Departments". Parachute Music. Retrieved 29 January 2012. 
3. ↑ Cummings, Tony (1 July 2002). "Parachute Band: The worship veterans birthed at New Zealand's Parachute Festival". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
4. ↑ "Parachute Band – Technicolour | CROSS RHYTHMS REVIEW". Crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2012. 
5. ↑ Cummings, Tony (12 December 2010). "Parachute Band: New Zealand's rockers bringing worship to today's youth". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
6. 1 2 "Parachute Band". VNZMA. Retrieved 24 April 2008. 
7. ↑ Lurwick, Bill (22 February 2011). "Parachute Band: Loving Beyond the Music". New Release Today. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
8. ↑ Davies, Jono; Wood, Dave (24 March 2011). "Interview - Parachute Band". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
9. ↑ de Jong, Sam. "Important Update". Parachute Band. Retrieved 21 December 2012. 
10. ↑ Williams, Christian Today Australia (2006). "Parachute Band Wins International Award, Heads to AGMF"
11. ↑ Rimmer, Mike (1 February 1998). "Review: You Alone - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
12. ↑ Baugh, John (1 December 1998). "Review: Always and Forever - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
13. ↑ Kirk, Trevor (1 December 1999). "Review: Adore - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
14. ↑ Kirk, Trevor (1 August 2000). "Review: Collection Vol 1 - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
15. ↑ Honeyman, Lins (1 August 2000). "Review: Love - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
16. ↑ Jenkins, Olin (17 March 2001). "Parachute Band - Love and Adore". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
17. ↑ Cummings, Tony (9 May 2002). "Review: Amazing - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
18. ↑ Kittle, Ashleigh. "Amazing - Parachute Band : Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
19. ↑ Armstrong, Jeremy. "Glorious by Parachute Band". Worship Leader. p. 59. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
20. ↑ Lennie, Tom (1 January 2004). "Review: Glorious - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
21. ↑ Armstrong, Jeremy. "All the Earth by Parachute Band". Worship Leader. p. 62. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
22. ↑ Farias, Andree (1 December 2005). "All the Earth: Live from New Zealand". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2016.  CS1 maint: Unfit url (link)
23. ↑ Thomson, Phil (21 November 2005). "Review: All the Earth: Live from New Zealand - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
24. ↑ Felberg, Bob (22 February 2006). "Parachute Band - All the Earth". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
25. ↑ Armstrong, Jeremy. "Roadmaps and Revelations by Parachute Band". Worship Leader. pp. 64–8. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
26. ↑ Holden, Tim (2 October 2007). "Review: Roadmaps and Revelations - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
27. ↑ Gregorious, Jessica (1 October 2008). "Parachute Band, "Roadmaps and Revelations" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
28. ↑ Armstrong, Jeremy. "Technicolor by Parachute Band". Worship Leader. p. 58. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
29. ↑ Breimeier, Russ (1 September 2008). "Technicolor". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2016.  CS1 maint: Unfit url (link)
30. ↑ Eden, Simon (5 November 2008). "Review: Technicolor - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
31. ↑ DeRossett, Garrett (1 October 2008). "Parachute Band, "Technicolor" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
32. ↑ Davies, Jono (25 February 2009). "Review - Parachute Band - Technicolor". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
33. ↑ Armstrong, Jeremy. "Love Without Measure by Parachute Band". Worship Leader. pp. 84–5. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
34. ↑ Ham, Robert (31 January 2011). "Love Without Measure". Christianity Today. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
35. ↑ Townsend, Pete (23 March 2011). "Review: Love Without Measure - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
36. ↑ Davies, Jono (4 February 2011). "Review - Parachute Band - Love Without Measure". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
37. ↑ Maxwell, Jamie (2 May 2012). "Review: Matins Vespers - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
38. ↑ Francesco, Jonathan J. (3 April 2012). "Parachute Band Offers A Memorable Sonic Worship Experience". New Release Today. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 
39. ↑ Perry, Joseph. "ALBUM OF THE MONTH: MATINS VESPERS". Milk & Honey. Retrieved 16 April 2016. 

External links

• Official website
• CMnexus profile