by Linda Ann Nickerson

Created on: July 09, 2007

Part praise and worship and part rock and roll, this Aussie band promotes Jesus and His glory over all else.

Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Planetshakers is drawing crowds everywhere they tour, which mostly includes the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Land Down Under. In 2006, the group performed in Malaysia and other Asian locations. As soon as the group begins to play, their audiences rise to their feet, lift their hands heavenward, and begin to praise God right along with the band.

Planetshakers was originally a ministry of Paradise Community Church, a Pentecostal congregation in South Australia. In recent years, the group has formed a worldwide ministry, a Christian college (in Brisbane, Australia), and a series of teen conferences. The Planetshakers City Church holds weekend services in Melbourne.

The group began in 1997 as a worship team for the Planetshakers teen conference. That event, staged in South Australia, boasted over 300 attendees. Since then, the annual conferences have multiplied exponentially. Ten years later, in 2007, more than 20,000 attendees packed stadiums in three Australian cities. In 2008, conferences will take place in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.

The Planetshakers' ministry motto is this: "Empowering a Generation to Reach a Generation." A quick glance at the liner notes on their more recent releases reveals the passion and purpose of this outreach to today's youth worldwide.

This Christian band offers a contemporary pop-rock sound with a variety of musical and acoustical instruments (even an occasional trumpet). Most important, the lyrics are rock-solid Christian, based on Scripture and evangelical/Pentecostal doctrine. Each song points listeners to worship and adore the Lord.

Founded and led by Australian Pastor Russell Evans, Planetshakers includes Henry Seeley, Samantha Evans, Mike Guglielmucci, Matt Garner, Mike (Rudy) Nikkerud, Mike Webber, and Jonathon Hunt.

In 2007, the group was nominated for a Dove Award, the highest annual honor in contemporary Christian music.

Discography:

SAVIOR OF THE WORLD (2007)
NEVER STOP (2007)
PRAISE HIM (2006)
WORSHIP HIM (2006)
PICK IT UP (2006)
ARISE (2005)
DECADE LIFT UP YOUR EYES (2005)
EVERMORE (2005)
ALWAYS AND FOREVER (2005)
ALL THAT I WANT (2004)
RAIN DOWN (2003)
MY KING (2003)
OPEN UP THE GATES (2002)
REFLECTOR (2002)
SO AMAZING (2001)
WHEN THE PLANET ROCKED (2000)

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