Parachute Band

Not to be confused with Parachute (band).

Parachute Band
OriginAuckland, New Zealand
GenresWorship, Christian pop
Years active1995–2013
LabelsParachute, Integrity
MembersSam de Jong
Jeremy Gregory
Callum Galloway
Elliot Francis
Past membersOmega Levine
Simon Moore
Jeff Parsons
Alister Wood
Rhys Machell
Wayne Huirua
Libby Huirua
Chris de Jong
Julian Sylvester
Brian Platt

Parachute Band was a Christian worship band from Auckland, New Zealand, formed out of the New Zealand–based organisation Parachute Music.[1] The band made pop/rock music and spanned over two generations of musicians.[2]

1995–2006

The first Parachute Band line-up was formed in 1995 to lead worship at Parachute Festival. Parachute Band began recording New Zealand–written contemporary worship music, performing 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, and won the Gospel Music Association's International Achievement award (in the U.S.).

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.

2006–2013

The second generation Parachute Band (formerly known as Victor Rose) released four studio albums; Roadmaps and Revelations (September 2007), Technicolor (September 2008), Love Without Measure (February 2011), and Matins : Vespers (released at Parachute Festival in January 2012).[5] The band toured the United States, 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.[6]

The band won the 2008 VNZMA Peoples Choice Awards.[7]

Love Without Measure was the first recording that the band self-produced.[8][9]

In 2012, the band announced frontman Omega would be leaving the group in order to "have more time to enjoy marriage and to invest more into his local church community."[10]

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.[citation needed]

Awards and recognition

1995–2006
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.[citation needed]
  • 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.[7]
  • The band was a finalist at the 2009 VNZMA's, for Best Gospel/Christian Album, with its album Technicolor.[citation needed]
2010–2013
  • The band won the 2011 VNZMA Award for Best Gospel/Christian Album with their album Love Without Measure.[citation needed]
  • The band won the 2012 VNZMA Award for Best Gospel/Christian Album with their album Matins: Vespers.[citation needed]

Discography

Albums

References

  1. ^ "Artists". Parachute Music. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Departments". Parachute Music. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. 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. ^ {{ |title=Parachute Band To Release New Album |publisher=NZ Music Commission|url=https://nzmusic.org.nz/news/artist/parachute-band-to-release-new-album-matins-vespers/ |accessdate=7 September 2022}}
  6. ^ Cummings, Tony (12 December 2010). "Parachute Band: New Zealand's rockers bringing worship to today's youth". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Parachute Band". VNZMA. Retrieved 24 April 2008.
  8. ^ Lurwick, Bill (22 February 2011). "Parachute Band: Loving Beyond the Music". New Release Today. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  9. ^ Davies, Jono; Wood, Dave (24 March 2011). "Interview - Parachute Band". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  10. ^ de Jong, Sam. "Important Update". Parachute Band. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  11. ^ Williams, Christian Today Australia (2006). [1] "Parachute Band Wins International Award, Heads to AGMF"
  12. ^ "Parachute Band: Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  13. ^ Rimmer, Mike (1 February 1998). "Review: You Alone - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  14. ^ Baugh, John (1 December 1998). "Review: Always and Forever - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  15. ^ Kirk, Trevor (1 December 1999). "Review: Adore - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  16. ^ Kirk, Trevor (1 August 2000). "Review: Collection Vol 1 - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  17. ^ Honeyman, Lins (1 August 2000). "Review: Love - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  18. ^ Jenkins, Olin (17 March 2001). "Parachute Band - Love and Adore". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  19. ^ Cummings, Tony (9 May 2002). "Review: Amazing - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  20. ^ Kittle, Ashleigh. "Amazing - Parachute Band : Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  21. ^ Armstrong, Jeremy. "Glorious by Parachute Band". Worship Leader. p. 59. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  22. ^ Lennie, Tom (1 January 2004). "Review: Glorious - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  23. ^ Armstrong, Jeremy. "All the Earth by Parachute Band". Worship Leader. p. 62. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  24. ^ 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ Thomson, Phil (21 November 2005). "Review: All the Earth: Live from New Zealand - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  26. ^ Felberg, Bob (22 February 2006). "Parachute Band - All the Earth". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  27. ^ Armstrong, Jeremy. "Roadmaps and Revelations by Parachute Band". Worship Leader. pp. 64–8. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  28. ^ Holden, Tim (2 October 2007). "Review: Roadmaps and Revelations - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  29. ^ Gregorious, Jessica (1 October 2008). "Parachute Band, "Roadmaps and Revelations" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  30. ^ Armstrong, Jeremy. "Technicolor by Parachute Band". Worship Leader. p. 58. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  31. ^ Breimeier, Russ (1 September 2008). "Technicolor". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  32. ^ Eden, Simon (5 November 2008). "Review: Technicolor - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  33. ^ DeRossett, Garrett (1 October 2008). "Parachute Band, "Technicolor" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  34. ^ Davies, Jono (25 February 2009). "Review - Parachute Band - Technicolor". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  35. ^ Armstrong, Jeremy. "Love Without Measure by Parachute Band". Worship Leader. pp. 84–5. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  36. ^ Ham, Robert (31 January 2011). "Love Without Measure". Christianity Today. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  37. ^ Townsend, Pete (23 March 2011). "Review: Love Without Measure - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  38. ^ Davies, Jono (4 February 2011). "Review - Parachute Band - Love Without Measure". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  39. ^ Maxwell, Jamie (2 May 2012). "Review: Matins Vespers - Parachute Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  40. ^ Francesco, Jonathan J. (3 April 2012). "Parachute Band Offers A Memorable Sonic Worship Experience". New Release Today. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  41. ^ Perry, Joseph. "ALBUM OF THE MONTH: MATINS VESPERS". Milk & Honey. Retrieved 16 April 2016.

{{ |title=Parachute Band To Release New Album |publisher=NZ Music Commission|url=https://nzmusic.org.nz/news/artist/parachute-band-to-release-new-album-matins-vespers/ |accessdate=7 September 2022}}