Parachute Band
Encyclopedia
Parachute Band is a worship band from Auckland, New Zealand, formed out of the New Zealand
-based Christian
organisation Parachute Music
The band makes pop/rock music and is currently in its second generation, with the current line-up regularly topping the mainstream MySpace NZ Music Charts for acts on a Major Label (it is currently at #2), and it also won the coveted People's Choice Award at the 2008 New Zealand Music Awards.
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.
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 and a complete generational changeover took place. This was marked by a moving ceremony at Parachute Festival 07.
(September 2007), Technicolor
(September 2008) and Love Without Measure (February 2011). The band has toured extensively in USA, Canada, Asia, South Africa, UK, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Highlight performances have been: Mainstage slots at Creation Festival
east to 65,000 people, Mainstage at Kingdom Bound
Festival in NY to 50,000 people and also being the house band for the annual Parachute Festival to 25,000 people.
This new face of Parachute Band carries a passion to influence their generation through worship music that is relevant. Five young musicians in their 20s have been passed the mantle and an exciting synergy has quickly formed to create a new guitar-driven sound.
Winners of the 2008 VNZMA Peoples Choice Awards, the band's sophomore release Technicolor
was a finalist for 2009's Best Gospel/Christian Album.
Parachute Bands latest album Love Without Measure has already been in the Top Ten of many charts since its release at the Parachute Festival in February 2011. Love Without Measure shot to Number 3 in the New Zealand iTunes on its first week of release, debuted a number 2 on the official RIANZ chart and number 1 on the IMNZ charts.
Love Without Measure was also the first recording that the band has self-produced, and drummer/producer Sam de Jong says, “The process for this album has been one non-stop learning curve. I feel like we’ve pulled together something that reflects where we’re at. It’s liberating to put your heart down into music with no real preconceptions of how it should end up.”
2007-PRESENT:
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
-based Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
organisation Parachute Music
Parachute Music
Parachute Music is a Christian music organisation from New Zealand, that was formed in 1989 and operates in two main areas: Events and Artist Management. The organisation runs the annual Parachute Festival, which has grown to become a staple of the Kiwi summer and regularly attracts an audience of...
The band makes pop/rock music and is currently in its second generation, with the current line-up regularly topping the mainstream MySpace NZ Music Charts for acts on a Major Label (it is currently at #2), and it also won the coveted People's Choice Award at the 2008 New Zealand Music Awards.
1995-2006
The first Parachute Band line-up was formed in 1995 to lead worshipWorship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
at Parachute Festival, and has since grown into a full-time endeavour. Parachute Band records New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
-written contemporary worship music, and performs it both in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and worldwide.
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 and a complete generational changeover took place. This was marked by a moving ceremony at Parachute Festival 07.
2006 – present
The second generation Parachute Band (formerly known as Victor Rose) has released three studio albums; Roadmaps and RevelationsRoadmaps and Revelations
-Roadmaps and Revelations:Carrying on the mission of the first-generation Parachute Band recordings, Roadmaps and Revelations features 12 brand new praise and worship songs written by New Zealanders, and the album is a vehicle for these songs to reach the world....
(September 2007), Technicolor
Technicolor (album)
Technicolor is the second album released by the gospel musical group Parachute Band. Released on October 14, 2008, the album features 11 new tracks based around the concept that God’s living water equals life in all its color. Technicolor debuted at #10 on the U.S...
(September 2008) and Love Without Measure (February 2011). The band has toured extensively in USA, Canada, Asia, South Africa, UK, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Highlight performances have been: Mainstage slots at Creation Festival
Creation Festival
Creation Festival consists of two annual, four-day Christian music festivals held in the United States. According to www.Creationfest.com, the festivals have become the "Nation's Largest Christian Music Festivals." This is in reflection to Creation Northeast being known to attract 100,000...
east to 65,000 people, Mainstage at Kingdom Bound
Kingdom Bound
Kingdom Bound is an annual Christian music festival held at Six Flags Darien Lake near Corfu, New York, near the beginning of August. The festival marked its 25th anniversary in 2011. The festival traditionally attracts many of the most popular bands in American contemporary Christian music,...
Festival in NY to 50,000 people and also being the house band for the annual Parachute Festival to 25,000 people.
This new face of Parachute Band carries a passion to influence their generation through worship music that is relevant. Five young musicians in their 20s have been passed the mantle and an exciting synergy has quickly formed to create a new guitar-driven sound.
Winners of the 2008 VNZMA Peoples Choice Awards, the band's sophomore release Technicolor
Technicolor (album)
Technicolor is the second album released by the gospel musical group Parachute Band. Released on October 14, 2008, the album features 11 new tracks based around the concept that God’s living water equals life in all its color. Technicolor debuted at #10 on the U.S...
was a finalist for 2009's Best Gospel/Christian Album.
Parachute Bands latest album Love Without Measure has already been in the Top Ten of many charts since its release at the Parachute Festival in February 2011. Love Without Measure shot to Number 3 in the New Zealand iTunes on its first week of release, debuted a number 2 on the official RIANZ chart and number 1 on the IMNZ charts.
Love Without Measure was also the first recording that the band has self-produced, and drummer/producer Sam de Jong says, “The process for this album has been one non-stop learning curve. I feel like we’ve pulled together something that reflects where we’re at. It’s liberating to put your heart down into music with no real preconceptions of how it should end up.”
Awards and recognition
1995-2006:- • 5 Gold albums in NZ
- • 3 NZ Music Awards (Tuis)
- • Winners of 2006 GMA International Award
- • "All The Earth" debuted at #12 on US Billboard Gospel Chart
- • “All The Earth” #1 US Gospel radio hit single
- • Over 120,000 units sold in NZ
2007-PRESENT:
- • "TechnicolorTechnicolor (album)Technicolor is the second album released by the gospel musical group Parachute Band. Released on October 14, 2008, the album features 11 new tracks based around the concept that God’s living water equals life in all its color. Technicolor debuted at #10 on the U.S...
" debuted at #12 on the NZ iTunes mainstream album charts, #10 on the U.S. Christian/Gospel charts and #1 on the NZ itunes inspirational charts. - • Parachute Band won the coveted mainstreamPeoples Choice Award at the 2008 VodafoneVodafoneVodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Music Awards and was a finalist for the Best Gospel Album award. - • The band was a finalist at the 2009 VNZMA's, for Best Gospel/Christian Album, with its album "TechnicolorTechnicolor (album)Technicolor is the second album released by the gospel musical group Parachute Band. Released on October 14, 2008, the album features 11 new tracks based around the concept that God’s living water equals life in all its color. Technicolor debuted at #10 on the U.S...
".
Albums
- 1997 - You Alone
- 1998 - Always and Forever
- 1999 - "Adore"
- 2000 - The Collection V1
- 2000 - Love
- 2001 - Amazing
- 2003 - Glorious
- 2005 - All The Earth
- 2007 - Roadmaps and RevelationsRoadmaps and Revelations-Roadmaps and Revelations:Carrying on the mission of the first-generation Parachute Band recordings, Roadmaps and Revelations features 12 brand new praise and worship songs written by New Zealanders, and the album is a vehicle for these songs to reach the world....
- 2008 - TechnicolorTechnicolor (album)Technicolor is the second album released by the gospel musical group Parachute Band. Released on October 14, 2008, the album features 11 new tracks based around the concept that God’s living water equals life in all its color. Technicolor debuted at #10 on the U.S...
- 2011 - Love Without Measure