Aussie singer Nathan Tasker is set to release a new hymns project in March. Tentatively titled The Bell Tower, the project pulls together a collection of hymns that Tasker says were written by “real people, with real stories of sorrow, grief and loss, trials and struggles”.

The collection includes the favourite: There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood.

Tasker’s current chart song Eternity – which tells the story of Arthur Stace – is one of the most played songs on Australian Christian radio this week.

In other music news…

The Parachute Christian Music festival: Billed as the largest Christian music event in the Southern Hemisphere – and the largest music festival in New Zealand, this festival last weekend had more than 20,000 people experiencing what organisers called a “stellar” line up. In fact, visitors experienced a ‘sell out’ midway through the three day event with hundreds turned away at the gates.

Some of the Aussies performing at the weekend’s event were Tigertown, New Empire, The Calling Of Levi, Andy Sorenson and Selaphonic.
Switchfoot fans will be pleased to hear that the American band will release its ninth album this winter. Tentatively titled Fading West, the album is the soundtrack to the group’s first surfing movie – part of which was filmed in Australia.

Drummer Chad Butler says “Fading West” is kind of like “The Endless Summer” meets “Rattle & Hum”.

Cam Want has more details. Click here to listen: