Some albums are crafted for entertainment, but others—quietly, humbly—are crafted for healing. Bob Augustine’s Folk-IndieBob is the latter, a collection of songs written by a man who has walked through deep valleys and returned with melodies that echo the biblical promise that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Though not labeled a Christian album, Folk-IndieBob resonates deeply with the believer’s journey: grief transformed into strength, loneliness met by grace, and brokenness made whole with time, honesty, and hope. Augustine’s storytelling, filtered through a folk-indie sensibility, invites listeners to reflect not only on their own struggles but on the God who guides us through them.

The album opens with “Fountain of Love,” a song that feels almost like a psalm—an acknowledgement of hardship paired with the discovery of an unending wellspring of love within. “There’s a gold mine deep in my heart,” Augustine sings, echoing the idea that God places His treasure in fragile vessels. The simple acoustic arrangement lets the message breathe, reminding us that the Holy Spirit often speaks in the stillness.

“The Candy Wrapper,” the album’s standout track, offers one of its most profound spiritual metaphors. In describing the experience of giving his all only to be discarded, Augustine taps into the universal wound of feeling used or forgotten. Yet believers know that God sees every tear, and that rejection often becomes the soil where deeper faith grows. The song doesn’t explicitly mention the divine, but its longing for worth, dignity, and restoration points unmistakably toward the One who redeems our broken pieces.

“Crystal Ball” wrestles with uncertainty in a way that mirrors biblical laments. Augustine pleads, “Please don’t let me see forever,” recognizing the burden of knowing what lies ahead. It’s a sentiment reminiscent of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:34—do not worry about tomorrow. Trust becomes the lesson tucked inside the melody.

Hope emerges most clearly in “All My Hope,” a song whose very title echoes Christian truth. “Life has tried to crush me with its weight,” Augustine admits, “but I will grow back like a leaf.” This is resurrection language—the promise that what appears dead can bloom again. The track feels like a testimony, a quiet declaration that God’s healing often comes gradually, leaf by leaf, day by day.

By the album’s close, listeners are left with a sense not of despair, but of abiding peace. Folk-IndieBob doesn’t preach; it witnesses. It reminds us that God often meets us in the ordinary—an acoustic guitar, a trembling voice, a lyric written late at night.

For anyone navigating grief, seeking renewal, or simply longing for a reminder that grace still flows, Bob Augustine’s Folk-IndieBob offers a gentle, honest companion on the journey.

–Christopher Glickman

For the second year in a row, BEC Recordings artist Jordan St. Cyr was the top winner for the GMA Canada Covenant Awards. The singer/songwriter won five Covenant Awards for the 43rd annual event, including the coveted Artist of the Year (Adult Contemporary). 

St. Cyr also won for Best Seasonal Song (“The Wait Is Over”), as well as for Joy Radio Artist, Chef D Live Music Artist of the Year, and Pop Song (“Rescue”), which is also his current single climbing the radio charts.

St. Cyr will spend this holiday season on the road with Consumed By Fire on his “The Wait Is Over Tour,” where he will share his new holiday single, “Christmas Eve”  A lyric video for “Christmas Eve” can be viewed below.

Jordan St. Cyr Sweeps Covenant Awards For The Second Year In A Row

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Daywind recording artists, The Blackwood Brothers Quartet and Brian Free & Assurance (BFA), both earned GRAMMY nominations for Best Roots Gospel Album.

The Blackwood Brothers Quartet continue their legacy as a pillar in Gospel music as they received their nomination for their full-length album, Tribute to the King. The album, released in memory of Elvis Presley, perpetuates the timeless message of peace and life found through Christ.

Brian Free & Assurance received their first GRAMMY nomination in their illustrious, award-filled, 30+ year career with Meet Me At The Cross. Uplifting and powerful, this brilliant proclamation of hope produced by Ricky Free captivates audiences and beautifully reminds them of the power of the Cross.

“The Blackwood Brothers Quartet and Brian Free and Assurance are synonymous with Gospel music. We are so fortunate to have long relationships with both groups, experiencing their tremendous impact on culture and souls around the globe,” stated Daywind President, Ed Leonard.

“They are true to their call and continue to make incredible music. We are thankful they are being recognized in this way.”

Billy Blackwood commented on the nomination of Tribute To The King saying, “We are so honored to be nominated for a GRAMMY in the Roots Gospel Album category this year, especially since this project highlights the unique relationship that the Blackwood Brothers had with Elvis Presley and continue to have with Graceland.

These songs are timeless and the message never grows old.”

Brian Free celebrated the nomination by stating, “It’s truly an honor for Meet Me At The Cross to be acknowledged by the Recording Academy. We are so blessed to be nominated alongside friends who are out to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ as well.

We hope these songs continue to make an impact to whoever and wherever they may reach. It’s a blessing to be recognized and nominated for this GRAMMY award, and we hope these songs change lives.”

Becky Isaacs, a distinguished artist known for her soul-stirring musical prowess, has recently earned a monumental achievement in her career with her first solo Grammy nomination for her album Songs That Pulled Me Through the Tough Times. 

This nomination serves as a resounding acknowledgement of Isaacs’ artistry and the profound impact her music has had on audiences, particularly during challenging moments.

Songs That Pulled Me Through the Tough Times is more than just an album; it’s a heartfelt collection of melodies and lyrics that resonate with the human experience. The nomination recognizes not only Isaacs’ exceptional vocal abilities but also the emotional depth and authenticity she brings to her work.

The album stands as a testament to Isaacs’ ability to create a musical tapestry that offers solace, inspiration, and connection to those navigating difficult chapters in their lives.

Fans and critics alike are celebrating this nomination, recognizing the album’s impact on the emotional and cultural landscape. Each track becomes a beacon of strength, a source of comfort, and a reminder that music has the power to transcend hardships.

Isaacs’ ability to channel her own experiences into the universal language of music has struck a chord with listeners, making her nomination not only a recognition of her talent but also a celebration of the collective human experience.

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Isaacs’ journey to this Grammy nomination is a testament to her dedication to her craft and her commitment to creating music that makes a meaningful impact. The nomination not only honors her past achievements but also opens new doors for her future endeavors. It marks a pivotal moment in Isaacs’ career, signifying that her art has not only been noticed but deeply appreciated on a grand scale.

Becky Isaacs commented on the nomination stating, “When I had the vision to make this “dream come true” project to honor my guitar heroes and sing with some of my dearest friends, little did I know what lay ahead for me.

Surviving a life changing car accident just six weeks after this project was released, proved once again that these are still Songs That Pulled Me Through The Tough Times. I am humbled and grateful for this nomination. I love you!”

As the music community eagerly awaits the Grammy Awards, Isaacs and her fans share in the excitement and pride of this well-deserved recognition. The nomination for Songs That Pulled Me Through the Tough Times is a moment of triumph not only for Becky Isaacs but for the transformative power of music to heal, uplift, and unite us all.

RCA Inspiration celebrates two nominations for the 66th GRAMMY® Awards. Garnering nominations for the upcoming 2024 show in the category of Best Gospel Performance/Song are Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul/RCA) and Melvin Crispell, III.  

19-time GRAMMY winner Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul/RCA) is nominated in the category of Best Gospel Performance/Song for his #1 hit single “All Things.” Marking his 31st career GRAMMY nomination, “All Things” is the lead single featured off his latest #1 solo album Father’s Day. 

The album was released in October, and both his single and album have hit #1 milestones on the charts this year. 

“All Things” became his 10th No. 1 song on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart, and Father’s Day garnered a new record as his 14th No. 1 album on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart. 

This month, Kirk also received two nominations in the category of Best Gospel/Inspirational Award for the 2023 Soul Train Awards, for his album’s singles “All Things” and “Try Love.” 

The Soul Train Award winners will be announced on Sunday, November 26. Catch Kirk performing live on The Reunion Tour with Tye Tribbett, Israel Houghton, The Clark Sisters, and David and Tamela Mann, which wraps up this month on Friday, November 24. 

2-time GRAMMY nominee Melvin Crispell, III is nominated in the category of Best Gospel Performance/Song for his single “God Is.” “God Is” is featured in Melvin’s second solo album No Failure, which was released in June. 

This marks his second GRAMMY nomination for the vocal phenom, who launched his career just a few short years ago, after winning Season 9 of BET’s gospel competition “Sunday Best” in 2019. 

He was previously nominated at the 2021 GRAMMY Awards in the category of Best Gospel Performance/Song for his #1 hit Gospel Airplay single “Wonderful Is Your Name,” featured off his 2020 debut album. Catch Melvin performing live on multiple dates and cities throughout November and December.  

The 66th GRAMMY® Awards will air live from Los Angeles, Sunday, February 4, 2024, on CBS at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT, and stream on Paramount+. 

RCA Inspiration celebrates the newly-announced BET Awards 2023 nominations, with four nominations. The hit collaboration by Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul/RCA) garnered three nominations, and a featured song from the Kingdom Business: Season 1 Soundtrack garnered one nomination for this month’s upcoming show.

Honoring their celebrated live album release Kingdom Book One (Tribl Records/Fo Yo Soul/RCA Inspiration), Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin’s BET Awards nominations include Best Group and two nods in the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award category for their album’s two singles, “Bless Me” and “Kingdom” (feat. Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore). 

Also nominated in the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award category is the song “One Moment from Glory” sung by Yolanda Adams, featured in the release of the Kingdom Business: Season 1 Soundtrack.

Released in 2022, the album Kingdom Book One has continued to garner accolades and make an impact on listeners worldwide. Recorded live with the collaboration of 1,300 inmates in a Florida prison yard, highlighting awareness of the issue of mass incarceration and sharing powerful ministry and love, the performances include the chart-topping track “Kingdom,” “Bless Me,” “Melodies from Heaven,” “Fear Is Not My Future” and more.

To date, the album has garnered four awards earlier this year, winning an NAACP Image Award at the 54th NAACP Image Awards, and three wins at the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Also released in 2022, the Kingdom Business: Season 1 Soundtrack features original music from the popular BET+ series “Kingdom Business,” with thirteen tracks from stars Yolanda Adams, Serayah, and more. Catch the 2023 BET Awards, airing live on Sunday, June 25th, 2023, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT on BET.

Ron Hill, SVP of A&R at RCA Inspiration says: “Kingdom Book One has truly been a special collaboration that continues to be a well of blessing, celebrating the grace and faith in God’s Kingdom that can bond us together. And releasing this soundtrack of original music from the ‘Kingdom Business’ series has been a special project to further shine the spotlight on gospel in new ways. 

I am proud to be a part of something that has moved so many people’s lives, and we are thankful for these projects to be recognized by BET for their powerful message of strength and hope to make our communities a better place.”

The K-LOVE Fan Awards has announced an exciting evening full of distinctive collaborative performances and an array of star-studded presenters to celebrate the 10th annual show taking place on May 28 at the OPRY House.  TBN will broadcast the show nationwide on June 2nd, with an encore on June 10th.

Show host CAIN will create a group moment with friends, and in what will likely be one of the night’s emotional highlights, Blessing Offor honoring Nashville’s Covenant School, while Colton Dixon will be joined by multi-platinum country star, Gabby Barrett. Additional collaborations include Tasha Layton and Jon Reddick, Katy Nichole with Big Daddy Weave, and Andrew Ripp with Rachael Lampa. 

The evening will also unfold with Steven Curtis Chapman leading a special ensemble performance of his 50th No.1 song, along with many other moments created with and including Jeremy Camp, Cody Carnes, Lauren Daigle, Brandon Lake, MercyMe, Mac Powell, We The Kingdom, Matthew West and more.

Presenters for the evening include Josh Baldwin, FOX News Sunday host Shannon Bream, cast members from The Chosen, Jason Crabb, Consumed by Fire, Ben Fuller, Kathie Lee Gifford, author Lisa Harper, David Leonard, NEEDTOBREATHE, Andrew Ripp, Jase & Missy Robertson, Chris Tomlin, Jonathan Traylor, Micah Tyler, Phil Wickham, Anne Wilson, and Terrian.

Nominees for the 2023 K-LOVE Fan Awards were announced earlier this week with Phil Wickham leading, receiving 5 nominations, and Brandon Lake following with four. CAIN, Rachel Lampa, and TobyMac garnered three nominations each. Fans are now voting for their favorites at klovefanawards.com.

Sponsored by Coca-Cola Consolidated, the 10th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards is preceded by the biggest weekend in Christian music, including annual events like the Friday night kick-off concert, Emerging Artist Showcase, Songwriter’s Showcase, and Sunday morning worship service. 

A brand new event this year is the Saturday morning Worship In The Round All details for the weekend and award show can be found at KLOVEFanAwards.com

Pittsburgh-based country artist led MTS Artists with 6 nominations. The Award Show will be held on August 5th in Atlanta, GA.

The International Singer Songwriters Association announced the finalists for their upcoming awards ceremony, and 23 MTS Management Group artists made the cut.

Among the finalists are Pittsburgh country artist, Gary Pratt (6), Little Rock country artist, Pamela Hopkins (5), Texas’ John Blangero (2), Dayton Ohio’s Ludlow Creek (2), Los Angeles-based Jen Ash (1), and two Ontario-based artists, Tia McGraff (2), and Cory M. Coons (2), among others. The ceremony will take place in Atlanta, GA on August 5th.

The International Singer Songwriters Association was founded by Tamanie Dove, a singer-songwriter born and raised in Nashville and now residing in Atlanta. The organization is dedicated to supporting and serving independent artists, as well as encouraging aspiring and professional singers and songwriters in all genres of music worldwide.

“We are thrilled to have so many of our talented artists named as finalists in the ISSA Awards,” said Michael Stover, President of MTS Management Group. “These awards recognize excellence in music on an international level, and we are honored to be a part of it. We wish all of our artists the best of luck at the awards ceremony.”

MTS Management Group is a full-service artist management company based in Pittsburgh, PA, representing artists in the genres of country, Americana, rock, and pop. The company has worked with a variety of artists, including Grammy Winners, Juno Winners and Billboard charting hitmakers.

For more information about MTS Management Group and their roster of artists, please visit their website at www.mtsmanagementgroup.com.

See Your Shadow Songwriting (SYS) is an innovative country music group known for its unique sound and heartfelt lyrics. The group was recently named Best New Country Group at the New Music Awards. The awards ceremony, based in Los Angeles, California, recognizes the best in new music across all genres.  Other 2023 winners include Kane Brown, Carly Pearce, Jelly Roll, and Jimmie Allen.

SYS is led by Michael Coleman aka “The Metropolitan Cowboy”. He is a songwriter, producer and musician with a passion for creating music that tells stories and resonates with listeners. The group’s iconic songs such as “Crazy Things Like That” and “Christmas on Cellblock 9” have been praised for their fresh sound and memorable lyrics, while also bringing them attention from both critics and fans alike.

SYS’ latest single is “Whatever on the Rocks,” and it is currently charting on the National Radio Hits AC40 airplay chart.

ABOUT SEE YOUR SHADOW: 

See Your Shadow Songwriting is a prominent production house that has been turning out international sales and airplay chart-toppers for the past 20 years.

Under the artistic direction of Michael Coleman, the musical conglomerate has racked up multiple iTunes #1 singles, while earning numerous industry awards, including a win at the recent Independent Music Network Awards. Their last single, “Crazy Things Like That” enjoyed multiple weeks atop the National Radio Hits airplay charts. 

The 10th Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards has announced new and returning events for the biggest weekend in Christian music, including a brand new event Saturday morning, Worship In The Round, featuring renown worship leaders and songwriters Josh Baldwin, Brandon Lake, Tasha Layton, David Leonard and Jon Reddick.

Also announced to return is the popular Songwriter’s Showcase hosted by Steven Curtis Chapman and featuring the talents of Cochren & Co., Lauren Daigle, Bart Millard of MercyMe, Matthew West and Anne Wilson.

The annual Emerging Artist Showcase will be hosted by Brandon Heath and include Dan Bremnes, Ben Fuller, Cody Carnes, Consumed By Fireand Rachael Lampa.

Previously announced weekend’s events included the Friday night kick-off concert and Sunday morning worship service. The kick-off concert will be headlined by TobyMac, and also feature Colton Dixon, Katy Nichole, Terrian and Blessing Offor.

CAIN will host the 10th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards. Taking place on May 28, 2023 at Nashville’s iconic OPRY House, TBN will broadcast the show on June 2nd, once again sponsored by Coca-Cola Consolidated. All details for the weekend and award show can be found at KLOVEFanAwards.com.