Award-Winning Music Talent Unveiled for Lowcountry Franklin Graham Festival

"Artist of the Year" and "Group of the Year" to Perform Free Concerts

CHARLESTON, S.C., June 27, 2008—Today the Lowcountry Franklin Graham Festival announced the artists that will join Franklin Graham on stage at the North Charleston Coliseum, September 19-21, 2008.  The line-up of six award-winning musical acts represents some of the best in the Christian music industry.

"We are excited to have artists of this caliber with us in Charleston," says Art Bailey, director of the Festival.  "Some of these groups have the most popular tours in Christian music this summer, but people in Charleston can enjoy them for free at the family friendly Festival."

The Festival, open to the public at no charge, will feature relevant messages by Franklin Graham and music by:

Friday, September 19

• Israel Houghton & New Breed (www.newbreedmusic.com) has two gold-selling albums, four Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award and a Grammy^® Award.
  
  
• TobyMac (www.tobymac.com/; www.myspace.com/tobymac) - though often recognized as being one-third of the groundbreaking group DC Talk - turned his solo career into an immediate success, with two gold albums, six number one singles, two Grammy nominations and critical acclaim.  At the 39 annual Dove Awards in April, TobyMac received three awards, including "Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year" and the coveted prize of "Artist of the Year."

Saturday, September 20

• Christian rock veterans The Newsboys (www.newsboys.com; www.myspace.com/newsboys) have earned several Grammy nominations, a number of Dove Awards, a Billboard Music Video Award, a pair of International Angel Awards, and a Nashville Music Award.
  
  
• Hip hop/rock band Group 1 Crew (www.group1crew.com/; www.myspace.com/groupone) was recently in Charleston for the Lowcountry Festival's Rock the City event in May.  Their self-titled debut album won the Dove Award for "Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year."

Sunday, September 21

• Casting Crowns (www.castingcrowns.com; www.myspace.com/castingcrowns) -  the Dove Award's "Group of the Year" every year since 2005 - has won too many awards to list, but highlights include additional Dove Awards and Grammy Awards for "Group/Artist of the Year," "Vocalist of the Year," "Song of the Year," "Album of the Year," "Video of the Year," and  "Producer of the Year."
  
  
• Hip hop/gospel artist Kirk Franklin (www.kirkfranklin.com; www.myspace.com/kirkfranklin) has won five Grammy Awards, a dozen Dove Awards, and several more nods from the American Music Awards, Stellar Awards and Black Entertainment Television Awards.

The Lowcountry Franklin Graham Festival is a not-for-profit organization operating under the leadership of a local Festival Committee in partnership with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

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