Christian band Newsboys to play the SEMO District Fair in September

The Grammy-nominated band that performed the title track for the movie "God's Not Dead," the Newsboys, will play at the Grandstand at the SEMO District Fair at 7 p.m. Sept 15.

The Christian pop rock group hails from Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia, although the four members currently reside in Nashville, Tennessee.

The band's drummer, Duncan Phillips, said he and fellow band members keyboard player Jeff Frankenstein, guitarist Jody Davis and lead singer Michael Tait have been together since the 1980s.

"We were kids out of high school, and we got together and wanted to play music," he said.

The musicians have been dedicated to Christian music since the beginning of their careers, Phillips said.

"Music you get into and the music you do is an extension of who you are, and we were young Christians when we started," he said.

Phillips said "God's Not Dead" is always a crowd favorite, but it's difficult for him to choose the song he likes best.

"Each song is like your baby," he said. "It's like asking, 'Which is your favorite child?'"

"We Believe" is another song Phillips said audiences enjoy. It was featured in the movie "Do You Believe?" that was released on DVD on Aug. 4.

"It's a great moment during the show -- it takes things from horizontal to vertical," he said, referring to the way audience members normally stands, holding lighters in their hands, as they play the song.

Concertgoers can look forward to special effects during the song "Jesus Freak."

"You don't typically see drums up in the air, spinning around," Phillips said. "It's a nice, adrenaline-filled moment at the end of the show."

The point of a good concert, he said, is to take the audience on a journey.

"We want to take people for a ride," Phillips said.

With the fierce competition in the music industry, Phillips said it's important to keep things fresh.

"You've got to keep upping the ante," he said. "As an artist, you try to better yourself. You're only as good as your last project."

The band members came to the United States in the 1980s to record an album and have been in the states ever since.

Newsboys has recorded several albums, including "Restart," "God's Not Dead," "Hallelujah for the Cross," "In the Hands of God," "Hell is for Wimps," "Read All About It" and "Take Me to Your Leader."

Phillips said the band typically plays a number of fairs during the summer months, and this September's performance coincides with the beginning of a tour that will take them around the U.S. until mid-December.

A second "God's Not Dead" movie is scheduled for release on Easter, he said.

The band also is working on another CD.

Pertinent address:

Arena Park, Cape Girardeau, Mo.