The Christian rock band Big Daddy Weave is coming to Montague Jan. 20 as a result of sponsorships which will front much of the cost.

His message. Believe it. They’re coming.

Big Daddy Weave is a hot artist in Christian music. The members are brothers Mike and Jay Weaver, Jeremy Redmon, Jeff Jones and Joe Shirk.

The five-member band’s latest song, “Redeemed” is currently ranked eighth on the Billboard.com’s Christian music chart. They won the Dove Award for the top Christmas Album 2010, “Christ Is Come.”

They perform in large venues, like the popular Unity Christian Music Festival in Muskegon, large church auditoriums, stadiums and two days before coming to Montague they will be playing at the FedExForum, home of the Memphis Grizzlies NBA franchise.

How did Montague land such a high profiled Christian music group? The church was asked if it wanted to sponsor a concert.

Smith said a new family in the church has a son, A.J. Van Boxel, in the Christian music industry in Nashville. The father, Greg Van Boxel is a businessman whose companies, Aerovision International, GVB Development Group LLC and AJ’s Family Fun Center is underwriting much of the cost of the concert.

“Greg came up to me and asked if I knew of this band and would like it to perform a concert,” Smith says.

“I’m blown away at this opportunity,” he adds.

And yes, this a full Big Daddy Weave concert with all the sound and lights, Smith emphasizes.

The planning for the concert came together quickly, and Smith said Montague school administrators were very cooperative in allowing the concert to be held in the high school auditorium.

The best part.

The cost for tickets to the concert is reasonable, as low as $5. there area also $10 seats and $20 tickets for a seat and attendance at a Meet and Greet with the band where pizza will be served.

Smith says there is not a bad seat in the auditorium, “$5 tickets in the back of the auditorium are better than front seats in other venues.,” he adds.

Tickets are available at Evangelical Covenant Church Whitehall by calling 231-894-4271 or online at evangelismtickets.com.

Smith says there will also be a quantity of free tickets for people who want to invite friends or family.

The Meet and Greet in the auditorium lobby will begin at 5 p.m. The concert starts at 6 p.m.

Evangelical Covenant’s youth band, HI5, will open the concert before Big Daddy Weave takes the stage.

Another highlight of the night, Smith says, will be a public testimony of a life submitted to Jesus Christ by Whitehall native Anthony Greve who is a former lead guitarist for the rock band, Pop Evil.

Big Daddy Weave broke into the Christian music industry in a big way, with its Dove Award nomination as New Artist of the Year in 2002. They have been honored at ASCAP’s Christian Music Awards, were chosen for the WOW Hits compilations in five of the last six years and are one of the 10 most played artists on Christian radio over the past decade.

The band’s compelling music makes the personal universal. Few artists have done that more consistently or more movingly than Big Daddy Weave. Through more than a decade of hits like “In Christ,” “Audience of One,” “You’re Worthy Of My Praise,” “Every Time I Breathe,” What Life Would Be Like,” and “You Found Me.”

Mike Weaver is a songwriter-guitarist, Jeff Jones is the drummer. Jay Weaver plays the bass, Jeremy Redmon is a guitarist/producer,Joe Shirk plays the keyboard and saxophone.

Schedule

Date: Jan. 20, 2013

Time: 5 p.m. Meet & Greet, 6 p.m. concert.

Location: Montague H.S. Fine Arts Center, 4900 Stanton Blvd.

Headliner: ‘Big Daddy Weave’

Hot Song: “Redeemed”

Opener: HI5

Guest: Anthony Greve, former lead guitarist for ‘Pop Evil’ will give his testimony.