Casting Crowns plays at North Korea festival

Casting Crowns received a rare invitation to participate in North Korea’s 25th annual April Spring Friendship Art Festival in Pyongyang last week. Casting Crowns played three standing-room-only shows April 11-13 at the high-profile event. Performers from around the world were invited to the festival, with Casting Crowns the only native U.S. band to attend.

The band incorporated a few Korean favorites in their live show, including the popular song “White Dove, Fly High,” which is recognized as an anthem for peace. The vice chairman of the festival personally sharedhis gratitude to Casting Crowns for their participation and especially for the beautiful performance of the peace song.

Avalon member leaving for health reasons

After nearly 12 years with the group Avalon, founding member Jody McBrayer says he will step down due to pressing health issues. The group will continue to record albums and tour nationally. In March McBrayer was diagnosed with a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Even
though it’s manageable, the disease often affects an individual’s ability to undertake physical work, as in McBrayer’s case.

After much prayer and lengthy discussions with his family, doctors and the members of Avalon, McBrayer says he will resign from the group to focus on his health and his family’swelfare. McBrayer is still in the studio recording his last record with Avalon, which will be released in September. He will also travel with Avalon through the end of the year on their 40-city fall tour.