One of the most attended tours in the world each year, the NewSong-founded Winter Jam Tour Spectacular sells out shows in almost every city they play. As the largest annual Christian music tour, the artists to grace the Winter Jam stage are some of the biggest names in the industry. TobyMac, Matthew West, Newsboys, Lecrae: the list of headliners could go on and on.
 
Still, one of our favorite parts of the tour each year is the Pre-Jam Party that starts about an hour before the main show and showcases the talents of 2 or 3 new acts. This is a great time for fans to discover some new great artists and a great time for up and coming artists to get their music out to huge crowds of people who may otherwise never hear them. Some that started as little-known artists on this tour are now ministering to thousands through their music, and some have even gone on to headline the show. 

Today This Is Winter Jam, a documentary bringing the experience of Winter Jam to the screen, is available for fans to take home and watch in their own living rooms (order it here). In honor of the DVD release, here's a list of our top 10 favorite Pre-Jam artists from the last decade.
 
1. We Are Messengers
Appearing on the 2016 tour, We Are Messengers began the night with a high-energy set. The band, fronted by Irishman Darren Mulligan, is new to the Christian music scene, yet quickly proved that their spot on the Winter Jam tour was much deserved. In their short opening set they captured the attention of the audience, gaining new fans at every show. With high-energy and genuine faith, We Are Messengers used their opening slot to showcase music from their debut album, including the infectious "Everything Comes Alive." We truly look forward to seeing what great things come next in the career of such a talented group.
 
2. for KING & COUNTRY
Yes, as hard as it is to believe, for KING & COUNTRY was once an opening act. This one is perhaps the best success story of a Pre-Jam artist (2012) turned main show headliner (2016), achieved by the Australian team of brothers in just four years. Since their first appearance on the tour, for KING & COUNTRY has become quite a force to be reckoned with in Christian music. Multiple television performances, sold-out shows, hit singles, highly successful albums, even a Grammy win-- after years of hard work and dedication to their music, fK&C all of a sudden became a name everyone knew. Now one of the very best live shows in the whole industry, I'm sure the for KING & COUNTRY guys can't help but credit a bit of their success to that first year on Winter Jam where the majority of their fans had the first taste of what was to come from such a talented group of musicians.
 
3. Sidewalk Prophets
Another major success story of a group who was once a Pre-Jam act, Sidewalk Prophets has finally started to get the attention they're due. First gracing the stage in 2010, the band attracted listeners with their pop contemporary sound and encouraging lyrics. Appearing on the tour again in 2011, 2013 and 2016, the Sidewalk Prophets guys are now no strangers to the Winter Jam tour. On the 2016 run of shows, Sidewalk played a mix of old fan favorites and brand new songs from their recent release Something Different, capturing the crowd in moments of worship and high-energy fun.
 
4. Veridia
Still a fairly new group, Veridia burst onto the scene as part of the Pre-Jam show in 2015. Well-received by audiences across the country, the rockers played a few songs from their Inseparable EP. Hits like "Furious Love" and "We Are The Brave" got the crowd fired up pre-show with lead singer Deena Jakoub's bold vocals at the helm. The band has since gone on to release a few more EPs and has become a fresh favorite for many rock fans.
 
5. Love & The Outcome
Canadian husband and wife duo Love & The Outcome took part in their first major tour as part of the Pre-Jam show in 2014. The couple who left their life of comfort to follow their passion for music found a group of loyal fans through their time on the Winter Jam tour. Performing songs from their debut self-titled album, the duo struck a chord with listeners and has continued to travel the world sharing their music ever since.
 
6. Capital Kings
EDM/remix masters Capital Kings were first introduced to the world with their energetic spot on Winter Jam in 2013. The tag-team of artists shook up audiences all across the country with their opening set, geared toward a dance party style with an energetic worship break in the mix. Their spot on the tour gained the guys a faithful following of fans eager to hear what would be next from the CCM dubstep kings. Capital Kings answered with their sophomore release II and are still at the top of the genre, upping the game for EDM producers everywhere.
 
7. Chris August
The "Starry Night" singer appeared on the tour as part of the Pre-Jam show in 2011 and hasn't looked back since. Perhaps the biggest tour he'd been part of at that time, it served as a chance to get his music out to the masses. It worked well, as many CCM listeners soon became fans of Chris' singer/songwriter vibe. Only a year after his spot on the tour, Chris suffered a traumatic brain injury from a skateboarding accident. Though it meant a lot of down time to heal and recover, Chris is now back and better than ever with his new album The Maker, heavily influenced by the trials he faced because of his injury.
 
8. Hawk Nelson
Yet another band to get their start with Winter Jam, Hawk Nelson first appeared on the tour in 2006. Still in the Jason Dunn days of the band, a harder-rock version of what we now know to be Hawk Nelson took the tour by storm again in 2007 and 2009. Now with the vocals of Jon Steingard leading the way, Hawk Nelson is a more pop-focused group, still successfully holding their own in the CCM world. Undeniably, Winter Jam acted as a launching pad for the career of this group who is still going strong after all these years.
 
9. Blanca
Formerly of Group 1 Crew (who has also appeared on Winter Jam), Blanca stepped out on her own as a solo artist in 2014 and took the stage by herself for the first time in 2015 as part of the Pre-Jam show. The powerhouse vocalist caught the attention of many on the tour as she led thousands each night in a high-energy time of empowering music. The crowd gladly sung alone to hit singles "Who I Am" and "Not Backing Down," proving that Blanca's shift from group to solo artist was well-received. And what better tour to begin a new season than the largest in the industry?
 
10. About A Mile
About A Mile was another new band that grabbed the attention of listeners on the 2015 Winter Jam tour. With lead singer Adam's powerful testimony of faith through sickness and hard times, the group found a resonating place with many listeners who worshipped along to "Who You Say You Are" each night, proving to be a special moment of praise in every city. The band's pop/rock sound propelled them to be a crowd favorite for many who now eagerly wait to see what will come next from a young group with a ton of potential.