NASHVILLE, TN – January 24, 2014 – Multi-Platinum selling group Casting Crowns will embark on a brand-new 40-city tour this spring in support of the band’s highly-anticipated studio album, "Thrive" (releasing January 28, 2014). The THRIVE Tour will feature GRAMMY®-winning worship leader Laura Story and reigning GMA New Artist of the Year for KING & COUNTRY. The tour launches Feb. 20, 2014 in Lexington, Ky., and will continue throughout the spring visiting major markets, including Charlotte, Raleigh, Tampa, Minneapolis, Greenville, Houston, Orlando and Grand Rapids, among others.

In the past year, Casting Crowns has garnered numerous accolades including three GRAMMY® nominations, an RIAA 2x multi-Platinum certification and multiple RIAA Gold certifications, with total album sales surpassing 8 million. Building on that momentum, The THRIVE Tour is sure to not disappoint, with a set list that includes Casting Crowns’ biggest hits – spanning more than a decade of ministry – in addition to selections from the group’s new release, THRIVE (Beach Street/Reunion Records), the band’s first full-length effort in two years.

The songs on THRIVE are an extension of what lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall has been teaching his students at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta, where he serves as youth pastor. The heart behind the project is for these songs to encourage believers to dig down into the roots of who they are in Christ so that they are fully equipped to reach out and share their faith with others. Following this theme, half of the songs on the album are focused on “reaching out,” while the other half are dedicated to “digging deep.”

Tickets for all tour dates are available at www.CastingCrowns.com. In addition, special VIP add-on tickets are available at most shows and include a pre-show Q&A with Casting Crowns and an autographed copy of THRIVE.

The THRIVE Tour is partnering with Christian humanitarian organization World Vision ( www.worldvision.org). World Vision provides assistance to approximately 100 million people in nearly 100 countries by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Casting Crowns has helped to generate more than 70,000 child sponsorships for World Vision to date.

CASTING CROWNS - THE THRIVE TOUR - SPRING 2014

*Dates, markets and venues subject to change without notice.

February
February 20 – Lexington, KY | Rupp Arena
February 21 – Ft. Wayne, IN | Memorial Coliseum
February 22 – Getzville, NY | The Chapel at Crosspoint
February 27 – Salisbury, MD | Wicomico Arena
February 28 – Portland, ME | Cumberland County Civic Center

March
March 1 – Amherst, MA | Mullins Center (University of MA at Amherst)
March 2 – Philadelphia, PA | The Liacouras Center
March 4 – Salem, VA | Salem Civic Center
March 6 – Johnson City, TN | Freedom Hall
March 7 – Charlotte, NC | Bojangles Coliseum
March 8 – Raleigh, NC | PNC Arena
March 13 – Plymouth, MI | Northridge Church
March 14 – Hoffman Estates | Sears Centre
March 15 – Carbondale, IL | SIU Arena
March 20 – Hershey, PA | Giant Center
March 21 – Newark, NJ | Prudential Center
March 22 – Baltimore, MD | Baltimore Arena
March 27 – Gainesville, FL | Stephen C. O’Connell Center (U of F)
March 28 – Tampa, FL | Sun Dome Arena
March 29 – Orlando, FL | Calvary Assembly

April
April 3 – Independence, MO | Independence Events Center
April 4 – Sioux Falls, SD | Sioux Falls Arena
April 5 – Minneapolis, MN | Target Center
April 6 – Duluth, MN | DECC Amsoil Arena
April 8 – Fargo, ND | Fargo Dome
April 10 – Cedar Rapids, IA | US Cellular Center
April 11 – Milwaukee, WI |Milwaukee Theater
April 12 – St. Charles, MO | Family Arena
April 17 – Knoxville, TN | Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum
April 18 – Tupelo, MS | Bancorp South Center
April 19 – Greenville, SC | Bon Secours Wellness Arena
April 24 – Wichita Falls, TX | Kay Yeager Coliseum
April 25 – Lubbock, TX | City Bank Coliseum
April 26 – The Woodlands, TX | The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

May
May 1 – Grand Rapids, MI | Van Andel Arena
May 2 – Columbus, OH | Schottenstein Center
May 3 – Charleston, WV | Charleston Civic Center

About Casting Crowns
Prolific CCM band Casting Crowns has achieved major sales milestones including one RIAA 2x multi-Platinum album, three RIAA Platinum albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, six RIAA Gold albums, four Gold DVDs and four RIAA Gold certified digital singles. The band currently holds the position as Billboard’s top-selling act in Christian music since 2007. The group has also been honored with two American Music Awards (out of six total nominations), a GRAMMY Award for its 2005 album, Lifesong, and has received six GRAMMY nominations including three received on Dec. 5, 2012. The band has garnered 17 GMA Dove Awards and two 2012 Billboard Music Awards from six total Billboard Music Award nominations. Casting Crowns’ seven band members all remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta area and tour according to their local church commitments. Serving his 18th year in youth ministry, lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall maintains his role as the student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta. Throughout its career, the band has helped with more than 70,000 child sponsorships through the group’s partnership with Christian humanitarian organization, World Vision. On January 28, 2014, Casting Crowns will release its seventh studio record, THRIVE, which follows the release of its 2013 collection album, Acoustic Sessions: Volume 1. For more info, visit www.CastingCrowns.com.

About Laura Story
GRAMMY® award-winning artist, speaker, songwriter, author and worship leader Laura Story has a gift for penning songs that connect with people all around the world. Among her successes as a solo artist with her smash hits “Mighty To Save” and “Blessings,” Laura has also penned hit songs for other renowned artists, including Chris Tomlin’s “Indescribable.” Her solo artist music debut in 2008 with Great God Who Saves led to four Dove nominations and the award for “Inspirational Album of the Year.” In 2011, Laura released her sophomore project Blessings. The album and the emotionally powerful title was inspired by her real life trials and adversities, primarily her husband Martin’s diagnosis of a brain tumor. The album resonated with a huge audience and led to whirlwind career highlights for Laura, peaking at the No. 1 album spot for three consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Contemporary Christian Overall chart, topping the iTunes® Christian/Gospel Top Songs chart and holding the No. 1 spot for an impressive 28 consecutive weeks on the Christian charts. The success of the single “Blessings,” which was certified RIAA Gold, includes the GRAMMY® Award for Best Contemporary Christian Song, the Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Song and the Dove Awards for Song of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. The song inspired Laura’s first book, “What If Your Blessings Come Through Raindrops?” in 2012. Two years since the release of Blessings comes Laura’s highly anticipated new record God Of Every Story which is available now. Laura is the worship leader at Perimeter Church outside of Atlanta, GA and lives with her husband Martin and her daughter Josie. For more info, visit www.laurastorymusic.com.

About for KING & COUNTRY
for KING & COUNTRY, recently named “New Artist of the Year” at the 44th Annual Dove Awards and “Breakthrough Artist of the Year” at the first annual K-LOVE Fan Awards, released their critically acclaimed debut album, Crave, in 2012. On January 10, 2013, they made their late night debut performing their hit song and iTunes’ 2012 “Breakthrough Christian & Gospel Song of the Year,” “The Proof Of Your Love,” on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” In 2012, for KING & COUNTRY was named as one of Billboard’s 17 acts to watch and were CCM’s best-selling new artist. New Release Tuesday noted that Crave was “One of the Best Debut Projects in Years!” ET’s “The Insider” said the duo, “makes music that speaks directly to your heart” and have been “gaining popularity in the alt-rock genre.” American Songwriter commented that “for KING & COUNTRY may just be Australia’s answer to Coldplay.” For more info, visit www.forkingandcountry.com.