postcards from the road
Latest from the road

Goodbye for now from the band!
31 March 2010

We hope to see you on the road really soon!


The After Party
30 March 2010

We had a big end of tour party with the band, family members and friends. Our good friend Emily Snyder put together quite a party, we played fun songs together and remembered many funny stories from the road. However, little 6 week old Francesca (daughter of our sound engineer Chris) slept through the whole thing, even when the pipes started! Now that the music has stopped for a while I'd like to join her in that for a few days!!!! It was bitter sweet as we had to say goodbye to dear friends we won't see for a few months - but what a fantastic year we've had together. We look forward to getting some new songs together to get back on the road later in the year!


The Concert
30 March 2010

The last concert of the Awaken the dawn tour was Sunday past at Parkside Church, our home church here in Ohio. The whole band were there and many wives and kids as well. Deborah, who is six months pregnant, 'pushed through' splendidly to a standing ovation! It was great to be able to sing several of the songs that we first tried out with the Parkside congregation and to have an opportunity to thank the many here who pray for us and very kindly welcome us in when we come off the road. And now? Home to Ireland for Easter and then beginning a new season of writing.


Baby Shower!
18 March 2010
The band threw a baby shower for deborah while on the road - we had   fruit punch and cup cakes, she opened some baby gifts and each of us   wrote a limerick on a diaper (or nappy in the UK) about a Deborah   memory!  You'll have to ask her how good or how accurate the poetry   was!  It was a first for the band and a lot of fun!

Joni and friends
17 March 2010
Joni Eareckson Tada is one of the most joyful inspirational ladies we have ever met. She welcomed us in to the Joni and Friends headquarters for lunch and a mini concert on St Patrick's Day. At the end of our time we had a little hymn sing in the chapel. I have never met Joni without her beginning to sing - a few minutes with her is oxygen to the soul and a wakening to the hope in Christ she never lets you forget! Go to www.joniandfriends.org to find out all about her story and her work. It was such a privilege for us all to spend a little more time with her and her husband Ken and one of her assistants Judy (pictured beside Deborah).

San Diego Zoo
15 March 2010

We visited the world famous San Diego Zoo this week on our day off. The highlight was seeing the 10 month old baby panda. It was a beautiful warm day as we visited with a sleeping lion, a prowling tiger and a very cute little bear that apparently though small could do a lot of damage with those claws! The vastness of shape and color and behavior and detail was truly amazing.


Skip's Birthday
14 March 2010
He never let on but Deborah found out and so we had a birthday party   for Skip, our wonderful piper!  We now know the date but none of us   could find out how many candles were needed!

Shadow Mountain Concert
14 March 2010
Last year we did a concert at Shadow Mountain Church, San Diego, and used little pieces of it for the DVD part of the Awaken the Dawn album. We were thrilled to return this year again and their wonderful team recorded the concert. We hope to add some of the footage to our you tube collection in the next few weeks!

Shepherd's Conference, Sun Valley
05 March 2010
We took part in one of the sessions of this year's Shepherd's Pastor's conference. It was quite an experience singing along with a couple thousand men!

A real Lemon Tree
05 March 2010
Coming from Northern Ireland this is a remarkable sight- a real blooming lemon tree just sitting right by the parking lot of Grace Community church, Sun Valley, CA!!

Compassion Headquarters
04 March 2010
Keith and I finally got to the compassion headquarters in colorado springs. We were asked to lead the music at their weekly chapel where we met with several staffers personally grieving the many losses caused by the Haiti earthquake and tried where we could to bring comfort with the music and message of the hymns. We then took the guided tour through the life and times of Compassion. We love their work. One of my favorite moments was seeing the mailing area where all the letters from sponsors and children meet up, get sorted and then shipped out over all the world. It reminded me of the home we visited in Ecuador last year where a little boy proudly showed us the bundle of letters he had received from his sponsor. These letters are little lifelines of encouragement and opportunities to tangibly share the love of Christ. I really need to get writing...

NRB in Nashville
15 March 2010
We returned to NRB in Nashville this year to lead the singing at the Sunday morning service. Pictured: us with Dr. Al Mohler.

Interview with Lisa Anderson
11 March 2010
We made a new friend at Focus on the Family - Lisa Anderson - she has a radio blog and we had a fun interview together for that ('The Boundless Show' on the Focus website). She is a flute player and mentioned that she would be willing to sacrifice time at home to come on the road with us!!! Lisa get those irish dancing shoes on...!

Kristyn at Whit's End with Keith
02 March 2010
I grew up listening to Adventures in Odyssey so it's always fun to visit Odyssey at focus on the family!



Mommy-to-be Deborah!
01 March 2010
Mommy-to-be Deborah Klemme chilling out at a rehearsal in Destin

Florida! For all who don't yet know Deborah is due in June - congrats to her and hubbie Ben!!!


Leading worship at the Navigators President Conference
22 February 2010
In Glen Eyrie, Colorado Springs



Wheaton College!
18 February 2010
After leading some singing at the Wheaton students special celebration evening for the 150th anniversary of the college we had some photos taken with the college President, Dr Litfin, as we chatted about the new hymn we are beginning to write in honor of Wheaton's landmark birthday! Read about this here

Welcome to Narnia!
21 February 2010

Colorado Springs - for the past two days it has been snowing here at Glen Eyrie Castle (where we have been leading worship at the Navigators President's Conference) and living in Cleveland I thought I could handle a car in any weather. Wrong! Don't tell my parents but last night I could not get up what was a very slight slope and rolled back (at a very slow pace mind!!) and tried to break but spun the car and stopped just short of a tree! Eventually we parked it to the side and just walked back to the room...I think I'll stick to walking to the main sessions for the next 24 hours :)


Valentines day!
14 February 2010
Happy Valentine's Day! Keith and I got to be together but the whole band very graciously came out on the road leaving wives and husbands at home who very graciously let them come as we (or rather Russel and Truman) drove the 15 hour drive to Chicago from Columbia. We had a little celebration with an enormous chocolate chip cookie bearing a special message as sickly sweet as we felt after eating it!

Seeking 7 Conference
14 January 2010

We attended the Seeking 7 conference this weekend in Birmingham AL. The conference was inspiring - and it was great to catch up with my uncle John Lennox (right). Here are two useful web sites for Christian apologetics - www.johnlennox.org and www.fixed-point.org (the foundation behind the seeking seven conference) 


Introducing our Violin Player: Deborah Klemme
10 January 2010



2010 Tour Commences!
03 January 2010

We kick started the year with a week in California. We flew straight from the UK to LA and went pretty much straight to work with an 8 hr jetlag - not the easiest but our families didn't really feel sorry for us because hey, we were in sunny California! We made new friends within the Calvary Chapel family in participating in the church services in Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, their missions conference in Murietta and then the midweek service in CC Montebello, East LA. We also were excited to be back in Grace Community Church on the Sunday night this time with the band. It was such a varied week and the inspiration of the mission focus, the stories of real life change through the gospel in the challenging neighborhood of Montebello and the building of lasting friendships gave us all a kingdom focused launch into the new year! There is so much work to be done and so much encouragement to be gleaned from one another as we share the work and all the joys and pains together.


Dinner withthe Galways
30 December 2009

We had the privilege of having dinner in Belfast with Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway over the Christmas holidays


Last 2009 concert!
14 December 2009

We did two Irish Christmas Concerts in Judson Baptist and were joined by their wonderful choir and orchestra for these last special performances of the year. It was memorable to hear Keith giving the crowd Northern Ireland accent lessons!


Magnificat Studio Session
10 December 2009

This week we headed back into the studio to record a new song 'Magnificat' with our 'Awaken the Dawn' producer Phil Naish.


Chip Stam
07 December 2009

When in Kentucky this past weekend we had the wonderful opportunity   of going to see our dear friends Chip and Doris Stam.  For years they   have really championed the hymns and encouraged us way back at the   beginning of our time in America and have done so ever since.  Chip   has been and still is fighting a long battle with cancer and has   fought with all the passion and positivity he has in everything he   faces as he continues even now to live the words of faith he has   always loved to sing.  We are so grateful for his enthusiasm and   advice to us.  One of the things we laugh about is his meticulous   attention to the punctuation of lyrics so we brought a copy of the   lyric of the hymn we had just finished,  'The Magnificat', to get his   master help on the punctuation!  We sang it all together in his   hospital room as Keith played the guitar - we sang about and to the   One who joins us together in 'the wonder of His favour' through   Christ.  Please remember Chip and Doris in your prayers.


Introducing our bass player - Peter Wahlers
03 December 2009

Another one of our fun band introductions!



Relaxing with some Wii!
27 November 2009


Dave Cleveland
25 November 2009

Dave Cleveland, guitarist extraordinaire, has joined us on the road for a few weeks. He has collected over the years a crazy amount of guitars but we hope this gift from the band might become his favourite!!


Amy Grant
16 November 2009
Last night Keith and I went to an Amy Grant Symphony concert in Birmingham Alabama - it was such a treat to hear her live and to meet her for the first time!

Introducing the band: Dustin
14 November 2009

In the first of a series of short videos - we introduce our drummer Dustin Rohrer



Washington DC
10 November 2009
We had both a free Sunday afternoon and beautiful weather so we headed downtown Washington DC - it is a fantastic city, full of history and full of 'stones of remembrance' that stir the heart and mind.

Memorial Week in Washington DC
07 November 2009
The newer World War Two Memorial was particularly moving and we got to see it in the night lights - our history tells a tale of sacrifice not to be forgotten as this memorial week reminds us.

Tim Hortons!
31 October 2009
...an absolute must when you go to Canada!

On the Bus!
25 October 2009

Here are a few fun pics from our tour bus!

On the left, I'm not sure what's going on here but it's Bobby, the guitarist we   call 'Bubba' and so it's just really funny!  Perhaps you had to be   there!

Peter really wanted us to invest in a Getty Music football - for us   this is more a rugby ball than a football but whatever... 'when in   Rome'!!


The 'Fish by the Sea' Theory!
20 October 2009
It is no secret that the band LOVES to eat and that our eating patterns have been greatly shaped by our gourmet leader Keith Getty! He has a gift for discovering the places to go, getting us all there and insisting on us all enjoying what he calls 'fish by the sea' - basically eating food true to the context you're in... so if you're by the sea eating fish, if in Memphis eating barbeque, if in the autumnal Midwest eating butternut squash soup and pecan pie and say if you are in Seattle (as we were this past weekend) eating the best doughnuts the city has to offer in Lola's restaurant!

We are all happy to test his theory on the road and in the creativity as in a beautiful painting or piece of music - see the fingerprints of the Divine and the joy of sharing it together!


Postcards from Seattle
20 October 2009

Here are some pictures from Seattle.

Just to explain the first one: we visited the wonderful world famous Pike Place Market in Seattle - I saw many tasty things but I have to say this Octopus was not one of them even if it was fresh!


Regent College
19 October 2009

Keith and I had the great privilege of having a coffee break with Dr James Packer at Regent College, Vancouver. We along with thousands of others have greatly benefited from his writing (particularly 'Knowing God') and his life.

Out of the many challenging things he spoke to us about - here is one! He said: 'Every worship song without exception should leave people with the sense that God is wonderful'.


The band at 100 Huntley Street
14 October 2009

From left: Bret Farmer, Deborah Klemme, Bobby McKee, Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Dustin Rohrer, Joni McCabe, Peter Wahlers.


Deborah & I getting madeup for the 100 Huntley Street TV Show
13 October 2009

You can also watch some of the footage here


Getting ready for Le Sea broadcast
06 October 2009

A few pictures of us preparing for the Le Sea broadcast.

Live from Studio B will be aired on October 15th on Le Sea. See www.livefromstudiob.com for more info!


The band in Le Sea's studio
06 October 2009

From left: Joni McCabe, Bobby McKee, Deborah Klemme, Kristyn Getty, Keith Getty, Dustin Rohrer, Skip Cleavinger, Bret Farmer, Peter Wahlers.


A few pictures from Longview Texas
01 October 2009

Skip sound checking the Uilleann Pipes at Longview, TX.

Also meet our drummer, Dustin Rohrer!


Journal from Ecuador
19 September 2009

We traveled to Ecuador to see firsthand the work of Compassion in this part of the world.  Quito is surrounded by the Andes Mountains and our visit was in this capital city and the Otavalo region in the highlands.  The mountains became almost like a canvas on which we painted our thoughts.  Isaiah 50 says 'How beautiful on the mountain tops are the feet of Him who brings good news'. 

Christ who gave salvation to us also gives us the privilege of being a people of beautiful feet as we bring the good news to others.  Compassion has carved an effective path for people to be involved in meeting the physical needs of the world that is not just Christ honoring but at its heart helps brings people to Christ.

This is a 4 day journal of Kristyn's Ecuadorian experience.  We hope that it might encourage you to join us as we join thousands around the world in the lasting joy and far reaching work of child sponsorship through Compassion.

Click here for Day 1

Click here for Day 2

Click here for Day 3

Click here for Day 4


Office on the Road!
20 August 2009

Our office on the road- Bret and Joni would be lost without their phones!


Oklahoma Memorial
05 August 2009

A moving visit to the Oklahoma memorial in Oklahoma City.

Each chair represents a life lost in the 1995 bombing

 
creative: www.madebybreak.com