Big Tent Revival
{{Short description|American Christian rock band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Big Tent Revival
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| origin =
| genre = Christian rock, CCM
| years_active = 1991–2000; 2012–present
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.bigtentrevival.com/}}
| current_members = Steve Wiggins
Spence Smith
Randy Williams
David Alan
Steve Dale
| past_members = David White
Mike Foster
Brent Milligan
Rick Heil
}}
Big Tent Revival is a Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1991 by Steve Wiggins. They were signed to Ardent Records who had a distribution deal with Forefront Records. They disbanded in 2000 after having released five albums, had two releases after disbanding, and reformed in 2012 after a successful crowdfunding campaign for a new album. They are best known for their songs "Two Sets of Jones", "Choose Life", and "What Would Jesus Do?" and were featured at the Harvest Crusades.
Background
Steve Wiggins released a self-titled album on Sparrow Records in 1991.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-wiggins-mn0000037786/discography|title=Steve Wiggins - Album Discography - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|accessdate=October 15, 2018}} He subsequently formed Big Tent Revival.
Wiggins released two additional solo albums after the group disbanded: Faith That Is Real (2002, Ardent/Chordant) and Aliyah (2010).{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} He was also featured on six tracks of the 2007 Harvest Worship Band Release 'Praise Worthy' and four tracks of the 2010 Harvest Worship Band release, 'Enter In'.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} He also founded and ran the Living Room Study, a Bible study group, using a chapter-a-day approach to learning the bible that also incorporated weekly music and teaching events in public coffeehouses. Wiggins also writes songs for pastor Greg Laurie, along with Hanz Ives and Bill Batstone.{{cite web |url=http://www.harvest.org/praiseworthy/pw_pop.php |title=Harvest Online – Praiseworthy |last=Laurie |first=Greg |accessdate=December 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411054112/http://www.harvest.org/praiseworthy/pw_pop.php |archivedate=April 11, 2010 }} In 2014, Wiggins began working as the lead worship pastor for Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, TN. In 2019, He founded and continues to run [https://groundworksministries.com Groundworks Ministries], a non-profit company that shares the Gospel through daily devotionals. After leaving Bellevue in May 2021, Wiggins continues to share the Gospel through the [https://groundworksministries.com/podcast Groundworks Ministries Podcast].
Guitarist Randy Williams now works as a marketing consultant{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} after touring for six years as a guitarist for Jeremy Camp.{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/concerts/AnEveningwithJeremyCampandBandLiveUnplugged07.asp|title=An Evening with Jeremy Camp and Band Live Unplugged, with special guest Mainstay |last=DiBiase|first=John|date=April 10, 2007|accessdate=December 5, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100116180403/http://jesusfreakhideout.com/concerts/AnEveningwithJeremyCampandBandLiveUnplugged07.asp| archivedate= January 16, 2010 | url-status= live}}
Spence Smith works for Compassion International in Artist Relations and maintains the blog Spence Smith – Connecting People To Life.{{cite web|url=http://www.spencesmith.com/about/|title=Spence Smith — About|last=Smith|first=Spence|accessdate=December 5, 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106040826/http://www.spencesmith.com/about/|archivedate=January 6, 2010|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
The band released The Way Back Home on October 30, 2012,{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/TheWayBackHome.asp |title=Big Tent Revival, "The Way Back Home" Review |publisher=Jesusfreakhideout.com |date= |accessdate=October 18, 2012}} a project that was financed through KickStarter.{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bigtentrevival/big-tent-revival-is-back-and-headed-into-the-studi |title=Big Tent Revival is BACK and headed into the studio! by Big Tent Revival — Kickstarter |publisher=Kickstarter.com |date=March 21, 2012 |accessdate=October 18, 2012}}
Band members
= Current members =
- Steve Wiggins (1991-2000, 2012–present) – vocals and guitar (has, since the band's breakup, produced at least one solo album)
- Spence Smith (1991-2000, 2012–present) – drums
- Randy Williams (1996-2000, 2012–present) – lead guitar
- David Alan (1997-2000, 2012–present) – keyboards, B-3
- Steve Dale (1999-2000, 2012–present) – bass guitar
= Former members =
- David White (1993–94) – bass guitar
- Mike Foster (1994–95) – bass guitar
- Brent Milligan (1995–96) – bass guitar
- Rick Heil (1996–98) – bass guitar
Discography
:With the exception of their 1993 release, each of BTR's albums has been nominated for a Grammy Award.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} The band has also been nominated for several Dove Awards.
- Steve Wiggins and Big Tent Revival (1993)
- Big Tent Revival (1995)
- Open All Nite (1996)
- Amplifier (1998)
- Choose Life (1999)
- Big Tent Revival Live (2001)
- Greatest Hits (2002)
- The Way Back Home (2012)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.bigtentrevival.com}}
- [http://www.bigtentrevival.net Secondary Website 2004–2011]
- [http://www.spencesmith.com Spence Smith]
- [http://www.randywilliams.com Randy Williams]
- [http://www.musicrowcreative.com David Alan ]
{{Authority control}}
Category:American Christian rock groups