The critically-acclaimed pop/rock band, Downhere, took home an impressive NINE 2009 Covenant Awards during the 31st Gospel Music Association Canada show Friday night in Calgary, Alberta.  Downhere ranked as the highest award winner this year after receiving eleven nominations and took home awards in the following categories:

Artist of the Year
Album of the Year (Ending is Beginning)
Song of the Year (Here I Am)
Recorded Song of the Year (Here I Am)
Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year (Ending Is Beginning)
Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year (Here I Am)
Rock Song of the Year (My Last Amen)
Seasonal Song of the Year (How Many Kings)
Inspirational Song of the Year (The Beggar Who Gave Alms)

“Wow! We never would have thought that we would get eleven nominations, much less win nine awards,” says Marc Martel of Downhere. “It is overwhelming to feel the support we are getting from our fans and friends in Canada and our hearts are overflowing from the kindness shown to us. We love going back to Canada to perform for the home crowds and this awards show us that the feeling is mutual. So, in the immortal words of Sally Field, 'They like us, they really like us!'”

Downhere is once again receiving critical acclaim with their first holiday project, How Many Kings: Songs For Christmas that released October 6, 2009.  Early reviews include; JesusFreakHideout.com – “….this is still one of the more solid Christmas releases we've seen from a Christian artist,” NewReleaseTuesday.com – “Downhere’s first ever holiday collection which retains much of the bands classic elements, but also stretches to previously uncharted realms,” Soul-Audio.com – “It easily ranks among great Christmas albums, like Jars Of Clay’s Christmas Songs. The group will also be featured on GospelMusicChannel.com’s  “Christmas of Compassion campaign, CCM Magazine, TitleTrakk.com, CBA Retailers + Resources, Christian Retailing, Dallas Morning News, to name a few.  And again this year, Downhere will be part of Centricity Music’s Bethlehem Skyline Tour that will also feature labelmates, Jason Gray and Lanae’ Hale.

Downhere has had a successful year at radio, retail and media with their GMAC winning album, Ending Is Beginning, whichdebuted on the Christian Contemporary Album Chart at #17 and was heralded as one of the Best Christian Albums of 2008 by ChristianMusicToday.com.  The GMAC winning song, “Here I Am” and “Hope Is Rising” peaked at #5 and #17 on the AC charts. GMAC winners, “My Last Amen” peaked at #5 on the CHR charts and “How Many Kings” hit the top 5 on the AC charts in late 2008. 

Downhere has also been a previous winner with the GMA Canada Covenant Awards in 2002 for Rock Album of the Year and Rock Song of the Year.  In April 2009, Downhere won their third JUNO Award for Ending Is Beginning, in the Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year category and won a GMA Dove Award for Modern Rock Recorded Song of the Year in 2003.

For more information on Downhere and their tour dates please visit www.downhere.com or www.centricitymusic.com.