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On October 23, 2023, the Air1 logo cast a radiant glow upon the iconic red rock formations surrounding Colorado's renowned Red Rocks Amphitheatre. With every seat in the venue claimed by eager attendees, the atmosphere was electric as the crowd gathered under the open sky to join in an unforgettable evening of worship and praise at the first-annual "Worship Now Live at Red Rocks" concert.
Air1 morning show hosts Dan and Michelle emceed the unforgettable evening, which featured an unmatched lineup that included Shane & Shane, Jon Reddick, Brian & Jenn Johnson and a closing co-headlining set from Phil Wickham and Brandon Lake. Meanwhile, fans flew in from all across the country to be part of the one-of-a-kind event.
“This is the venue that every artist wants to play at — whether they’re Christian or non-Christian,” remarked one Air1 listener prior to the start time, “so just to be here and to glorify the name of Jesus, I’m just excited to worship.”
Thanks to the outstanding assortment of artists gathered, fans like this one were able to do just that. Moreover, a postcard-worthy setting and picture-perfect weather made the clear, slightly chilly evening one fans won’t soon forget.
Kicking off the multi-artist experience, Shane & Shane brought church to the bucket list venue. Delivering a powerful version of “In Christ Alone” and a standout performance of their radio hit, “You’ve Already Won,” the beloved duo set the tone for a concert that put the focus on the Creator.
Soon after the Shanes exited the stage, Jon Reddick served up a strong set on the B stage. Elevating the energy level early on, the rising worship leader led signature selections like “You Keep Hope Alive,” “I Believe It (The Life of Jesus)” and “God, Turn It Around.” In addition, he premiered a brand new unreleased song tentatively titled “Don’t Fight Alone.”
Reddick had barely finished leading the enthralled concertgoers in a refrain of timeless hymn, “‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus,” when Brian & Jenn Johnson took over the main stage below. Showcasing their songwriting gifts, the husband and wife team led numerous anthems they’ve written that have been recorded by other artists, including Wickham’s “Living Hope” and Chris Tomlin’s “Holy Forever.” “Goodness of God,” which was just named Song of the Year at the 54th Annual GMA Dove Awards, was undoubtedly the highlight of their half-hour set. While CeCe Winans’ rendition is likely the most recognizable, dozens of artists have put their stamp on the powerful single co-written by the couple alongside Ed Cash, Jason Ingram and Ben Fielding.
Following a brief intermission, Wickham and Lake reprised their popular “Summer Worship Nights” tour. They even revealed that they would be releasing a documentary detailing their first co-headlining run that visited 16 arenas throughout August and into September earlier this year. The two friends have already announced their plans to reunite next summer for a second “Summer Worship Nights” trek.
The hitmakers hit the ground running, taking the stage to Lake’s most recent No. 1, “Praise You Anywhere.” Wasting no time, the pair transitioned right into Wickham’s “House of the Lord.” From there, they followed their “Summer Worship Nights” pattern of collaborating on one another’s songs, generally going one for one as they made their way through a 90-minute setlist that included a stack of their biggest hits.
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Midway through, Wickham briefly left the stage to give Lake the spotlight on two new songs from his brand new album, “Coat of Many Colors,” including the meaningful title-cut and the blazing “Count ‘Em.” Later, Lake, who called the evening “a dream come true,” returned the favor, while Wickham harnessed capacity energy on his current single, “I Believe,” and brought a glimpse of the eternal down to Earth on a stirring rendition of “Hymn of Heaven.”
Taking the B stage in the midst of the exuberant crowd, the duo mashed up nine fan favorites, joining their voices and guitars for a simple, yet powerful, acoustic portion.
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Before concluding with the most anticipated hits of the night, Lake gave those in attendance the opportunity to make Jesus Lord of their life. “I can’t imagine not having a relationship with my three boys,” he shared. “That’s a fraction of how much God loves us.” Dozens accepted the tender invitation with a loud cheer rippling through the stands in celebration.
But that wasn’t where it ended. The respected worship leaders wrapped the night with a resounding penultimate performance of “This Is Our God” followed by the final moment everyone had been waiting for as, together, 10,000 voices lifted a song of “Gratitude” to heaven.
