{"id":6362,"date":"2022-03-16T13:36:12","date_gmt":"2022-03-16T17:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/reelfaith\/?p=6362"},"modified":"2022-08-27T12:46:15","modified_gmt":"2022-08-27T16:46:15","slug":"joel-smallbone-talks-the-welcome-return-of-a-united-audience-at-universal-orlandos-rock-the-universe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/reelfaith\/2022\/03\/joel-smallbone-talks-the-welcome-return-of-a-united-audience-at-universal-orlandos-rock-the-universe.html","title":{"rendered":"Joel Smallbone Talks the Welcome Return of a ‘United’ Audience at Universal Orlando’s ‘Rock the Universe’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

After pausing for a year due to the pandemic, Universal Orlando kicked off its Rock the Universe festival in late January, bringing together thousands of youth and youth workers under the umbrella of worship and contemporary Christian music. While the festival offered the latest sounds from popular artists such as Matthew West, Casting Crowns, Zach Williams, and Big Daddy Weave, for KING & COUNTRY\u2019s Joel Smallbone said the event also held a more significant purpose.<\/p>\n

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for KING & COUNTRY image courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Currently promoting the GRAMMY Award-winning group\u2019s latest release \u201cWhat Are We Waiting For?,\u201d Smallbone said in addition to a \u201ccollected sigh of relief\u201d enjoying a return to normalcy, Rock the Universe served to unite a large and varied audience.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou realize how much things like music or theater or sports, where people who look different act different vote different, come together under the banner of a sports team or a song or whatnot; (they) are united in these moments,\u201d he said. \u201cWe were robbed of that for two years and then you layer on the political, the social, the racial division and all the rest of it . . . it\u2019s quite a recipe. Reflecting on Rock the Universe, it was just a freedom, and a gratitude that I have not felt in previous years. I think maybe the best way to put it felt like, \u2018We are in this thing together. We\u2019re locking arms\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

The duo put on a spectacular multi-faceted set featuring many of their hit songs such as \u201cGod Only Knows,\u201d \u201cTogether,\u201d and new songs \u201cRelate\u201d and \u201cBroken Halos.\u201d Known for incorporating unforgettable experiences during their performances, the group also accomplished a first for the park, using a crane to levitate the singers.<\/p>\n

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Rock the Universe image courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe worked awfully hard that night,\u201d Smallbone said. \u201cI don\u2019t think they\u2019ve ever put lifts on the stage before where people could levitate. They were kind. You can imagine Universal, there\u2019s a litany of people that have to approve that. But we were like, \u2018this is really important.\u2019 And they were kind enough to say, \u2018Hey, let\u2019s do it\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond the main stage performances, Rock the Universe attendees also enjoyed worship experiences throughout the weekend, including a Saturday ceremony with a special message and a musical performance, a powerful Sunday morning worship service to wrap up the faith-filled weekend, plus a dedicated FanZone presented by Coca-Cola, featuring live performances from up-and-coming acts.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat Are We Waiting For?\u201d is now available at retail and streaming outlets<\/a>. For more information on Rock the Universe, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n