Acclaimed Sparrow Records singer/songwriter Shawn McDonald returned to his hometown to record Live In Seattle, which is slated to release April 26. Captured during a concert at Mars Hill Church in January, the 12-song acoustic set features McDonald on guitar, Neal Vickers on guitar and cello, background vocals from Cara Flory, and in-studio contributions from Matt Slocum. Live In Seattle was produced by Chris Stevens, who also produced McDonald’s 2004 debut, Simply Nothing.

Live In Seattle features eight selections from Simply Nothing, including the hit singles “Gravity” and “All I Need,” as well as “Take My Hand,” “Hold On” and “Beautiful,” all of which McDonald wrote or co-wrote. The project also includes “Without You,” from a previously released independent recording by McDonald, as well as his new compositions “Perfectly Done” and “Home,” which are slated to be featured on his next studio release.

In addition, the recording captures a brief portion of McDonald’s personal testimony. During the live set, he recounts his dramatic journey from substance abuse and drug dealing to a life-changing encounter with Christ that compelled him to begin writing and performing music.

“When the record label came to me with the idea of doing a live project, I flipped because I feel like what I do is best done live,” said McDonald. “Performing live gives me an opportunity to connect with people on a real level, and the audience that night was unbelievable. It was great to be able to share the evening with so many of my friends and family members from home. The album closes with ‘Over The Rainbow,’ a song I’ve been doing in my concerts. I love the lyrics, and think it could be a song written about heaven.”

“Shawn is an artist whose live show is at the core of who he is musically,” said Sarah Richmond, director, artist development, EMI Christian Music Group. “There is an intensity and emotional quality to a Shawn McDonald concert that we really wanted to capture for not only Shawn’s fans, but for fans of great singer/songwriters and unique live experiences. We are really excited about Live In Seattle and believe it is a perfect companion to Shawn’s successful debut CD, Simply Nothing.”

Simply Nothing was the highest debut on Nielsen SoundScan’s Top Christian Albums chart the week of its release, and the critically-acclaimed project has received attention in The Seattle Times, Relevant magazine, CCM magazine and Christian Retailing, among other publications. CCM hailed the album as a “stunning pop/folk debut. Rarely does any artist’s first effort come out of the bin with as much inventiveness, honesty and raw emotion as McDonald’s…”

Listen for the album’s new single, “All I Need,” on Canadian Christian radio across the country.

Live In Seattle will be Christian retail stores (click here to find one near you) on April 26. McDonald’s new studio recording is slated for release in late 2005.