Celebrating The Reason For The Season With for King & Country

A Drummer Boy Christmas Tour Stops at Greensboro Coliseum

One of the biggest and most anticipated tours of the holiday season recently made a stop in Greensboro with for King & Country bringing A Drummer Boy Christmas to the Carolinas. The Christian pop duo of Joel and Luke Smallbone has been rising in popularity since 2014’s Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. album and their 2018 release Burn The Ships. The band has been nominated for and won numerous industry awards and accolades over the years including Billboard Music Awards, Grammy Awards, and GMA Dove Awards. In 2020, for King & Country released their first Christmas album, A Drummer Boy Christmas, which was a stand-out with powerful, emotional performances and a magnificent live show. The band has recently toured the US in support of their most recent record What Are We Waiting For? and is currently out on the road bringing their very special holiday album to life in front of audiences everywhere.

In addition to creating top-notch songs that really hit home, for King & Country is known for a live show that is simply like no other. So, when I heard the announcement that they were heading to Greensboro for the A Drummer Boy Christmas show, I knew I had to experience it.

As I arrived at the venue, fans were eagerly lined up in the lobby waiting for the doors to open. The energy level was absolutely buzzing in anticipation of what everyone knew would be a fabulous show. Since it was only two weeks before Christmas, people were definitely in the holiday spirit which would only grow stronger as the show began.

There was no opening act for this tour so we were treated to two amazing sets by for King & Country. As the venue lights dimmed, a countdown clock appeared at the rear of the stage as we waited for the big moment to arrive. The band appeared and we were off! After opening the set with a cover of “In The Bleak Midwinter,” we were soon celebrating “Joy to the World.” The stage had a giant lighting rig that shone down in a definite heavenly way and there were two catwalks that ran out to a small stage midway on the floor of the arena. Above, the small stage was a platform ensconced in beautiful Christmas lights, almost like a chandelier, that rose up and down at varying times throughout the evening. Confetti cannons shot off from the catwalk with epic amounts of confetti as brothers Luke and Joel made their way down to the smaller stage.

From this vantage point, we were treated to absolutely breathtaking visuals with a large disco ball coming down and shining across the arena in tiny points of light. The first half of the show was a mix of both traditional Christmas carols and for King & Country originals. Both Joel and Luke sounded amazing with their vocals soaring far and wide as did the band which is made up of world-class musicians that helped create a sonic experience like no other. There were of course plenty of drums with Luke strapping on a drum at different times and fans wouldn’t have it any other way. Joel even hopped off the catwalk stage to circle the floor of the arena towards the back and waved to fans. One lucky fan near me tossed a letter down to Joel which he caught and tucked into his coat for later. One of my first tear-filled moments of the evening occurred during “Unsung Hero” as members of the band were raised onto the platform and Joel dedicated the song to all the mums in the audience. It’s been a few years since I lost my mom to cancer and the feelings hit hard right then and there as I let the tears freefall down my cheeks. The first half of the show wrapped up back on the main stage with a moving version of “Burn The Ships” and “Together” as fans waved their arms back and forth in unison with the music. It was also a special occasion for a member of the Smallbone family as both Luke and Joel came on stage with Luke’s son Pheonix and led the audience in a Happy Birthday sing-along. I have to say that if the show ended right then and there, I would have been fully satisfied but there was much more to come.

During the set break, Luke came out to address the audience and promote Compassion International, an organization that helps support children living in poverty. Luke told tales of his own childhood when his family first immigrated to the United States from Australia and how the community helped them when they were experiencing hard times of their own. Volunteers walked about the venue signing people up to sponsor a child of their own and quite a few people made a commitment to helping change a life that night.

The second half of the show was just as spectacular as the first as the Smallbone brothers appeared in lighted elevator-like cages that rose up and down on the main stage for “Relate” before the audience on the floor became coated with confetti during “Fix My Eyes.” Joel led the audience through a sing-along on “Loe Me Like I Am” as they came back out onto the catwalk again. The platform rose up high for an elegant rendition of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” with the lights coming down over them like a giant canopy. My emotions were hovering on the brink yet again and I decided I would simply go with them as everyone began an acapella version of “Silent Night” backed with a simple violin. Yet again the tears flowed as I looked around and the arena was lit up with cellphones everywhere. As the rest of the band kicked in, the disco ball appeared above them shining lights that spun around the whole coliseum. It was breathtakingly beautiful and when they got to the next verse and Joel sang the lyrics “Jesus Lord at they birth” I was gleefully weeping like a baby as I thought again about my mom and how much she would have loved this.

Thankfully after this, I was able to compose myself a bit as the band ran through original songs again before it came time for the moment we all were waiting for. Joel made an appearance on the catwalk talking to the audience a bit about God as snow fell down around him, asking Greensboro to come together and celebrate the greatest news that this world has ever known. The focus shifted back to the main stage as Luke was high in the lighted cage playing his drum as the lights flashed and the rest of the band appeared. Joel made his way into the other cage playing his own drum as the lighting rig above circled around them. Joel then asked, “Shall we play our drums for you Greensboro?” and the audience erupted in applause and cheers. Yes, it was time for “The Little Drummer Boy” and it was beyond spectacular as we all rum-pum-pum-pum’ed along with them. Joel would beat the bass drum on the stage while Luke paraded down the catwalk with his drum. They both came together in the middle of the main stage for a final drum salute as the lights danced around them one final time. Wow!

And still, this amazing show was not over yet! for King & Country had one more surprise as they came out for “Joy” which had everyone on their feet with spectacular lights as the brothers made their way back to the catwalk stage for the final “Joy!” as everyone sang along and more confetti flew. It was a joyful ending to an evening filled with all the joys of the season.

A Drummer Boy Christmas was everything I hope for and more. If you get the chance to experience this for yourself, please do. It truly is an event that encapsulates the very best of this holiday season. Remember the reason for the season. Be kind to each other and have a very, Merry Christmas!