for KING + COUNTRY Have One ‘Final Christmas Gift’ for Fans

Published: October 29, 2024

for KING + COUNTRY Have One ‘Final Christmas Gift’ for Fans

By Movieguide® Contributor

for KING + COUNTRY might be taking a break next year, but Joel Smallbone promises there are plenty of projects in the works — including the upcoming concert movie A DRUMMER BOY CHRISTMAS.

“We love touring,” Smallbone told Movieguide® about the band’s planned hiatus. “So much about touring is pouring out — you’re offering something to the audience and, don’t get me wrong, there’s something really beautiful about this exchange of them appreciating what you’re offering, but you’re not creating. You’re creating a moment, but you’re not creating a song or film.”

He shared that he and brother and bandmate Luke will be on a break, but that won’t stop them from creating new projects.

“This will be a very beautiful year to, yes, be grounded more at home, but to create more music,” Smallbone said, adding that they’re going to start making another movie next fall. “It’s sort of a pinch-yourself moment.”

He continued, “That’s our hope — when 2026 and beyond hits, that you’ve got a whole new version of us as a band.”

The Smallbones’ most recent movie, UNSUNG HERO, was a passion project for the brothers, as it told the story of their family’s move to America.

The Smallbones announced their hiatus in an October Instagram post, writing, “For the first time in 12 years, we’re coming off the road…we will be focusing on creating. Creating our next (and hopefully) very best album(s) for you and creating our next feature length film.”

“It is the honor of our lives to sing, write and make films for you,” the brothers concluded.

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for KING + COUNTRY has one more big project in the pipeline before they start their break — A DRUMMER BOY CHRISTMAS, a concert movie of their annual holiday tour of the same name.

“We were going on our final Christmas arena tour for the viable future, because of this break and whatnot,” Smallbone recalled. “It went to…the team and said, ‘Look, what if we take the film crew from UNSUNG HERO and we dropped them in the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas with 12,000 people for the last show? And we do this up close and personal, [a] front row seat concert experience?’”

He continued, “By the grace of God and thanks to Fathom, that’s what’s happened, and so December 5th through 9th, it’s kind of our final Christmas gift to our audiences, as far as touring is concerned.”

Fathom Events’ website describes the concert movie as “a festive phenomenon” that features “musical mastery, heartwarming storytelling, and dazzling production.”

“It’s beautiful,” Smallbone concluded. “It’s the Christmas story in all its glory.”