On the verge of releasing their sixth studio album, ANTHEM, the three Oklahoma brothers will embark on a world tour in support of the new disk. Set for release in early June, the band’s new sound is laced with arching melodies, epic guitar riffs and vibrant rhythms. ANTHEM emphasizes the power of music to induce a sense of unity among the world. “We have always been in awe of the ability music has to engage people, whether it’s a song that makes you want to dance, or a song that inspires you to take action for a cause. We want this record to be the anthem for all of those moments”, says Taylor.
Isaac, Taylor, and Zac are in their third decade of making music together, with their sudden claim to fame having come in 1997 with the release of their smash hit, ‘MMMBop’. With numerous hits and multiple Grammy noms under their belt, Hanson has achieved record sales of over 16 million.
Appearing with Hanson for their September 2 show in Bethlehem, will be Paul McDonald. Paul McDonald is an American singer-songwriter born in Auburn/Opelika and raised in Huntsville, Alabama.
In the spring of 2005, he and a few fellow Auburn students formed the band Hightide Blues. They began touring small clubs around the state of Alabama and throughout the southeast. After a limited edition self-titled EP Hightide Blues in 2007, the band released in 2008 a self-produced album, Love Come Easy, recorded in Nashville, Tenn.
Hightide Blues had many success, winning multiple awards including over 15 Top 10 placements, as well as reaching number 2 on Best of Pop for 2011 on Ourstage.com. From 2007 to 2010, the band continued touring around the country, performing with musicians such as the Zac Brown Band, Sarah Bareilles, and the Black Crowes, and playing such festivals as Bonnaroo, Hangout Festival, and Lynyrd Skynyrd Simple Man Cruise, to name a few.
In August 2010, after a band name change, the group's first album, entitled The Grand Magnolias, was released in 2011. The album reached number 12 on the Billboard charts due to Paul's top ten finish on American Idol.
Recently Paul has appeared on NBC’s “Parenthood” performing original songs and has recorded an EP of americana/folk duets with his wife Nikki Reed titled "The Best Part" that also landed them on Billboard charts. Their song “All I’ve Ever Needed” appeared as the end title song in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2” and is on the chart topping soundtrack album.