Avalon grateful to praise God> Christian quartet part of ‘A’ Tour coming Saturday to Portland

Cleaning up for two straight years at the Dove Awards, and gaining five more nominations this year, could give the members of Avalon swelled heads. But that will never happen, according to one of the contemporary Christian quartet’s founding members, Janna Potter.

“We’re all pretty down-to-earth,” she said by phone from a tour stop in Abilene, Texas. “We don’t take things too seriously. We were all raised in church, and we all have families that keep us grounded.”

The “A” Tour, with co-headliners Avalon and Anointed, will pull into Portland on Saturday, April 1, for a 7 p.m. show at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Nichole Nordeman will open for the two groups.

Potter promises Mainers an evening of diversity.

“It makes for a really good dynamic [for concert-goers],” she said. “They’ll be seeing a performance by Nichole, who is an amazing singer-songwriter. Then there’s Anointed, who are great singers with a real passion for what they do, then us. There’s something there for everybody.”

The members of Avalon are grateful to have the chance to sing God’s praises.

“This is a talent God gave us to use for him,” Potter explained. “It’s a constant effort, to remind ourselves why we’re doing this. It’s a privilege and an honor to do this.”

Potter, a Baltimore native, was a pastor’s daughter who grew up listening to Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Regina Belle and Mahalia Jackson. After graduating from college, she spent a year and a half performing with the group Truth, where she met fellow Avalon founders Michael Passons and Jody McBrayer.

Nikki Hassman rounded out the group’s lineup when it began in 1995. She left in 1998 to pursue a solo career, with Cherie Paliotta taking her spot.

Things have really taken off for the Sparrow recording artists in the past two years. They’ve racked up a total of 11 No. 1 Christian adult contemporary songs, including “Testify to Love,” which set a record by remaining No. 1 for six consecutive weeks. They won three Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association last year, with two in 1998. Their current album, “In A Different Light,” debuted in the Top 100 of the Billboard album charts in its first week of release.

Potter chalks up the foursome’s success to divine intervention.

“Part of it is our two-guy, two-girl alignment, which wasn’t that common when we started,” she said. “Also we have an amazing team of people behind us. So those are definite strengths we had going for us. But the main thing is that this is what God had for us to do at this point and time.”

How has Avalon evolved over the past five years?

“Our sound has grown,” Potter said. “We’ve matured more in what we want to say. The last album is more personal about our relationship with God. Also the four of us have grown individually.”

More and more Christian artists are finding crossover success.

“The listening audience is broadening, which is a really, really good thing,” Potter said. “[Crossover success] has never been a goal of ours, something on our agenda. If we can keep our message the same, and gain listeners in the mainstream, we’re thrilled with that.”

The quartet has just finished up a Christmas album, and up next are several overseas trips this year.

“We want to keep doing this as long as we feel it’s what God has in store for us,” Potter said. “We want to continue to challenge the Christian listener. We want to be true to our calling. As long as the people are there, we will go.”

Tickets are available at the Civic Center box office and all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling 775-3458 or 775-3331.