Repaving Tenth Avenue North

When Tenth Avenue North played their final show in 2020, it felt like the closing of a beloved chapter in contemporary Christian music. After two decades of writing, touring, and transforming hearts with worshipful storytelling, it was hard to imagine the band without the familiar faces we’d grown to love. But as we’ve learned time and again, it’s the music and the message that matters.

Now, in 2025, Tenth Avenue North is officially back. And while frontman Mike Donehey is the only returning member from the band’s original lineup, what’s being built here is no mere continuation—it’s a fresh beginning. With brand new members, a brand new record (Learning to Trust), and a reinvigorated creative spirit, this new era of Tenth Avenue North feels just as vital and Spirit-led as ever. “I feel like it’s better than ever,” Mike told me. “It feels like God saying, ‘Yes, this is the way. Walk in it.’”

Reviving the Tenth Avenue North name wasn’t something Mike took lightly. After stepping away from touring to focus on his family, he thought the band had run its course. “My wife had me home for four years and said, ‘I’m ready for you to be back out on the road a little bit,’” he explained. “And then my old bandmates said, ‘We’re totally cool if you want to bring the band back.’ In fact, they were like, ‘Why haven’t you?’” The push didn’t just come from his family or former bandmates—it came from mentors, artists, and what Mike calls divine appointments. “I said, I feel like I need God Himself to drop certain people into this,” he said. “Then came Thomas and Monty and Payden, all in their own ways. It felt like God was going, ‘Here you go.’”

For Thomas, the opportunity came with a sense of deep respect for what came before. “We really want to honor and respect what the listenership has heard before,” he said. “But at the same time, we know that this is kind of a new movement for Tenth… so we’re bringing ourselves into it.” Monty agreed, adding, “I felt the weight of the decision—what it means to carry the legacy of this band… Mike has been really generous and like, ‘No, I want you to bring who you are.’” That balance of honoring the past while boldly stepping into the future has created a rare creative chemistry among the band.

Payden, who not only handles drums but also helps manage their social presence, sees this season as both grounded and exciting. “For me it’s just a really cool perspective because it’s a direct way for us to connect with fans… old fans, new fans, and some people that don’t even know who we are.” He adds, “Our friend Caleb Chapman said it best when he was at the show, he said, your stories are trophies… just being able to read comments and messages from people who say these songs pulled them out of dark places or even saved their lives—that’s powerful.”

The band’s new album, Learning to Trust, is filled with moments just like that. It’s deeply personal—written out of real struggles, late-night prayers, and years of growth. One standout track was written for Mike’s daughter, who was walking through a season of panic attacks. “I play her the song and the bridge says, ‘When you’re overwhelmed, I have overcome.’ And I catch her folding laundry, singing it to herself. And I just go, this is it. This is why I started writing songs.” Another pivotal track, the title song “Learning to Trust,” was written during a heavy time for someone close to the band. “We wrote it for a friend of my wife who had just lost her father,” Mike said. “We just wanted to give her something she could sing.”

Even that song, though now the centerpiece of the album, wasn’t immediately embraced by everyone. “The first time I heard it, I struggled with this song,” Monty admitted. “I wasn’t there. I didn’t want to hear that message… but the more I heard that song, the more I saw people react… and it changed me.” Payden added, “It’s also the song we ended up naming the album after.” And the first time they played it live? “Standing ovation,” Mike said.

That depth and emotional honesty has always been part of Tenth Avenue North’s DNA, but the collaboration now feels like a true band effort. “Everyone produces on their own,” Mike said. “I would open a song that we had worked on, and the next day there’s ten new elements that I hadn’t heard before. It’s been invigorating.” Monty agreed: “We’ve all made music separately… but now we’re all bringing that together. And it’s so hard to decide on things because there’s so much creativity.”

The band’s mission is unchanged, even if the methods are. “That’s the question I always get: ‘When are you going to quit music and be a pastor?’” Mike laughed. “And I go, ‘Well, how about I just be a pastor through music?’” That includes embracing platforms like social media, something Mike originally resisted. “You’re so worried about gaining more followers instead of serving the followers you have,” he said. “And then as soon as the words came out my mouth—I realized, oh no, that’s me.”

Even Monty said his view has shifted. “I didn’t used to think about social media as a creative way of connection, but I feel like I’ve been learning a lot from Payden… it’s just another way to be creative.” The joy they have for making music, connecting with people, and doing ministry together is evident—and contagious. As Payden put it, “It’s also a way for people to connect with us.”

The album features some incredible guests, including Natalie Layne, Rend Collective, Land of Color, Leanna Crawford, and more. And not all the moments were planned. “We wrote a song with Natalie backstage one night and shot the music video right there on stage after soundcheck,” Payden said with a laugh.

As they look to the future, they’re heading into a packed summer schedule with stops across the U.S. and even international dates already on the books. If you’ve ever loved a Tenth Avenue North song, you’ll find something familiar here. But don’t expect a carbon copy of the past. What’s happening now is new. It’s inspired. And it’s rooted in the same unwavering faith that started it all. “We’re a new band,” Mike said, “that just happens to have an old catalog that people love.”

The new album, “Learning to Trust,” drops May 30 on all streaming platforms. For tour dates and more, visit tenthavenuenorth.com.

CCM Exclusive:
Running with You in the Dark Acoustic Live

CCM Exclusive:
Control Acoustic Live

 

Behind the Song:
Running with You in the Dark