Collective Soul Plans New CD and DVD Sets in 2005 to Be Released on El Music Group

INTIMATE ACOUSTIC COLLECTION "FROM THE GROUND UP" TO BE RELEASED APRIL 26

BAND ANNOUNCES TWO CONCERT DATES WITH ATLANTA YOUTH SYMPHONY APRIL 23 & 24 CONCERTS TO BE FILMED AND RECORDED FOR CD AND DVD RELEASES THIS FALL

Hot on the heels of their second single, "Better Now," from the critically acclaimed album "Youth," Collective Soul has announced two new 2005 releases. The first is an intimate 8-track acoustic collection titled "From the Ground Up" to be released via the bands newly formed El Music Group label on April 26. The band also announced they will perform and record two live shows with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra on Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24 in Atlanta, GA at the Woodruff Arts Center. Titled "Collective Soul 'Home' with the Atlanta Youth Symphony," a DVD and CD of this event will be released this fall. Portions of the proceeds will benefit the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra.

The concerts, to be filmed by renowned Director/Producer Pierre Lamoureux (The Who, Alanis Morissette, Willie Nelson), will be taped in high definition for the "Home" DVD. Subsequent releases stemming from these recordings include a 2-CD collection and a box set that will include both the live CD's and DVD with a bonus DVD highlighted by interviews, a "making of..." and added bonus features. The box set will also feature extensive liner notes and exclusive packaging.

"The initial idea developed as a unique opportunity between us and the Atlanta Symphony," says Ed Roland. "During discussions about the project, we learned that Atlanta houses one of the top 3 youth symphonies in the country and with our new record appropriately titled "Youth," the idea transitioned naturally."

Tickets for the shows will be made available Friday, March 4 via an internet pre-sale, for fan club members and symphony patrons. Tickets go on-sale to the general public Friday, March 11.

"From the Ground Up" (El Music Group), release date April 26, track listing:

1. Compliment
2. Youth
3. December
4. Perfect to Stay
5. Under Heaven's Skies
6. She Said
7. Counting the Days
8. Satellite

COLLECTIVE SOUL TOUR ITINERARY:

Date, Venue, City, State

March 1, Fat Cat, Modesto, CA

March 2, The Boardwalk, Orangevale, CA

March 15, Monkey Business, Hilton Head, SC

March 19, Downtown Five Points, Columbia, SC

March 25, Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA

March 26, Wild Adventures Park, Valdosta, GA

April 2, Tempe Beach Park Amphitheatre, Tempe, AZ

April 10, Liacouris Center, Philadelphia, PA

April 11, Rechter Theater, Baltimore, MD

April 12, The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY

April 14, Northern Lights Club, Clifton Park, NJ

April 15, Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ

April 16, Webster Theatre, Hartford, CT

April 23, Atlanta Youth Symphony, Atlanta, GA

April 24, Atlanta Youth Symphony, Atlanta, GA

For up-to-date information, please visit: www.collectivesoul.com.

About Collective Soul

Collective Soul brothers Ed Roland (Vocals/Guitars/Keyboards) and Dean Roland (Guitar) along with Will Turpin (Bass/Percussion), Shane Evans (Drums/Percussion) and newly recruited guitar player Joel Kosche are back in full force with their new El Music Group release "Youth." "Better Now," the second single off the album is impacting radio and currently featured in Wes Craven's new film "Cursed." The band has performed the song on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Formed in 1994, Collective Soul had 19 singles reach the Billboard charts in just seven years.

About the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra

Founded in 1974 and now celebrating its 30th anniversary season, the ASYO is one of the premiere youth orchestras in the country. Over 400 students audition each year for one of 120 orchestra slots and the opportunity for one-on-one coaching and mentoring with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.. The ASYO was featured as part of Atlanta's successful bid for the 1996 Olympic Games and recently performed in Berlin with the city's Landesjungendorchester Graduates of the ASYO have gone to attend prestigious conservatories like the Curtis Institute of Music, the Eastman School of Music, the Julliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory and the Peabody Institute. Four current ASO musicians--Mark Hughes, Chris Martin, Chris Pulgram and Sou Chun Su--were all members of the ASYO.

About the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

As the largest orchestra in the Southeastern United States, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is also one of the youngest American orchestras to achieve international prominence. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is led by its innovative creative team of Music Director Robert Spano and Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles. Now in its 60th season, the ASO performs a year-round slate of more than 250 concerts annually, including a 72-concert classical season and related series at Atlanta Symphony Hall, an annual summer pops series at Chastain Park Amphitheater, and a full schedule of educational, neighborhood and Free Parks concerts throughout the City of Atlanta.

About the Woodruff Arts Center

The largest center in the United States for the performing arts and visual arts, the Woodruff Arts Center opened in 1968 with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the High Museum of Art and Atlanta College of Art as founding members. The Alliance Theater was added in 1970 and Young Audiences of Atlanta in 2005. This unique combination of major institutions now draws more than one million visitors each year to the Woodruff Arts Center, provides educational programs to more than 1.2 million children annually and allows the Woodruff to be the only performing arts center in the United States to have an independent credit rating.