Our music review of BIG CHURCH DAY OUT, Wiston House, 24th-25th May 2014

For a brief moment some spectacularly heavy rain showers at the start of the sixth Big Church Day Out threatened to spoil what has become Britain's largest Christian music festival. But after early flooding problems with one entrance being temporarily closed, the threatened sea of mud didn't quite materialise and by Sunday sunshine ensured that the 20,000 attending this year's event, held in the beautiful grounds of West Sussex's Wiston House, had a hugely enjoyable experience of some of the world's finest music acts, heart-stirring worship, richly creative children's work and an atmosphere which more than any other event in decades showed that the multifarious parts of the British Church are able to demonstrate a unity in Christ. Cross Rhythms sent a small team of reporters to the two day festival.
Saturday 24th May
FOUR KORNERZ - Mainstage - 12 noon
Torrential
rain showers and mud were hardly the ideal start for any fest but
there was still a sizeable gathering made it Mainstage for the
London-based Afro funk veterans, now back on the scene after a lengthy
sabbatical. The sinuous rhythms of songs like "This Love Is Gold",
"Superstar", "Dance Floor" and their new single "Lean On My Shoulders"
were all received enthusiastically and their wiley blend of electro
pop-fused funk, laced with a tinge of Nigerian instrumental knowhow,
was a lively start to the festival with the crowd indicating their
approval of the four brothers' energy-driven performance.
Andrzej Iwanowski
DAUGHTERS OF DAVIS -
UCB Stage - 12.45pm
Two white girls, one playing
acoustic guitar and the other beating out some rhythms on a cajon, may
not have led you to expect sweet soul music but the Daughters from
Winchester are adept at bringing something powerfully invigorating to
the table. With a very earthy feel featuring their stridently
expressive voices, they gripped the smallish crowd prepared to stand
in the pouring rain to hear them and even overcame being interrupted
halfway through by a full marching traditional Scottish band. The duo
sang songs from their album 'To The Water'. If you're into acoustic
soul or if you simply want songs with a real emotional intensity, Fern
and Adrienne Davis definitely deliver.
Andrzej Iwanowski
MATT MAHER - Mainstage - 2.25pm
"We Welcome You
With Praise" rang out across the large Mainstage throng, enjoying some
much needed sunshine as well as the presence of God. In recent years
Matt has done more than any other worship leader in bridging the
divide between Catholic and Protestant Christians and this consummate
Canadian songsmith, now based in Arizona, accompanied by a full band,
was leading us in worship and judging from the visible responses I
could see it wasn't a difficult task. The third song featured some
enjoyable slide guitar from a band member while Matt's rendition of
his classic "Your Grace Is Enough" was intro'ed by a testimony
explaining how he was inspired to write it after reading about St
Paul's notorious "thorn in the flesh" and God's response. Matt
switched to keyboards for one song and by the time he got to "There Is
Power Here In This Hour" there was a rousing response from the
audience-cum-congregation. By the time the set closed with the
timeless "How Great Thou Art" it was clear that many were joining in
with Matt's worship.
Maxine Cummings
JAHMEME - Mainstage - 3.45pm
At least for the
foreseeable future it is likely that wherever the name Jahmene is
mentioned, it closely followed by the phrase "X Factor." It was clear
that the runner up to the 2012 TV talent search is now a highly
professional performer of modern pop soul and the songs he sang from
his Sony Music debut 'Love Never Fails' got an enthusiastic response,
particularly from the teenagers in the crowd. However, I felt that he
was trying too hard to show that he could hold the high notes while
the problem of some talent contest soul - where performers throw in so
many grace notes and octave leaps into a song that it becomes more
akin to a vocal technique exhibition rather than a meaningful
interpretation of a song - sometimes reared its head. Surprisingly
Jahmene also lacked a little stage presence. However, his covers and
renditions of some old classic gospel songs went down well.
Andrzej Iwanowski
TWELVE24 - UCB Stage - 3.45pm
Twelve24 have been
doing sterling work carrying on in the tradition of The Tribe to take
urban sounds evangelism into Britain's classrooms. This was the first
time I'd ever seen them and I wasn't disappointed. Ryan Griggs (from
Connecticut, USA) and Josh Green (Manchester) are both powerhouse
rappers with mesmeric flows while Christina Otoo-Anakwa (originally
from Ghana) has the kind of soul-stirring voice most TV talent search
entrants can only dream of. The trio sang songs from their 2013 free
album 'Tell The Truth' and exciting they were too. Right from the off
a healthy section of the crowd were prepared to respond to Ryan's
suggestion and "jump, jump, jump" though it being decidedly sticky
underfoot I declined the offer. Their mix of hip-hop, dubstep, R&B
and everything urban might not have seemed the most appropriate sounds
for the picturesque grounds of a stately home but with an urban artist
doing some impressive graffiti in dayglow turquoise next to the stage
any incongruity was soon forgotten as Josh roared out "you blew me
away like a hurricane." Near the close Josh gave a short testimony
about finding Christ in a police station and this skilled trio of
gospel communicators finished with a more acoustic groove "Tell The
Truth". All in all, very impressive.
Tony Cummings

THIRD DAY - Mainstage - 5.05pm
The
crowd was vast, the ground was soggy and the music from one of CCM's
longest running talents was exceptional. Kicking off with "Otherside",
it was instantly clear that Mac Powell's gritty, bluesy voice had lost
none of its vitality while the band, beautifully presented by a top
PA, had all the Southern rock swagger and, on slower songs, subtle
acoustic embellishments which make every line of their songs rich in
impact. On "Tunnel" with Mac on acoustic and Mark Lee providing some
electric licks complete with facial contortions was an entertaining
sight. By the time the band got to "Revelation" Scotty Wilbanks got
his moment in the spotlight with some dazzling, finger-flying keyboard
work. "Blessed Assurance" had the crowd singing along followed by
their powerful prayer for healing "Cry Out To Jesus". After that, Mac
related a story how, after a concert in New Jersey, the band were
approached by a couple whose son had been suffering from depression
and addiction. Determined to put an end to his life, the son had
driven to a remote forest where he planned to kill himself. Before he
did it, he wanted to play some music but found that the car CD player
was broken and that the car radio was picking up very few stations in
such a remote spot. Finally the young man found a station which he
could clearly hear. The song being played was Third Day's "Cry Out To
Jesus", which is exactly what the young man did. Using this tale of
deliverance, Matt and the band then went into a heartfelt rendition of
"I Need A Miracle". The band closed to huge applause with "Come
Together" which had everybody jumping. Rock music has seldom been as
moving.
Maxine Cummings
DIVINE DIVINE & TARA BROWN - UCB Stage -
5.45pm
Despite the billing in the programme, former X
Factor contestant Annastasia Baker didn't perform. But no matter,
there was enough vocal talent and soul power with Divine Divine
(Neresa Maye, David Balogun and Nadine Caesar) and London-born
singer/songwriter Tara Brown to carry the show before a smallish (100
or so) but appreciative crowd. Divine Divine have not exactly been in
the public eye since winning that much-hyped Time To Shine talent
search but in Neresa they have one of British gospel's outstanding
voices and performing tracks from their 'Edge Street' album, their's
was a classy performance. Tara was pretty good as well, offering some
worshipful tracks before Divine Divine joined her for a couple of
classic worship songs. Tara finished the show performing her single
"Bitter Pill" along with other tracks from her album 'Disappear
Imperfect'.
Andrzej Iwanowski
IONA -
UCB Tea Tent - 7.45pm
With the name UCB Tea Tent I was
expecting an intimate venue rather than the vast canvas arena a long
walk from Mainstage. At first there were one or two sound problems,
Joanne's strummed acoustic completely inaudible though that was hardly
surprising considering the maximum volume the soundman chose to give
us. By the second song though, with Dave Bainbridge playing some tasty
mandolin and Joanne's pristine voice soaring skyward before adding an
effective piano riff, all misgivings were forgotten. By the third song
with Martin Nolan's free flowing flute followed by some eerie uillean
pipes were locked into a sound that could only be described as Celtic
funk. It certainly affected the audience as all around the tent, men,
women and children were rising from their chairs to join the Lord of
the dance. The title track from 'Another Realm' was as hauntingly
emotive as ever as Joanne sang "A place of miracles and wonders/Is for
us if we dare to believe." The sense of God was clearly affecting the
place and during an expanded version of their song inspired by the
prayer of St Patrick I momentarily glanced at a man at the table next
to me, his hands raised in worship. More musical and mystical delights
followed. Frank van Essen sat at his drum kit as he played "Ruach"
(the Hebrew word for breath), an achingly lovely violin instrumental
and as the band moved into "Divine Presence" Joanne's angelic voice
perfectly captured the tangible mood of reverence as she sang, "But
deep within my soul, Your Spirit speaks/With words that I could never
find." On "The Island" Joanne denounced the spirit of this age
("Break the chains on this land/Free the spirit of man") complete with
hand gestures indicating breaking free. The long 75 minute set seemed
to pass in a moment but there was still time for a careering Celtic
jam with Martin Nolan showing he is a world class piper so that half
the audience took to their feet to dance exuberant jigs and reels
around the plastic tables. Call it prog, call it Celtic, call in jazz
fusion, call it wonderful.
Tony Cummings
REND COLLECTIVE - Mainstage - 7.45pm
In
seemingly no time at all the fivesome from Bangor, Northern Ireland
have become Britain's most popular ministry band and the huge throng
gathered at Mainstage were there to acknowledge their heroes as well
as worship God in a manner which was a cross between a
hands-in-the-air worship service and a ceilidh. Mainly centring on
songs from 'The Art Of Celebration', the sheer joy they communicate is
utterly infectious while their wiley blend of Irish folk, rock bombast
and driving rhythms not only got the crowd up and moving from the
first song, it kept them there throughout.
Andrzej
Iwanowski
WORSHIP CENTRAL - Mainstage - 9.10pm
It takes a
determined crowd of worshippers to stand in pouring rain to bring
their voices in praise of the living God, but a large crowd did just
that as Tim Hughes, Luke Hellebronth and the other members of the
Worship Central team played on. As the evening darkened and the
effective light show in various shades of blue brought atmosphere to
the line of musicians strung across the stage the songs that rung out,
many from the pens of Hughes and Hellebronth, gave a spirit-stirring
close to a wonderfully uplifting day at the festival.
Andrzej
Iwanowski
NEWWORLDSON - UCB Tea Tent - 10.30pm
Canada's
Newworldson have come back for a third BCDO and have already built
quite a following and with their charismatic frontman Joel Parisien
dressed in a dapper suit and hat they soon got feet tapping under the
plastic tables in the Tea Tent. Their approach to songwriting is
distinctly old school laced with a fair amount of funk and thanks to
some fine tenor sax blowing, some fiery jazz and most of the packed
crowd had soon left their tables to dance to the music. Most of the
songs came from their albums 'Salvation Station' and 'Newworldson' and
the good time vibes they engendered ensured that the crowd went off to
their tents in a happy mood.
Andrzej Iwanowski
Sunday 25th May
GUVNA B - Mainstage - 12 noon
The MOBO-winning
emcee's blend of old school hip and contemporary modern tracks wowed
the crowd and the throng down the front were soon jumping and gyrating
like they were in a Brixton nightclub. The Guvna knows how to work an
audience and they responded excitedly as he performed tracks from his
hot album 'Odd1Out'. Excitement reached its peak on "Send A Wave"
which with its mesmerising flows and driving groove showed exactly why
Guvna B is today one of Britain's best rappers, Christian or
non-Christian.
Andrzej Iwanowski

WE ARE LIONS - UCB Stage - 12.45pm
Among the 200 odd festival goers who gathered before UCB's small
stage few could have heard of We Are Lions though if the programme had
explained that the Seaford-based band was fronted by Tom Logan of the
gone-but-not-forgotten Tom & Olly no doubt the audience would have
been bigger. As it was, Tom was embarrassingly described by the UCB
compere as "devilishly handsome." Their opener, "Light A Fire", shot
off staccato drums from Jack Greenwood, ably assisted by Jake White on
a single snare plus a fine bass guitar line from Dave Harding - check
out the Youtube video. "Winter Come" echoed Jesus' promise of a
heavenly mansion with "You build a house for me, that no one else can
see" with a very useful electric guitar opening line from Oli White. A
lyrical highlight was "Little Love" - 'A little love can save a soul
from a breaking wave' and the resolute 'I'm never giving up.' There
was a great Harding-White vocal duet on a re-vamped "Be Thou My
Vision" before "Lifted" - "I'm a little bit lifted, I'm a little bit
light," led by Tom on acoustic guitar, driven by Greenwood's
percussion and featuring some good four voice harmonies. Finally,
Logan led on "Home" to a resonating crowd dancing and hand-clapping -
"Hey, hallelujah, me and you are home." Astonishingly, this was We Are
Lions' first ever gig. Many more will surely follow.
Dr A T
Bradford
UNITED PURSUIT BAND - Mainstage - 1.10pm
It was
a shame that Michael Ketterer, the featured singer and songwriter on
the collective from Knoxville, Tennessee, wasn't able to come to this
BCDO particularly as his performances are featured so heavily on the
band's last album 'The Wild Inside'. But no one could question that
the musicians who did perform on Mainstage are top rate and able to
bring an eclectic mix of sounds and influences to their worship music
and the crowd were soon responding by entering into worship. All in
all, a professional performance playing songs off their albums.
Andrzej Iwanowski
We Reconciliation DJs have played at CRE, Croydon Jazz & Blues Festival, Croydon Churches big outreach events and many others.
If you're doing a Bigchurchdayout in 2015, how about us doing a set?
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