Why I'm Excited: Gungor
Martin Saunders is the Editor of Youthwork magazine, and so is a knowledgeable chap about contemporary Christian music. Here, he writes about Gungor, appearing this year as part of our Music programme…
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My day job means I spend a lot of my time listening to 'Christian' music. I'm a big fan of the genre of course, but with no disrespect meant, there is something of a tried-and-tested formula to the stuff which seems to stifle genuine creativity. Very occasionally, I come across an artist or act who didn't get the memo. Northern Ireland's Rend Collective Experiment are most definitely one; the soon-to-be-no-more David Crowder*Band another.
My new musical passion, however is Gungor. Yes, it sounds like the name of an Alien planet in Star Wars; it's actually the new incarnation of The Michael Gungor Band, which features the eponymous singer-songwriter, his wife, and two other people with non-sci-fi names. Michael has written and produced for the likes of Israel Houghton, but his own music is melodic, dynamic, surprising, and in the true sense, eclectic. Barely two of Gungor's songs sound the same – to listen to one of their albums is to take a fast-paced ramble through every conceivable musical genre. On record they're sensational – according to friends in the US, they're twice as good live. Lucky for us.
And before you see them, make sure you've watched the video of 'White Man' . Because thousands of us, singing along to THAT chorus at GB11, will be something very special to behold indeed.
