Sticky post
It’s a brilliant May summer’s day, one of those perfect English afternoons with blue skies and a Goldilocks temperature. Face Mask My face mask – an optional social accessory these days – is firmly fixed over my nose and mouth. While I’m no longer legally required to wear it in public, it’s ideal for the job at hand: gardening. I’m round the back, and I … Continue reading Like this? You’ll LOVE that!
Sticky post
Sometimes kicking back is absolutely the right thing to do… It might be just a tad too cold outside (don’t worry, summer’s on its way) or – in case you’re one of those really weird people that prefers the cold weather – I’ve got you covered (see what I did there..?) Whatever your story is, here are four classic UK Gospel tunes to mellow you … Continue reading 4 Retro UK Gospel Vibes to Mellow You Out (Part 2)
Sticky post
‘Summertime and the livin’ is easy…’ Today is a perfect UK summer’s day: the maximum temperature is a cinderella-optimum, entirely agreeable 15 degrees: not too hot and not too cold. So here are a few AfroPop tunes to turn up the heat just a little more and soundtrack a hopefully already perfect day. Sarah Teibo – Blessed This G Kid-produced track almost certainly needs no … Continue reading 5 UK Gospel AfroPop Songs to Soundtrack Your Day
Sometimes kicking back is absolutely the right thing to do… Perhaps you’re in the middle of a particularly stressful life moment – or maybe you’re badly in need of some time out from a decidedly knotty Rubik’s cube of a problem currently getting the better of you. Maybe you want to chill out just because (and: why not..?) Whatever your story, here are four classic … Continue reading 4 Retro UK Gospel Vibes to Mellow You Out
This series celebrates a contentious area of Christian music: the ‘non-evangelical’ output. Over the years we’ve sadly lost far too many hugely talented creatives to the wrong side of the unwritten, but oddly pervasive law – the one that suggests every sphere of Christian creative activity has to have an evangelical aspect to it. I’m sure you know it: it postulates all Christian songs need … Continue reading 5 Inspirational UK ‘Gospel’ Tracks You Have to Hear (Part 3)
The Essential UK Gospel Tracklist – October 2013
I won’t lie. I could blame a whole host of things for not posting an ‘Essential Tracklist’ in a while, but the truth is that I haven’t found much to excite me in 2013.
Some good stuff has come out this year but nothing grabbed me by the scruff of my neck, demanded my attention, forced me to drop everything I’m doing and get excited about UK Gospel music again.
Until now.
If I subscribed to conspiracy theories, my take would be that a whole bunch of UK artists decided to leave a whole lot of us UK gospel music fans waiting until the final third of the year before bringing it.
…And bring it they have. Even more exciting is the fact that – in addition to the (pretty much inevitable) stream of Street music that continues to bring a spark to the scene, there’s some intensely delicious Soul, RnB and Singer/Songwriter stuff surfacing.
Anyway here is, in no particular order, some of the music that’s getting me majorly excited at the moment Continue reading “The Essential UK Gospel Tracklist – October 2013”
So: it’s that time of the year again…
3-4 layers of insulated clothing is the norm (my default is 4). The dark days are longer, and my wearing a hoodie to bed isn’t a strange sight to my family.
The warm orange glow around the country (not to mention the heady, feel-good summer vibe of the Olympics) is a distant, taunting memory as we go about cold life in winter-grey UK.
‘Afrobeats’
2011 had already threatened what has now become known as the ‘Afrobeats’ movement, but 2012 was when the music actually broke into the mainstream. Inevitably, a lot of that is represented here.
For one last time before 2012 is over, break out your (real or imagined) sunglasses, winter barbecue, ice cream and sunscreen and enjoy some of the best UK Gospel Tropical tunes to bring the heat back into your life…
Continue reading “Top UK Gospel Sunshine Tunes to Warm Your Winter (Part 1)”
Happy New Year! First ‘Essential’ post of 2012. Sorry it took so long.
The short version: through the ‘Essential UK Gospel Tracklist’ series I’ll point you in the direction of UK gospel tracks I think are worth further exploration. Read the full background here.
In the meantime, the music for 2012 is looking rather good. Here – in no particular order – are a few you definitely need to check out.
Continue reading “The Essential UK Gospel Tracklist – March 2012”
(Picture: FreshFiber.com – Red iPhone 4 case)
Last Updated: 26 December 2011
I know we die-hard fans say this pretty much every year, but: 2011 was awesome for UK gospel music.
However, you don’t need a batch of rocket scientists to tell you that the very same thing considered the greatest asset of a predominantly independent scene – it’s very independence – is also usually its primary weakness.
Creativity in Major Vacuum
Somewhat ironically, that’s also a good thing because creative variety thrives in the selfsame vacuum created by the lack of major music companies promoting whatever they consider to be the latest music trend to bring in the big bucks – which in turn spawns countless bland clones looking to hit the big time.
The upshot is a scene that’s as varied as it has potential to be interesting, although there’s no getting away from the fact that it also makes some of the really good stuff hard to find.
Hopefully that’s where I come in.
Continue reading “The Best 2011 UK Gospel Tracks You Probably Never Heard”
It’ll be pretty obvious to anyone who cares to look that we’re in the middle of an amazing run of great new music in the UK at the moment
And that’s helped in no small part both by the mixtape culture of giving away free music, and the seemingly dwindling resistance to Christian artists writing songs to mainstream instrumental tracks. Continue reading “The Essential UK Gospel Tracklist – June 2011”
UKGospel.com 