Continuing our series where we visit cities across Britain to discover what is happening on the Christian music scene; Mike Rimmer went back to his place of birth to bring us this report on Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Sheila Hamilton
Style: Easy Listening/Roots
Background: Sheila began playing guitar and singing as a kid and at college sang with a trio in the folk scene. In the '80s she joined United Folk (CD The Best Of United Folk1 in 1998). The band were together for about 20 years. Facts When Sheila entered church ministry she recorded her own songs on two CDs 'Giving It All To You1 (1992) and 'Called To Serve1 (1995). She's also written children's musicals and is looking for a way to get these particular musicals into as many schools as possible for free.
About Their Ministry: "The only singing I do now is when I'm invited as speaker at certain venues, but I have many more plans when I take early retirement from school in July. I'd also like to do a revival of ancient hymns CD."

Roly Johnson
Style: Folk/Rock/Roots with a dash of gospel!
Background: Roly worked in the local music scene as a solo artist, songwriter and with a variety of bands before becoming a Christian in the mid '80s. He then started writing songs about his faith and working with local churches performing concerts and leading worship.
Facts: Roly recorded a cassette single 'Heaven Isn't Far' (1989) and a cassette album 'Blue Skies Dark Nights' (1990). His Chapel Lane recorded album Travelling Light' was released in1998. Roly has worked with an evangelist in the former Soviet Union, playing concerts and seeing many people become Christians. He claims he manages to get more gigs outside of the country than in his home town! Currently he says he is "surviving and writing and learning... always learning!" He has recently begun work on recording a new CD.
About His Ministry: "I try to communicate something of Jesus through my work...to follow his call upon my life."

Dependance

Jane Kitson
Style: Acoustic/Singer/songwriter
Background: The daughter of a local preacher, Jane would sing at services where her mother preached and began writing songs as a teenager. She began worship leading at 16 and continued performing at university. Back in Newcastle, Jane was in the original line up of YFriday but left the band to pursue solo work before the band recorded their first album.
Facts: At the moment she's mainly leading worship at church events, but also doing some "performing" as well. She recorded a CD in 1993 called 'So Much Left To Say' and then worked with Yfriday so didn't record again. Jane is currently working on putting together another release and has recorded some of her songs for the God Digital.
About Her Ministry: "I'm an evangelist at heart and want to show a bit of Jesus to people, whether that's helping to draw them in close through worship or giving them one or two soundbites to think about from a gig."

Julie Lord
Style: Jazz/Blues
Background: Julie Lord is originally from Essex. She's played music since she was 16, including a stint as lead vocalist with the band Crossfire. Relocating to the North East, she fronted CCM band Heart & Soul (EP 'Forbidden Fruit' 1993) after which Julie went solo, playing mainstream gigs. She recorded a CD of cover versions, 'Diamond Nights' in 1997.
Facts:Julie has been writing songs for as long as she can remember. Lyrically, she deliberately set out to cross the divide between out and out Christian material and the mainstream. Her debut solo album
'Lifetime' was released on the New Dawn record label.
About Her Ministry: "I see my niche definitely in the pre-evangelistic, entertainment area of church life, and more with the 'adults', ie, 20+. It's beginning to become more Christian orientated and I'm open to what God is leading me into. For instance, I have just done a very successful gig for an Outreach dinner with the FGBMFI, where I had to speak more than I would normally."

Paul Lucas
Style: Roots
Background: Saved at Mission England in 1984, Paul was already involved in the local folk scene. During the next few years he became a local preacher and found an outlet for music alongside preaching.
Facts: In 1992 Paul recorded 'Wind Of The Spirit'. Still working as a self employed tree surgeon, he formed a pub band called The Tree Surgeons, doing roots music. When that finished, he joined up with a local ceilidh dance band The Last Straw which later split. Paul is currently working on more devotional material; he's also a part time student at St John's, Durham.
About His Ministry: "I still play mostly as a 'one man' worship leader in church, often in situations where folk are somewhat ambivalent to contemporary worship, so it tends to feature songs that lead into prayer and intercession and some traditional hymns given unconventional treatment. I sang a few of these songs at Greenbelt last summer on one of the side stages which was a pretty good experience."

Paul Oliver
Style: Rock
Background: Paul has been playing guitar for nearly 15 years and has been part of his church band for a decade. The mid 1990s saw him leading and playing in worship at church as well as visiting other churches in the local area. He was also a member of a Christian band called Foot.
Facts: Now working solo and focusing on production. Paul's albums include Beauty For Ashes' (1998), The Debt Is Paid' (1999) and 'Serenity' (2001). He is currently working on a new CD called 'Found' due this year.
About His Ministry: "I am now an elder in my church, responsible for worship and Care Groups. I am greatly honoured to be chosen to serve the Lord in this way. I am glad to lead people in worship and minister to people in my role. I continue to visit other churches to lead worship or perform at services and events."

Gilian Gartry

Rif
Style: Pop/Rock
Line Up: Nathan Billings (vocals, acoustic guitar), Jessica Merrick (electric guitar), Thomas Glen (keyboards, programming), Katy Galloway (bass), Matthew Glen (drums)
Background: RIF began in 1997 as a youth worship band. Developing their own material, they graduated to doing both worship and performance gigs, playing at many local and regional events including Re:vive, SNX and Powerzone. They have also played as a worship band leading meetings at Stoneleigh International Bible Week for the last two years.
Facts: In 1999 they recorded an EP called 'Fast Forward'. Their latest album is 'Dying To Live' (2001), the culmination of over a year of writing and recording, reflecting a new maturity in the band's songwriting and playing. RIF are currently recording demos for the next album and negotiating summer festival appearances.
About Their Ministry: Thomas Glen: "As a band we have a strong desire to see youth on fire for God. Our heart is to see God's word spread through our music and to influence the culture in which we live."

Peter Ryder
Style: Roots/Acoustic
Background: Peter Ryder writes his own songs and describes himself as "bobbing around the very bottom of the local folk scene for around quarter of a century." He's a regular Greenbelt fringe performer.
Facts: His recent CDs are 'Feast Of Fools' (1999) and the double 'Upwards Sideways' collection ('Crystal Stream' and 'Gravity') (2001).
About His Ministry: The M word, what does it really mean? I help with worship in our fellowship most Sundays, but most of my music is 'without' the church, in local folk clubs, etc. I seem to get a lot more interest/support from friends outside than inside the local church, which puzzles me a bit. I have long given up trying to be famous, but cannot help writing songs; have been supporting a local rock band (the Sonjas) at a few pub gigs over the last month or so."

Saintz
Style: Rock/Pop
Line Up: Eddy Nixon (vocals), Catherine Ridgwick (vocals), David Newton (guitar), Andrew Ridgwick (keyboards) Background: Formed in 1992 when Eddy Nixon and Andrew Ridgwick brought together and produced their first Christian musical. In the process the band Saintz was formed and more musicians were added as the band developed. Having spent a time playing the pub circuit, more recently they have returned to their Christian roots, performing their own material. In 1994 Saintz recorded a tape, 'Get Up And Go', a musical based on the book of Jonah. They recorded their debut album of all original material, 'One Way', in 2001. The band are currently playing regular church events, writing new songs for a second album due in 2002 and planning a tour.
About Their Ministry: David Newton: "Saintz are ecumenical in both their makeup and outlook. We look upon our gigs as not only a night of entertainment, but as an act of praise, worship and witness."

Brenda Sokell
Style: Jazz
Background: Brenda didn't start singing seriously until 1990, however prior to that she was leading worship in church and performing at occasional events. Recently she has developed a clearer focus about her musical direction.
Facts: Brenda doesn't have any commercially released albums yet, although she has made demo versions of her work occasionally. She plans to make another demo in the future, mainly to generate work and to let people know what she can do.
About Her Ministry: "I feel my main calling is to secular venues and audiences, performing in clubs, restaurants and private functions, where I can communicate through quality music in a relaxed atmosphere. I feel there is a great opportunity with my style in the Alpha course context, where quality entertainment enables people to relax and 'experience' the Gospel, not just hear the words. I am currently working at a city centre restaurant two evenings a week with a keyboard player. I consider this to be my ministry."

Gideon's Answer

Titus
Style: Contemporary Rock/ Pop
Line Up: Pak Chum (lead vocals, bass), Matthew Ng (vocals, guitar), Paul Fung (drums)
Background: In 1998 the band started to play in their youth group and lead worship in their church. They have also played in various youth worship events.and conferences nationally and regionally.
Facts: In 2001 the band signed a management deal with E247 and recorded a debut EP 'The Ground Had Shook'. They are currently writing new songs for a future new demo and designing a new layout for our current web page. Titus are also in the process of joining a ministry called Compassion.
About Their Ministry: Matthew Ng: "We want to reach out to youth and young adults to draw them closer to God, show them he is real and he is awesome. We want to encourage the youth and this generation were living in, to worship God with all their hearts!"

Yfriday
Pop/Rock worship
Line Up: Ken Riley (vocals, guitars), Gav Richards (keyboards, BVs), Danny Smith (bass, BVs), Dez Minto (drums, BVs)
Background: Originally formed as the worship band for YFriday, the YFC organised youth event in Newcastle. Beginning with a group of 60 people joining them each month, the band grew in stature as the event grew.
The NE: ONE event in the Newcastle Arena at the beginning of 2001 was the peak of their impact so far. Another event is planned for 2003.
Facts: The band took their name from the event, which renamed itself IXth Hour, and recorded a self financed independent CD, 'Rainmaker' (1999) which was released by Survivor when the band signed to that label. The release of 'Open' (2001) and the subsequent single release of "Head Over Heels" has raised the band's profile in the UK. Invitations to the major festivals and a tour with Noel Richards have all served to alert fans of modern worship that YFriday are a band with a future. Another single is planned for release in 2002.
About Their Ministry: Ken Riley: What we do is gig worship, it's very evangelistic and we're aiming to get worship into the mainstream and impact people. It's a ministry that's constantly developing and people are definitely meeting with God, being healed and becoming Christians."

Shops

CLC
Location: Higham Place, Newcastle CLC
Owner: CLC
Facts: Established in 1973, the shop carries approximately 500 titles in its music department. Big sellers are Celtic music, Delirious?, Soul Survivor, Kingsway's Worship Experience and Yfriday. The shop also has a videopost which is popular. Tickets for local events are normally available at the shop and they also want to encourage local bands by stocking their CDs.
About The Ministry: Paul Berry (manager): "We're here as a resource for people. We try to stock good quality literature that you can't get elsewhere. We have a lot of local people committed to using the shop and we build up relationships with customers and get them what they need. We try to support local events and want to be of assistance."