Bandstand - Kari Jobe

Introducing Kari Jobe. She knew at the age of 10 that she would be a worship leader. She was raised in a Christian home with a father who was a travelling minister and a mother who enjoyed playing worship music throughout the house. She recalls the constant calling of worship: “I remember hearing a worship song that applied perfectly to a family that I knew and I knew that I wanted to write songs like that, for hurting people, songs that someone could speak to the Lord when they can’t find the words.”

Throughout school and college she followed the path that God was building in front of her as she lead worship in various different places. She was hired as a worship pastor at her home church and eventually released her first album, her self titled debut in 2009. 

Speaking of her song 'You Are for Me' "There are times you are so broken that all you can do is sing over yourself with words like, ‘God is for me.’ But I believe it is one song that people can use to remember that God is for us, so who can be against us. 

Kari Jobe's worship teaching always brings people back to Jesus. "Music becomes a way to minister to people in times of trouble, to lead them to the feet of Jesus who can bring peace, life, hope and healing.” 

Check out her Youtube channel here and embrace her wonderful music.

Bandstand - Sidewalk Prophets

Introducing Sidewalk Prophets. Not a new band by any means, they've been around and paid their dues for a long while. Hailing from Indiana, they put themselves on the music world's map indefinitely with 2009's release entitled These Simple Truths. The album contains the single The Words I Would Say which has this year been featured on Wow Hits 2011.

Even though they've been around since 2003, they won the 2010 Dove Award for New Artist of the Year. They have shared stages with Newsboys, MercyMe, Third Day and Jeremy Camp and their following is ever growing.

“We love performing,” Dave Frey says simply and you get the impression that is the simple truth. “But we also love the people we perform for,” he adds, injecting a layer of complexity to the equation. Integrating worship with real life - that is one of the simple truths Sidewalk Prophets has learned to live by.


Follow the band on twitter @swprophets

Bandstand - The Gentlemen

From Sheffield, The Gentlemen are 'made up by brothers Joel and Josh Cana - who make up the rhythm and bass sections respectively, Sean Walsh on guitar and 'enigmatic, wizard-like lead singer' Nicholas Noble, who's as comfortable singing and breakdancing around the stage as he is on guitar or keys.'

Sir Terry Wogan himself played their debut single to his massive Radio 2 audience and ever since they have be striving for success. But as they strive is there a danger they have to push aside their Christianity to become mainstream?

Nicholas has been quoted as saying: "I think there's lots of people who have this slightly misguided notion that the purpose of Christians in the mainstream music industry is to get a high profile then at Glastonbury stop in a set and give a five minute gospel presentation and Glastonbury will turn to Jesus. That's never going to happen and it's not what we're trying to do. We're trying to make music that expresses who we are but also trying to follow Jesus in our own personal lives, and we think that's our calling to be Christians and not an evangelistic team as a band."

Check out The Gentlemen here.

Bandstand - Empire Nation

Bandstand is a new feature on crossreferences where I focus on a band or artist, give them a little plug as well as a bit of background info on them. First up...Empire Nation.


Empire Nation are a Cambridge based four piece who state in their biography that:


"Their modest aim is to change the world one riff at a time, using their faith, creativity and refusal to conform to the norm. They want to produce music that will make everyone from students to politicians sit up and take notice. To illuminate what matters, to reject the mundane, to live and play in the context of something bigger than a first impression; to challenge, magnify and amplify."

They say that even though they are split between Cambridge and Exeter, the fact they attend different churches is actually a plus point as they don't get on top of each other all the time. 


Check out their first music video here and visit their website to listen to some of their tracks! I'll endeavour to get an interview soon!