Rend Collective

Rend Collective (formerly known as Rend Collective Experiment) is a Northern Irish Christian folk rock worship band originating from Bangor, Northern Ireland.^[1][2][3] The current lineup consists of Chris Llewellyn, Steve Mitchell, Wil Pearce, Jonathan Chu and Daniel Jones. Their first studio album Organic Family Hymnal was released on 28 September 2010.^[4] Their second studio album Homemade Worship by Handmade People was released on 10 January 2012.^[5] Both records were released by Kingsway.^[2] Their first live album Campfire was released on 29 January 2013^[6] with Integrity. Their fourth album, The Art of Celebration, was released on 17 March 2014. Their fifth album, Campfire Christmas, Vol. 1 was released in November 2014, and the sixth, As Family We Go, on 21 August 2015. Their second live album, Campfire II: Simplicity, was released at the beginning of October 2016. In 2017 they released the Build Your Kingdom Here (A Rend Collective Mix Tape) compilation followed by studio album Good News in early 2018. Since then the group have released two more albums Choose to Worship (March 2020) and Whosoever (August 2022).

Rend Collective
Rend Collective performing in May 2017
Background information
Origin	Bangor, Northern Ireland[1]
Genres	Contemporary Christian, folk rock, worship[2]
Years active	2007 (2007)–present[2]
Labels	Kingsway, Integrity,[2] Capitol CMG
Members	Chris Llewellyn Stephen Mitchell Wil Pearce Jonathan Chu Daniel Jones
Past members	Bridget Herron Gareth Gilkeson Ali Gilkeson Patrick Thompson Will Herron Larry Lease Thomas Ewing
Website	rendcollective.com

Background

The band was established under the name of Rend Collective Experiment between 2002-2003 during a point which drummer Gareth Gilkeson described as "a bunch of us trying to figure out life. Before the formation, most of the members were part of the "Rend" young adults ministry at Bangor Elim Church to where Gilkeson preached and Llewellyn led worship."^[3][7] While the group comprises over 15 members, the band tours and records with 6 members.^[3][7] The remaining members are there for support and to encourage the band "spiritually, musically, and missionally."^[3][7] They explained noticing a sense of hostility from the modern culture towards the church and Christians therefore sought to create music that would draw such individuals spiritually and encourage them to come back to church.^[3][7]

Rend Collective was on the And If Our God Is for Us... Tour with Chris Tomlin and Christy Nockels in the spring of 2011.^[1] They toured with Kari Jobe on the Majestic Tour.^[8]

In 2014, Rend Collective toured with the RESET Movement, as part of their musical ministry involving Lacey Sturm (formerly of Flyleaf); spoken-word artist Propaganda; worship leader Dave Lubben; DJ Efechto; International House of Prayer worship artist Matt Gilman; and singer/songwriter Morgan Harper Nichols.^[9]

Music

Campfire includes live, outdoor recordings of songs previously released on Organic Family Hymnal and Homemade Worship by Handmade People. The audience for the recording were crowd-sourced using Facebook and Twitter.^[6] Their third studio album, The Art of Celebration, was released on 17 March 2014.^[10] Their fourth studio album, Campfire Christmas (Vol. 1), released 19 November 2014.^[11] Their fifth studio album, As Family We Go, was released on 21 August 2015. Their second live album, Campfire II: Simplicity, was released on 7 October 2016.^[12] Their sixth studio album, Good News was released on 19 January 2018.^[13] Their seventh studio album, Choose to Worship, was released during the COVID-19 pandemic on 27 March 2020.^[14] Their eighth studio album, Whosoever, was released 26 August 2022.^[15]

Rend Family Records

Their first signee to the label is Urban Rescue, from Los Angeles, California.

Members

Current members

^[16][17]

• Chris Llewellyn – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, ukulele (2007–present)
• Steve Mitchell – bass guitar, banjo, piano, mandolin, guitar, backing vocals (2013–present)
• Wil Pearce – electric guitar, mandolin, banjo, backing vocals (2021–present)
• Jonathan Chu – fiddle (2020–present)
• Daniel Jones – drums (2024–present)

Former members

• Will Herron – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, multi-instrumentalist (2022–2023)
• Bridget Herron – female lead and backing vocals (2022–2023)
• Patrick Thompson – electric guitar, banjo, various strings, backing vocals (2007–2020), bass guitar (2007–2013)
• Bobby Russell – bass guitar, piano (2012–2013)
• Larry Lease – backup vocals (2015–2016)
• Gareth Gilkeson – drums, percussion, band leader (2007–2024)
• Ali Gilkeson – keyboards, female lead/backing vocals, auxiliary percussion, accordion (2007–2022)
• Thomas Ewing – electric guitar, mandolin, harmonica, backing vocals, violin (2021–2024); left for his band Tenth Avenue North

Discography

Albums

Year	Album	Peak chart positions							Sales
		UK [18]	UK C&G	AUS [19]	CAN [20]	US [21]	US Christ. [22]	US Heat. [23]
2010	Organic Family Hymnal (as Rend Collective Experiment) Release date: 28 September 2010 Label: Kingsway Format: CD, digital download	—	—	—	—	—	47	—	US: 428,000[citation needed]
2012	Homemade Worship by Handmade People (as Rend Collective Experiment) Release date: 10 January 2012 Label: Kingsway Format: CD, digital download	—	6 [24]	—	—	—	23	14
2013	Campfire Release date: 28 January 2013 Label: Independent Format: CD, digital download	—	1 [25]	—	—	97	7	—
2014	The Art of Celebration Release date: 17 March 2014 Label: Integrity Format: CD, digital download	28	1 [26]	—	—	13[27]	1[28]	—	US: 75,000[29]
	Campfire Christmas, Vol. 1 Release date: 17 November 2014 Label: Rend Family Records/Capitol/Sparrow Format: CD, LP, digital download	—	1 [24]	—	—	61	4	—
2015	As Family We Go Release date: 21 August 2015 Label: Rend Family Records/Capitol/Sparrow Format: CD, LP, digital download	19	1 [30]	—	21	33	1	—
2016	Campfire II: Simplicity Release date: 7 October 2016 Label: Rend Family Records/Sparrow Format: CD, digital download	—	1 [31]	—	—	99	3	—
2018	Good News Release date: 19 January 2018[32] Label: Rend Family Records/Sparrow Format: CD, LP, digital download	85	1 [33]	97	51	70	1	—
2019	Sparkle. Pop. Rampage. (as Rend Co. Kids) Release date: 30 August 2019 Label: Rend Family Records Formats: CD, digital download	—	3 [34]	—	—	—	—	—
2020	Choose to Worship Release date: 27 March 2020 Label: Rend Family Records/Capitol CMG Format: CD, LP, digital download	—	1 [35]	—	—	—[A]	3	—
2020	A Jolly Irish Christmas (Vol. 2) Release date: 23 October 2020 Label: Rend Family Records Format: CD, digital download	—	2 [37]	—	—	—	—	—
2021	A Jolly Irish Christmas (Vol. 2) [Deluxe] Release date: 5 November 2021 Label: Rend Family Records Format:
2022	Whosoever Release date: 26 August 2022 Label: Rend Family Records/Capital CMG/Sparrow Records Format: CD, digital download

Mixtapes

Album details	Track listing
Build Your Kingdom Here (A Rend Collective Mix Tape) Release date: 19 May 2017 Label: Integrity Format: CD, digital download	No. Title Length 1. "Praise Like Fireworks" 2:48 2. "My Lighthouse" 3:44 3. "You Are My Vision" 3:55 4. "You Bled" 4:52 5. "More Than Conquerors" 5:21 6. "Faithful" 4:58 7. "Second Chance" 4:33 8. "Build Your Kingdom Here" 4:18 9. "Movements" 3:16 10. "Boldly I Approach (The Art of Celebration)" 6:02 11. "Alabaster" 3:23 12. "Desert Soul" 6:45 13. "Joy" 3:58 14. "Exalt" 5:34

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions			Certifications	Album
		US Christ. [38]	US Christ. Airplay [39]	US Christ. AC [40]
2012	"Second Chance" (as Rend Collective Experiment)	24		—		Homemade Worship by Handmade People
2013	"Build Your Kingdom Here"	12		19
2014	"My Lighthouse"	17	22	24	RIAA: Platinum[41]	The Art of Celebration
2015	"You Will Never Run"	19	18	21		As Family We Go
2016	"Joy of the Lord"	25	21	20
	"Every Giant Will Fall"	—	40	—
2017	"Rescuer (Good News)"	15	9	20		Good News
2018	"Counting Every Blessing"	8	4	6
2019	"Your Name Is Power"	13	7	8		Choose to Worship
	"Revival Anthem"[42]	50	—	—
2020	"Sing It from the Shackles"	—	—	—
	"I Choose to Worship"	44	37	—
	"This Is the Saviour's Day"	—	—	—		A Jolly Irish Christmas (Vol. 2)
	"I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"[43]	—	—	—		non-album single
	"My Advocate"	—	34	—		Choose to Worship
2021	"Year of Victory"	—	—	—		non-album single
2023	"Hallelujah Anyway"	—	—	—		Whosoever

EPs

Album details	Track listing
Christmas Release Date: Label: Format:	No. Title Length 1. "Silent Night (Be still)" 4:51 2. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" 3:38 3. "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" 3:32 4. "Emmanuel You're One of Us" 3:40 5. "O Holy Night (O Night Divine)" 5:05 6. "O Come All Ye Faithful (Let us Adore Him)" 4:17
Irish Release date: Label: Format:	No. Title Length 1. "Christmasin Killarney" 3:07 2. "Today is the Saviour's Day" 3:58 3. "ding Dong Merrily on High" 1:58 4. "We Three Kings {We're Not Lost)" 3:32 5. "Shining Light" 4:48 6. "For all that You Have Done" 4:38
Jolly Release date: 23 October 2020 Label: Rend Family Records Format: CD, digital download	No. Title Length 1. "Little Drummer Boy" 3:15 2. "Good King Wenceslas" 2:42 3. "Christmas is all Around" 3:36 4. "Joy to the World" 2:56 5. "Merry Christmas Everyone" 3:07
Hallelujah Anyway Release Date: 17 November 2023 Label: Sparrow Records, Capitol CMG Format: Digital	No. Title Length 1. "Hallelujah Anyway" 3:46 2. "Homesick" 2:54 3. "Beggars to Kings" 3:05 4. "Let it Roll (Live)" 4:12 5. "Hallelujah Anyway (Live)" 4:50
Folk (pt. 1) Release date: 25 October 2024 Label: Rend Family Records/Capitol CMG Format:	No. Title Length 1. "Abide in Me" 3:42 2. "What I was Made for" 3:57 3. "Better than I ever thought" 2:59 4. "Holy Trouble" 2:51 5. "Silver or Gold" 3:06 6. "Reap that Joy" 3:25

Awards and nominations

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2018	Good News	Worship Album of the Year	Nominated	[44]
2019	"Counting Every Blessing"	Song of the Year	Nominated	[45]
2020	Sparkle. Pop. Rampage.	Children's Album of the Year	Nominated	[46]

Notes

1. Choose to Worship did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at No. 22 on the Top Album Sales chart.^[36]