Band Profile

Rend Collective

Rend CollectiveSpotify
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Rend Collective quick facts

FromBangor, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Years active2007 (2007)–present
StatusActive
SoundCCMRockWorship
LabelsCapitol Christian Music GroupIntegrityKingswaySparrow Records
Members (5)
Past members (7)
  • Ali Gilkeson keyboards, female lead/backing vocals, auxiliary percussion, accordion · 2007–2023
  • Bridget Herron female lead and backing vocals · 2023
  • Gareth Gilkeson drums, percussion, band leader · 2007–2023
  • Larry Lease
  • Patrick Thompson electric guitar, banjo, various strings, backing vocals, bass guitar · 2007–2013, 2007–2020
  • Thomas Ewing electric guitar, mandolin, harmonica, backing vocals, violin, left for Tenth Avenue North · 2021–2023
  • Will Herron lead vocals, acoustic guitar, multi-instrumentalist · 2022–2023
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Rend Collective (formerly known as Rend Collective Experiment) is a Northern Irish Christian folk rock worship band originating from Bangor, Northern Ireland. The current lineup consists of Chris Llewellyn, Steve Mitchell, Wil Pearce, Jonathan Chu and Daniel Jones.

History

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.” While the group comprises over 15 members, the band tours and records with 6 members. The remaining members are there for support and to encourage the band “spiritually, musically, and missionally.” 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.

The band’s first studio album Organic Family Hymnal was released on 28 September 2010. Their second studio album Homemade Worship by Handmade People was released on 10 January 2012. Both records were released by Kingsway. Their first live album Campfire was released on 29 January 2013 with Integrity. Campfire included 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.

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

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.

Their third studio album, The Art of Celebration, was released on 17 March 2014. Their fourth studio album, Campfire Christmas (Vol. 1), released 19 November 2014. 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. Their sixth studio album, Good News was released on 19 January 2018. Their seventh studio album, Choose to Worship, was released during the COVID-19 pandemic on 27 March 2020. Their eighth studio album, Whosoever, was released 26 August 2022.

Gareth and Ali Gilkeson eventually left the band. Following Llewellyn’s release of a solo album, Honest, in September 2023, the band released a new album entitled FOLK! in November 2024. The album was co-written by Llewellyn and fellow band member Stephen Mitchell. As of 2024, the band’s line-up consisted of Llewellyn, Mitchell, Will Pearce, Jonathan Chu and Daniel Jones.

Rend Family Records

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

Awards and nominations

GMA Dove Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2018 Good News Worship Album of the Year Nominated
2019 “Counting Every Blessing” Song of the Year Nominated
2020 Sparkle. Pop. Rampage. Children’s Album of the Year Nominated
2026 Folk! Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year Pending

Discography

Other releases

2025

Christmas in Belfast

Release Date

Label

Forma

Release date

Label

Forma

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Scene Atlas

Band Bloodlines

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External links
References
  1. ^ Choose to Worship did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at No. 22 on the Top Album Sales chart.
  2. ^ Whosoever did not enter the OCC UK Albums Chart, but peaked at No. 31 on the OCC UK Album Downloads Chart
  3. ^ “Salt and Light” did not enter the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart, but peaked at number 13 on the Christian Digital Song Sales.
  1. ^ a b c CMSpin (31 March 2011). “Rend Collective Experiment Tour With Chris Tomlin”. New Release Tuesday. Retrieved 8 May 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e Jesus Freak Hideout. “Rend Collective Experiment artist profile”. Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e Cummings, Tony (26 February 2010). “Rend Collective Experiment: Bringing a fresh approach to worship music”. Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d Hoernschemeyer, Emily (1 October 2010). “Unrestricted: Finding Community in Organic Worship”. CCM Magazine. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  5. ^ Jesus Freak Hideout (28 September 2010). “Organic Family Hymnal album”. Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  6. ^ Jesus Freak Hideout (10 January 2012). “Homemade Worship By Handmade People album”. Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  7. ^ a b “Campfire by Rend Collective Experiment | CD Reviews And Information”. NewReleaseTuesday.com. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  8. ^ “Kari Jobe Reveals Majestic Tour!”. Premier Productions. 13 December 2013.
  9. ^ RESET Movement description, incl. Rend Collective from Turning Point News Today, accessed 20 May 2014
  10. ^ “Album Release Dates, CD New Releases”. Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  11. ^ “Campfire Christmas (Vol. 1)”. iTunes. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  12. ^ “Campfire II: Simplicity”. Genius. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  13. ^ “Good News”. Genius. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  14. ^ “Choose to Worship”. Genius. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  15. ^ “Whosoever”. Genius. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  16. ^ a b Lee, Jenny (14 May 2024). “Bangor-born singer of Christian folk-rock band Rend Collective says “all are invited” to party with them in outdoor Belfast gig”. The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  17. ^ Byrd Wilt, Haley (21 November 2024). “Play Those Chocolate Sprinkles, Rend Collective!”. Christianity Today. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  18. ^ “BIO”. Rend Collective. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  19. ^ “Instagram”. Instagram. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  20. ^ “Rend Collective”. Official Charts Company.
  21. ^ “ARIA Chart Watch #457”. auspOp. 27 January 2018. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  22. ^ “Rend Collective Chart History: Canadian Albums”. Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  23. ^ “Rend Collective Chart History: Billboard 200”. Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  24. ^ “Rend Collective Chart History: Christian Albums”. Billboard. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  25. ^ “Rend Collective Experiment”. Billboard.
  26. ^ a b “Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart — Week of January 5, 2015”. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  27. ^ “Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart — Week of May 18, 2014”. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  28. ^ “Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart — Week of March 29, 2014”. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  29. ^ “Billboard 200: 5 April 2014”. Billboard. Archived from the original on 11 December 2016.
  30. ^ “Christian Albums: 5 April 2014”. Billboard.
  31. ^ “Upcoming Releases”. Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on 19 August 2015.
  32. ^ “Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart — Week of September 3, 2015”. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  33. ^ “Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart — Week of 20 October 2016”. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  34. ^ “Good News by Rend Collective on Apple Music”. iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  35. ^ “Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart — Week of 1 February 2018”. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  36. ^ “Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart — Week of September 12”. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  37. ^ “Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart — Week of April 11”. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  38. ^ “Rend Collective Chart History: Album Sales”. Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  39. ^ “Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart — Week of November 6”. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  40. ^ a b “Rend Collective Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)”. www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  41. ^ a b “Rend Collective Chart history (Christian Airplay)”. Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  42. ^ a b “Rend Collective Chart History (Hot Christian AC Songs)”. Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  43. ^ a b “American certifications – Rend Collective”. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  44. ^ “Revival Anthem (Single) by Rend Collective”. NewReleaseToday. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  45. ^ “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas (Single) by Rend Collective”. NewReleaseToday. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  46. ^ “2018 Nominees – The 49th Annual GMA Dove Awards”. doveawards.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  47. ^ “2019 Nominees | The 50th Annual GMA Dove Awards”. GMA Dove Awards. 14 August 2019. Archived from the original on 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  48. ^ “2020 Nominees | The 51st Annual GMA Dove Awards”. GMA Dove Awards. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  49. ^ “2026 Nominees”. Gospel Music Association. 29 July 2026. Retrieved 29 July 2026.

Source: Wikipedia