Do churches like punk music?
Image Credit: Markus Spiske
5th Jul 2019
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Peter118
Pop
Peter118 are a pop punk band, whose music has more hooks than an infant school’s cloakroom.
They’re currently signed to US record label, Raven Faith, and the band’s latest two xRhythms radio hits, 'Need You More' and 'Where I Am', show that Peter Field and his bandmates sure know how to rock.
In case you didn’t know it, Christian punk has its own sizeable niche following in California, and Peter118 has played at the big festivals there.
He’s from, get this, Stoke-on-Trent.
But Peter isn’t some sun-bronzed man pumping out pogo-ing rhythms by Venice Beach. He’s from, get this, Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. The home of xRhythms.
As well as Peter’s wife, guitarist Janine, the band consists of drummer Sam Critchley, and bassist Alisha Hope Palmer, who is a worship leader at St John’s Church in Burslem.
They have a sizeable following in the USA and Japan.
Considering they now have a sizeable following in the USA, and amazingly in Japan where they’ve received mainstream radio play, Cross Rhythms asked live wire Peter whether there were churches in Britain supporting Christian punk music.
He responded, “There are two or three churches I know which support Christian punk. One is a Methodist church in Boston, UK which was putting on Punk For Homeless gigs run by Gary Eagling. Another church is in Stroud and is the home to another UK Christian punk band called The Trinity Boys.
Churches not supporting alternative music.
"I think in the UK most churches lack cultural insight and do not support Christian music other than mainstream worship. Non-worship music like punk, rock and hip-hop/grime I find is not supported by a lot of churches.
He continued, "I'm sure many of them would be open to it, particularly as alternative music is a great way to reach young people."
Growth of alternative music festivals.
However, with the growth of festivals like Creation Fest, Meltdown and KingsStock, which feature alternative music, there could be more and more churches opening up to these genres.