Rend Collective

Rend Collective (formerly known as Rend Collective Experiment) is an Northern Irish Christian folk rock group from Bangor, whose eclectic blend of religious lyrics and experimental music earned them great popularity throughout the United Kingdom. Even though its inception dates back to 2002 at Bangor Elim Church, the band consolidated its lineup in 2007 with Gareth Wilkinson (drums), Chris Llewellyn (lead vocals/guitar), Ali Gilkenson (keyboard), Patrick Thompson (guitar), and Steve Mitchell (bass), who joined in 2013. Organic Family Hymnal (2010), their studio debut, managed to chart across the Atlantic, reaching Number 47 on the Top Christian Albums chart after selling 428,000 copies. Propelled by the single “Second Chance,” Homemade Worship by Handmade People, their sophomore effort, saw the light in 2012 to unanimous critical acclaim and climbed to Number 14 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart. With Campfire (2013) they began an impressive streak of chart-topping albums that dominated the UK’s Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart, which continued with The Art of Celebration (2014), also a Number 1 on Billboard’s Christian Albums chart, Campfire Christmas, Vol. 1 (2014), As Family We Go (2015), Campfire II: Simplicity (2016), and Good News (2018). Towards the end of the decade, they released a children’s album entitled Sparkle. Pop. Rampage (2019) and achieved yet another Number 1 record with Choose to Worship (2020), whose single “My Advocate” peaked at Number 50 on the US Christian Airplay chart.