Rend Collective: The Irish Folk Worship Innovators
Rend Collective is a Northern Irish Christian folk worship band known for their energetic, communal sound and grassroots approach. Hailing from Bangor, Northern Ireland, the group has carved a unique niche by blending folk instrumentation with anthemic worship, achieving significant chart success on both Christian and mainstream charts in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Early career
Formed in 2002 from a youth group at Bangor Elim Pentecostal Church, the collective initially operated as a loose, rotating group of musicians and artists. Their early focus was on creating organic worship experiences for their local community, which led to the independent release of their first project, "The Organic Family Hymnal," in 2010.
Breakthrough
The band's international breakthrough arrived with their 2013 album "Campfire," released under the Kingsway Music label. This album, recorded literally around a campfire, captured their raw, communal ethos and propelled them into the global Christian music spotlight, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart.
Key tracks
Build Your Kingdom Here — This vibrant, mandolin-driven anthem from "Campfire" became a global worship standard and a definitive statement of their mission-oriented sound.
My Lighthouse — A folk-pop celebration of faith from their 2014 album "The Art of Celebration," this track became their biggest commercial hit, receiving widespread radio play.
Counting Every Blessing — A joyful, declarative song from 2018's "Good News" that showcases their signature blend of upbeat folk and heartfelt lyrical gratitude.
Your Name Is Power — Featured on their 2020 album "Choose to Worship," this track exemplifies their ability to craft rousing, congregational-friendly songs with a modern folk-rock drive.
Following their breakthrough, Rend Collective continued to build a dedicated following through extensive touring and a consistent album output. They have released successful projects like "As Family We Go" (2015) and "Good News" (2018), often collaborating with artists like Matt Maher and exploring themes of joy and community. Their independent spirit led them to launch their own label, Rend Family Records, in 2020.
Fans of Rend Collective's celebratory folk-worship style also enjoy the music of Needtobreathe for their similar blend of Americana and anthemic songcraft. The passionate live energy and communal focus of The Message also resonates with their approach. For those drawn to the Celtic-infused instrumentation, the work of Iona offers a deeper exploration of that sound.
The music of Rend Collective enjoys regular rotation on a variety of online Christian rock radio stations and independent music radio stations that feature modern worship. Their upbeat, folk-driven tracks are a staple on streams dedicated to contemporary worship music and positive alternative rock formats.
Listeners can discover the vibrant folk worship of Rend Collective on radio stations featured across our network. Tune in to stations available on onairium.com to hear their anthems of celebration and community in regular rotation.
