The blues are a particular genre of music which I like and so it was a great privilege last night to visit Harrogate to listen to Bryn Haworth, another of my favourite Christian musicians. Bryn Haworth is originally from Lancashire, a musician who has worked with all kinds of famous names (eg Jimi Hendrix, Cliff Richard, Gerry Rafferty, Chris de Burgh) in London and the US, and who became a Christian in 1974. He’s probably best known to our congregation (without being known at all…) for his song ‘What Kind Of Love Is This?’, but it’s his guitar skills which captivated Garry a long time ago and his unassuming, fun approach to music coupled with lyrics which have told the gospel story effectively which have kept us listening through the decades.
We have been to Bryn Haworth concerts twice before, both in Nottingham. One was particularly memorable, as during the encore there was a real move of the Holy Spirit and the event stopped being ‘just’ music and became one of those occasions when the curtain is drawn back and there is a real foretaste of heaven… Bryn is now in his 60s and I was half-fearful that his style of music and whole demeanour would have changed. I need not have feared. He was as gentle, unassuming and radiant with God’s love as ever (‘isn’t it just wonderful that God loves us? Not just the world, but that He loves me, knows me and died for me?’) and the songs were a mixture of old and new, all rooted in personal experience and leading to a connection between our lives and the Word of God.
These are the songs he played, with his usual dexterity and nimble guitar skills (click on the highlighted titles to listen):
- I Serve A Risen Saviour
- Help Me
- Summertime Blues
- Keep the Faith
- Instrumental
- One Way Ticket
- Only Believe (instrumental)
- It’s Alright Now
- Rebel Man
- Why Are People Like That?
- That’s All
- People Get Ready
- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (instrumental)
- What Kind of Love Is This?
- Nobody Loves Me Like You
- New ID
- Keep Your Lamp Trimmed & Ready
- Just A Closer Walk With You
Bryn is now heavily involved with prison ministry (see here for further details) and one key message shines out (see the song ‘New ID‘) that when Jesus comes to live in us, we are transformed: ‘These prison bars can’t hold me… I no longer have to be just a victim of the past… And when I look at that man, I know just who I am, I’ve got a new ID.’ The blues, traditionally associated with melancholy topics and mournful sad stories, are transformed by this message!