HYMNS may be a vital part of Christian worship, but tonight a group of young musicians will be attempting to breathe new life into the centuries old form.
The New Scottish Hymns tour comes to Inverness East Church on Academy Street this evening and follows the release of an album of the same name last year.
Both album and live show explore the roots of religious music in the Scottish folk tradition.
The show features a 10-piece band including multi-award winning folk singer Emily Smith, singer-songwriter Yvonne Lyon, who has recently been championed by veteran DJ Bob Harris and is a member of the band Kilmarnock Edition, and Steph Macleod, who has turned his life around from being a homeless drug addict to becoming an internationally recognised singer and songwriter, but the main force behind the project is Glasgow musician and hymnwriter Greg de Blieck.
"It’s about trying to rediscover the spirit of hymn writing," Greg de Blieck explained.
"A lot of what people are singing today is just watered down nonsense. The show is primarily targeted at people who are Christians or in the church, but we also want to challenge perceptions of what hymns are like.
"People don’t know why they sing hymns. It’s become a habit, a chance to stand up and have a stretch after a boring sermon, but there’s more to it than that."
A music producer, classical cellist and member of a folk band, de Blieck says that it is writing hymns which is his first love.
"Trying to communicate something of the message of the Gospel, that’s my main thing," he said.
In doing so he rejects what he sees as trend in Christian music for music to be catchy and hip at the expense of meaning.
"They might as well be sung by Justin Bieber," he said.
"But church music is not a mindless, empty tradition. It has a purpose.
"We’re more interested in emulating people like Horatius Bonar, a 19th century Scottish minister, than autotuned pop stars. The only things these guys have in common is awesome hair."
• The New Scottish Hymns tour is at Inverness East Church, Academy Street, this evening, Friday 15th March, at 8pm, tickets £8 and £5 concession.
