The Christians Talk New Single, 2024 UK Live Dates And More

Liverpudlian band The Christians have been releasing music and captivating live audience across the world since the 1980s. They have recently released their new single ‘Tanera Days’ and will embark on an extensive UK Tour including Sunday 9th June 2024 at Uptown Festival in Earlham Park, Norwich. lead vocalist Mr Garry Christian kindly chatted to JLTT about the new song and more:

Who is in The Christians what do they play?

OK Garry Christian lead singer, plays occasional guitar, tambourine and egg; Joey Ankrah, vocals and electric guitar; Neil Griffiths, vocals and acoustic guitar; Bobby Kewley, Backing vocals and bass guitar; Mike Trigs, keys and Lionel Duke, drums

You have released your new single ‘Tanera Days’. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?

It was a fan who we were drinking with at Boisdale Canary Wharf after a show and he told us about a song he wrote about an Island he was building a rehab centre on -Tanera Mor – and the transformational effect it had on people recovering from trauma there.

Who wrote the new single and was it a difficult song to write?

Andy Langridge – the fan – no, it was easy from the heart.

Given your extensive back catalogue as well as your new material is it difficult picking a setlist? Do you have specific song selection process?

We know our fans love to hear all their favourites and remembering there was a load of singles from the multi-platinum selling album THE CHRISTIANS and the second number one album COLOUR we work our way through the lot, usually Perfect Moment, Born Again, Greenbank Drive, Forgotten Town, Words, Ideal World, The Bottle, Inner City Blues (a Marvin Gaye cover), When the Fingers Point, Hooverville, Harvest. With the amount of talking and various between song anecdotes that’s normally about 2 hours’ worth!!

What is your earliest musical memory?

Probably listening to my Mum singing all day every day in the kitchen while she got various meals ready for me and my 12 brothers and sisters

Who are some of your musical influences?

Ray Charles, The Temptations, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Van Morrison – and many more

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

At my age that I’m still alive (jokes)… just that the crowd have laughed and maybe cried or at least remembered how much they loved our songs or the particular time in their life that the songs evoke.

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

I love a Neumann microphone and a Taylor guitar

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Liverpool. Usually wet & cold, pretty much the musical centre of the universe.

Do you have any plans for live shows in Europe/UK in 2024?

Check out www.thechristianslive.co.uk we’re everywhere and lots of trips to Spain. 

Which of your tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

I don’t really go that deep into any of my songs – singing them is as natural as cleaning my teeth or making a coffee … I’ve been singing them all for nearly 40 years now! I’m just on automatic – and I’m happy they still sound great

How do you look after your voices?

I don’t! I’m really lucky it seems to stay pretty good – we all love a Vocalzone and a Jack Daniels

Who created/designed the single artwork?

It was a last minute job on Emma’s iPhone [my wife and manager]

Do you have any plans to release anymore new music in addition to the new single?

Yes we have so much recorded we just need to tidy it up and get it out. 

What makes The Christians happy and what makes you unhappy?

We love being busy and we actually love all being together. What makes me unhappy .. what’s happening in Gaza

Feature Image Photo Credit: Jackie Dixon

The single ‘Tanera Days’ is out now, the band are on tour in 2024 and play Uptown Festival, Norwich, on Sunday 9th June 2024.

Download/Stream: https://orcd.co/taneradays 

Tickets are onsale now here: https://norwich.uptownfestival.co.uk/ 

For more tour dates and information visit their official website here: http://www.thechristianslive.co.uk/index.html