Artist description With a no-nonsense heavy style that belies their origins in worship leading, Jonah are a band who know the meaning of rock. With honest and inspiring lyrics set against a backdrop of distorted guitars, imagintive bass grooves and energetic drumming, Jonah take their message to the people. "Worship is important for the band, as it has developed an attitude of the importance of helping people to worship, and not allowing ourselves to be the focus. We all share the common goal of making the message of Jesus more accessible to people of all ages, particularly people of our own age."

Music Style Heavy, funky rock

Artist History Jonathan Cooper, the front man and main songwriter in the band, began writing songs when he was 16, after being in a series of local non-Christian bands, although he always wanted to start a Christian band. He sings lead vocals and sometimes plays guitar. Andy Prentice is the man now on the bass guitar, but is also quite at home playing jazz guitar or blowing his trombone. He has a colourful musical history spanning piano, violin, the aforementioned guitar and now bass, which he has been trying for two years or so now. Dan Frith made a name for himself other than "the vicar's son" with his aptitude for guitar, and indeed for things musical in general. His talents extend to piano, drums and bass as well as guitar. He now settles for playing lead guitar in Jonah and the occasional backing vocal. John Iliffe is the man who plays the hats, the shells, the ride, the crashes and the splashes, better known to people as drums. Since the tender age of 11 John has been damaging his hearing but not his reputation as a solid drummer, a talent which now provides the rhythm of Jonah. The year 2000 saw Jonah play their first gigs. The band played several gigs, the highlight of which was supporting Kato GenX in Nottingham, and recorded a demo CD to showcase their talent and to sell at gigs to raise funds. In 2001 Jonah have been working hard playing venues from Cornwall to Teesside and plenty in between, including the new grassrootz festival and support gigs for Yfriday and Phatfish. Jonathan sums up: "I think that while it's important to make our music appealing to non-Christians, it's even more important to maintain a lyrical content that reflects our beliefs. God has given us the gifts of music, so he should get the credit! We believe it is our calling to serve God through music, and that means not shying away from what we're about when we're put to the test."

Group Members Jonathan Cooper John Iliffe Andy Prentice Dan Frith

Location Chesterfield, Derbyshire - United Kingdom

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