YFriday

YFriday
Background information
Origin Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Genres Christian rock
Years active 1994–2010
Labels Survivor Records
Website www.yfriday.com
Members Ken Riley
Gav Richards
Danny Smith
Dez Minto

YFriday were a British Christian rock and worship band from Newcastle upon Tyne. From their beginning in 1994 until they split in 2010, they gained popularity amongst Christian music fans around the world, particularly in the United Kingdom. In 2010, YFriday announced that they were commencing their final months before disbanding later in the same year, after releasing a number of successful albums.

History

The group was formed in 1994,[1] originally as the house band for a monthly evangelistic outreach event run by Youth for Christ called WhyFriday?.[2] The WhyFriday? outreach programme initially had a regular attendance of about 50–60 young people, but this steadily grew and the programme, now called IXth Hour, is currently held in the Newcastle City Hall,[2] and has around 800 attendees each month. The band still played there regularly until 2010.

Following the 1999 release of the Rainmaker album, the band were approached by Kingsway with an offer of a 3-year recording contract.[2] Bassist Danny Smith joined the band in 2001,[3] in time for the Open album. It was at this time that the band members made the decision to leave their jobs to work together full-time,.[3] They also released an EP.[2]

From 2007 until 2010, the band supported the event Chesterfest, playing a number of gigs and performing at their "Funday on a Sunday". In February 2010, YFriday also performed alongside the worship team from Abundant Life Church, Blush and Kev Whitmore at the "Heart for Haiti" concert supporting the NXT ministries projects in Port-au-Prince after the January 2010 earthquake.

The band played at the first Big Church Day out in 2009.

YFriday played their final concert as a band in a sold out Newcastle City Hall on 31 October 2010.[4][5]

Band members

Band membership has changed slightly since the original formation.

Ken Riley

Riley was the lead singer and guitarist of Yfriday. He is a prolific songwriter and his most globally recognised song to is "Everlasting God" which was co-written with Brenton Brown. The song received a prestigious ASCAP Award in 2008. The song was also nominated for a Dove award. Riley has also collaborated with many other Christian songwriters including Matt Redman, Martin Smith(Delirious) and Tim Hughes.

He co-produced the YFriday album, Great and Glorious, with producer and mixer Sam Gibson (Crowded House, Hillsong United).[6] In 2010, Riley produced the album Supreme for the band The Steels, following their signing to Kingsway/EMI.

Ken is married to Amanda and has three children; Jaime, Jordan and Ben. He is currently the director of Worship at City Church Newcastle, and in 2013 he released his first Solo EP, 'Wondrous Things'.

Dez Minto

Minto, the band's drummer, is also the managing director of Broadwater Studios Ltd, a recording studio in Gateshead and Minto Music Ltd, PA/lighting hire company with bases in Gateshead and Exeter. He is married to Rachael and has 2 boys Oliver and Sam. After the band split, Minto relocated to Devon.

Danny Smith

Smith joined the band as bassist in 2001 as they signed their first professional record contract.[3] He is a member of an Anglican church in South Tyneside, where he is part of the worship band and helps with the youth work.

Gav Richards

Keyboard, backing vocals and second guitar player, Richards was born and grew up in Hartlepool. He attends Hillsong Church in Newcastle UK and is an active part of the worship and production teams. After the band split, Gav worked as a sound engineer/producer for Broadwater Studios as well continuing to play a number of instruments in the up-and-coming band The Last Spectacular. Gav has an encyclopaedic knowledge of professional wrestling and how to make the perfect McDonalds burger.

Discography

Albums

EP

Gear

Ken Riley

Danny Smith:

Gav Richards:

Dez Minto:

References

  1. ↑ "Top Dog promotions: yfriday". Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "WesleyOwen profile of YFriday". Wesley Owen. Retrieved 26 October 2007.
  3. 1 2 3 Cummings, Tony (30 October 2003). "Children of the Revolution". Cross Rhythms (77). Retrieved 26 October 2007.
  4. ↑ "Ken Riley: The Everlasting God man considers the Wondrous Things of God". crossrhythms.co.uk.
  5. ↑ "Yfriday: The Final Farewell, Newcastle's finest say goodbye". crossrhythms.co.uk.
  6. ↑ "Yfriday: The Newcastle worship band spoke about the 'Great & Glorious' album". crossrhythms.co.uk.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "YFriday Gear page". Archived from the original on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 8 November 2007.
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