Rend Collective releases new holiday album, 'Christmas In Belfast'

Irish-folk worship band delivers festive renditions of holiday classics & cozy new originals including ‘The Reason’ & ‘Room At The Inn’

Press Release

One of Capitol Christian Music Group’s top-performing Christmas music artists, Rend Collective, announced the release of its highly anticipated new holiday album. On the project titled “Christmas In Belfast,” the Platinum-selling worship band from Northern Ireland delivers a cozy collection of three intimate originals, plus five Irish-folk inspired versions of beloved seasonal classics.

“Christmas In Belfast” follows the notable success of the band’s two previous Christmas album releases, “Campfire Christmas, Vol 1” (2014) and “A Jolly Irish Christmas, Vol 2” (2020), which included the fan-favorite, jovial original “Christmas In Killarney.” Both seasonal albums have tallied over 100 million combined streams to date.

“I want this album to feel like being in the neighborhood pub with your loved ones before heading off to Christmas Eve service,” founding member Chris Llewelyn said.

In that vein, the “Christmas in Belfast (Sláinte!)” title track is a festive Irish sing-along anthem for all, while the album also features tender originals “The Reason” and “Room At The Inn” (with singer-songwriter Chris Renzema), bringing listeners into a more intimate setting much like the night Jesus was born. The group adds its signature Celtic production to classics “Carol Of The Bells” and “Feliz Navidad,” and worshipful radio singles, “Mary Did You Know” and “A Christmas Hymn (to the tune of “Come Thou Fount”). The merry album experience wraps with the instrumental “A Spontaneous Outburst of Joy,” showcasing the group’s spirited, communal modern worship sound.

More about Rend Collective: Hailing from a small town off the coast of Northern Ireland, Rend Collective wants to be known as a celebration band. The group’s authentic and energetic style of worship has attracted an international audience, with songs such as “Build Your Kingdom Here,” “My Lighthouse” and “Counting Every Blessing.” With over 1 billion career streams, the band’s most recent albums have hit the highest non-Christian charting that any worship album has ever achieved in the U.K.

In 2018, Rend Collective sold out their hometown show at the SSE Arena in Belfast, making it the largest attended Christian concert in the country. With good reason, too: Rend Collective continually draws in fans across the world with their electric performances and a good dose of Northern Irish charm. From playing sold-out gigs in Canada, mainland Europe, Scandinavia, Brazil, Hong Kong and the U.S., alongside “Boldly I Approach” becoming the most popular hymn in the German church, the band is undeniably a global force.

Earlier this year, the band released its “FOLK!” album.