Phatfish takes Lowestoft to a higher place

By Keith Morris

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Higher is an appropriate name for the latest Phatfish CD and tour which reached Lowestoft’s Marina Theatre on Friday night (November 18) as their performance certainly reached the heights.

 

A first-ever visit to Lowestoft for the well-known Christian band attracted a good crowd of around 280 packing the stalls and the front of the circle in this quaint traditional theatre.

 

Jesters and fairies mixed with an audience of all ages to enjoy an evening which provided a sublime blend of both worship service and rock gig, transporting the crowd alternately from the depths of worship to bouncing up and down in the aisles. Singer and worship leader Lou Fellingham expertly led the crowd on a spiritual voyage.

 

Many of the tracks on the new album Higher were given a good airing, from the catchy Life Extraordinary, through Faith is Rising, Marriage Song, In the Beginning to the fast-paced Resurrection Life. Most are hard-hitting songs combining both a celebration of the Christian faith and an attempt to tackle sometimes thorny topics such as grace, science, resurrection and Prof Dawkins.

 

The band have played alongside well-known Christian artists including Matt Redman and Stuart Townend and have performed their unique rock/pop/funk blend to thousands at major festivals up and down the UK including Newday and Soul Survivor and toured the US, Canada and Europe. But on their own, with a very responsive audience in a delightful setting, Phatfish were surely at the top of their game.

 

After a short break to catch our breath, Phatfish returned with a second set containing more worship songs including a new, and highly effective, take on the classic hymn And Can it Be – a personal favourite.

 

Recorded violins in the new Come on My Boy added a different edge to the six-piece which include Nathan Fellingham on drums, Luke Fellingham on bass, Ben Hall and Jos Wintermeyer on guitar and Michael Sandeman on keyboards.

 

Some older favourite hymns including Amazing God and Holy Holy helped bring two hours of very special and absorbing music to a suitably reflective finale and lifted the audience to a higher place.