Any recent Cornerstone attendee who danced to the foot-stomping music of The Crossing, The Electrics, or Ballydowse will attest to the infectious popularity of Celtic and Celtic-influenced music. However, most folks in the Christian music scene are only aware of a few big name bands.

In light of this deplorable situation, I set out to discover other Christian Celtic bands worthy of dancing a jig to. After many long hours spent in front of a computer screen, I succeeded in my quest, stumbling across the website and mp3's of a Scottish band known as The Honey Thieves.

Intrigued by their songs, I had to find out more.  What follows is that "more," the results of an e-mail conversation with band member, Kenny Lyon.

Along with Kenny (flute, whistles, sax, harmonica, BGV's), band members Peter Semple (acoustic guitar, lead vocals), Andy Chittick (drums, BGV's), Jamie Haig (bass, fretless bass), Dougie Weir (electric guitar, mandolin, BGV's), and Graeme Ashwood (currently standing in for Andy on drums) have been playing together for the last five years throughout Scotland, the rest of the UK, and Germany.

Their music is a blend of folk, rock, and a hint of blues, with definite Celtic influences; a blend that the group aptly terms "frock."  And though fellow Christian "frock" rockers may be few and far between in their native country (according to Kenny, the Scottish Christian music scene is "pretty quiet"), there are "a handful of Christian bands who have had success in Scotland. You've maybe heard The Electrics. Another band is Nervous Passenger, who is excellent."

But with their first album, Electric Fairyland, The Theives seem intent on adding to the musical excellence of their homeland.  And the band actually got its name from the Scottish musical excellence of the past, coining their moniker from a song called "The Honeythief" by the 80's band Hipsway.  Yet the Thieves overall musical influences span the globe.

Says Kenny, "Peter is influenced by a lot of the folk singers I've never heard of, and the rest of us have influences ranging from Bob Dylan and The Beatles to stuff like The Cranberries."

After listening to some of their songs, I could definitely hear the influence of Bob Dylan in The Honey Thieves' ballads. These ballads, like Dylan's, are a form of musical storytelling.  One example of the Thieves' storytelling skills can be found in "The Ballad of Drumcree." Kenny elaborates on the story behind this song.

"Basically, every year the same problem occurs. In N. Ireland there is great tension between Protestant and Catholic residents. Belfast, in particular is usually quite bad. In July, the Protestants have many marches, referred to as 'Orange Walks' since those who take part are members of the Orange Order.

The problem the year we sang about (1996) was that there was a chance of peace in N. Ireland. All the politicians were trying to negotiate cease-fires, and things were getting tense as we approached the 12th of July. The biggest march was to a Protestant church in Drumcree, down the Catholic Garvachey Road. The government told the marchers they couldn't march down the road but eventually gave in and let them through.

The point to the song was that despite peace hanging in the balance, these Orangemen were more concerned with their traditions and the fact that they had always walked that way. They were prepared to throw peace away over it. We felt that sometimes traditions should be broken, and this was a case in point. There's no point doing something simply because it's always been done that way."

Songs like "Drumcree" show The Honey Thieves to be a very message-oriented band committed to dealing with difficult issues. According to their website, the band's purpose is "to be a Christian voice in a medium where we feel God's voice isn't heard above the influence of contemporary popular music today. It is our aim to sing primarily about our opinion of life issues in the hope that this will give people insight into what it is to live by God's standards."

Kenny maintains that "the mainstream definitely needs Christian bands. It's no good to hide in churches and Christian festivals with our message. Jesus came for the sick, not those who didn't need a doctor. We shouldn't neglect our primary calling of The Great Commission."

However, he also recognizes that there is a danger in venturing out into the secular arena. "On the flip side, bands who go into the mainstream for the wrong reasons (i.e. anything but God's calling) are in a dangerous situation. I'd sooner play to 10 people and be in God's will than (to play to) 1000's and be out of it."

But with the advent of the Internet, The Honey Thieves have been able to have the best of both worlds.  (Who doesn't want to stay in God's will AND add to their fan base?!)  Their website (www.thehoneythieves.org) has been online for about a year, and their mp3s have been downloaded over 700 times.  So if you, too, are among the masses searching for new and cool stuff in the Christian Celtic world, join the over 700 folks who can't be wrong and download the Honey Thieves mp3s at www.thehoneythieves.org. Or better yet buy their album Electric Fairyland.



Updates:
Since the interview, a lot has changed for The Honey Thieves. According to their website, Kenny graduated from University in July, and is going to be teaching at the Murree Christian School in northern Pakistan this fall. The rest of the guys in the band are praying for direction as the band's future. We'll keep you posted on this direction as we find out more.