BATH — The Chocolate Church Arts Center will host the Campbell Brothers Sacred Steel Christmas show 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30.
It is the only New England appearance of the group this season.
The Campbell Brothers present a variety of material from the African-American Holiness-Pentecostal repertoire with a new twist — the growling, wailing, shouting, singing and swinging voice of the steel guitar, played as you have never heard it played before. Their music has moved from sanctuary to concert hall so secular audiences are now able to appreciate a performance both devoted and rocking.
The Campbell Brothers, whose father is a bishop, grew up in churches where steel guitars replaced organs, a style known as Sacred Steel. Every Sunday they played for church services, where they were admonished to “play the word.”
Pedal steel guitarist Chuck Campbell and his lap steel-playing brother Darick are two of the finest in this tradition. Rounding out the band, which has been playing together for nearly two decades, is a high-energy rhythm section featuring brother Phil Campbell on electric guitar and his son Carlton on drums. Katie Jackson’s classic, gutsy gospel vocals bring the ensemble to a level of energy and expression that defies description.
For ticket information, visit chocolatechurcharts.org or call the box office at 207-442-8455. Chocolate Church is at 840 Washgington St.
