About this Event
Andy Squyres is a singer-songwriter born and raised in the mountains of Northern California but after moving east in the late 1990’s, he’s spent the last few decades carving songs out of the foothills of his North Carolina home. Heavily influenced by the poetics of Leonard Cohen, Squyres leans heavily into the lyrical tradition of artists like Bob Dylan, The National, and John Mark McMillan, having a passion for words that are equally worshipful and honest.
His live show is ache on display, a joyful protest, at once humorous and tragic, weaving together songs and tales of heartbreak and hope, making audiences laugh and sometimes cry while feeling the wonder of the sorrows and joys of life.
In 2016 he released his album Cherry Blossoms and most recently in 2021 he released his album Poet Priest which Brett McCracken of The Gospel Coalition named the album of the year stating that "If people claim Christian music is all schmaltz that sugarcoats reality, they haven’t listened to Andy Squyres. The Charlotte-based (by way of California) singer-songwriter makes beautiful, brutal music that wrestles with grief, pain, and the struggles of faith."
In 2021 and 2022 he also released books called Poet Priest Vol.1 and Poet Priest Vol.2, respectively. They are each compilations of essays about being content with living a small, faithful life.
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“ I found Andy Squyres music about seven years ago as I was undergoing a revolution in my faith. After almost 50 years as a Christian, I was coming to see the true depth, breadth, and width of my own inability to ‘March to Zion’ while simultaneously experiencing the bombshell news – not just hearing it but experiencing it – that Zion had marched to me! Fifty-year-old men don’t have the time or the energy to put the things happening inside of us into words. But there was Andy singing
“Between the pestle and the mortar the bitterness is crushed
And every sweet illusion is turning into dust
I don't understand but I'm learning to believe
Can you shake your fist at heaven or blame your God above
If he allows the weakness to prove the strength of love
I would let you go but you won't let go of me”
Now you might expect me to tell you how Andy has made my days better or at least how he’s made the dark times brighter. Maybe someone else can tell you that story but for me Andy comes and sits with me in the ash heaps of my dumb choices and indulgences. He won’t tell me everything is all right but he will point out that there are wisps of holy things floating around us. And that’s enough. I have plenty of people telling me “I’ve got a lion inside of these lungs.” It’s nice when someone notices there’s some tar, asbestos, and dust as well.
I’m not a music person. I don’t know what style of music Andy plays. All I know is it is authentic, unaffected, and transparent. His music fit’s this moment. I think Andy Squyres music fits the place many Christians find themselves in today. We are tired of factory music; we appreciate the art of the old soul. We yearn for the sparse muttered word of an elder that explodes into so much as we mull it over.
The Northern California coastlands and the Appalachian Smokeys experience a similar weather phenomenon. As the night tries to cling to the land it covers it with dripping wet fog. It is dark, cold and uncomfortable to be in and yet one knows there is sunlight above causing the earth to give up this moisture. Andy’s music is written for the walker stumbling through this type of fog. He speaks of warmth and light we don’t see yet. But the fog itself is a testimony to the sunlight that’s coming. Listen for yourself and see if you agree with me.”
-Jim Moore
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Immanuel Fellowship Church, 82 Henry Avenue, Ballwin, United States
USD 20.00
