Easter Sunrise Service 2010: An Interview with Steve
“Music and art go beyond politics and religion and connect at a very earthy level where people are at.”
Wesley Mission’s Easter Sunrise Service was packed to capacity and full of energy. One of those bringing energy to the event was gospel singer-songwriter, Steve Grace. After the Service, Steve took some time to talk about his interaction with his very different audiences in Australia and overseas.
When Steve Grace was at high school he wrote rock songs that connected with his friends. In those early years, he asked the Pastor at his church if he could play during the service. But he was met with the response, “Ask me in a few months.” He says that in the late 70s, rock music was still frowned on in churches. So, he started busking at Circular Quay and discovered “the power of writing a relevant song” for people’s lives.
Steve is inspired by the way Jesus told stories. If Jesus was at the Sea of Galilee, he would tell fishing stories. If he was in a farming area, he would tell farming stories. In a similar way, Steve writes music about the experiences of his very different audiences. Steve plays all over Australia, including many Indigenous communities. He also plays to communities overseas. Steve wrote his song Western Desert Sun for Indigenous communities west of Alice Springs. He wrote his song Highlands Highway about a notoriously dangerous highway in the PNG highlands for the people of that region.
When Steve plays and preaches in an Indigenous community, he and his band will invite people to use their instruments for worship. He says people’s initial response is, “Why would these white fellas let us play their Fender Stratocaster?” People take up the offer with gusto and it means some shows roll on for eight hours. At the end of many shows, Steve does not end up preaching as planned. Instead, one of the old Indigenous pastors will stand to deliver a message. Steve says that it is then not a “white fella show” but something made by the community. “It’s the opposite spirit to the way the world does things”.
“Ultimately people matter most. And they greatly appreciate that you’ve taken the time to speak into their lives.”
He says the church in Australia in the past 30 years has embraced the power of music. “Music and art go beyond politics and religion and connect at a very earthy level where people are at.”
In August, 2010 Steve will begin his Heritage Tour across Australia. The ethos of the tour will be about valuing the traditions and knowledge passed down to us from older Australians, playing songs from Australia’s past, traditional hymns and contemporary music.
By Gavin Hanbridge
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