Table of Contents
Eden Burning
Celtic Folk Rock
Cheltenham, England, United Kingdom
Eden Burning were a popular Christian band from Cheltenham led by Paul Northup. They originally met as members of Charlton Kings Baptist church, and were active within the Christian music community between 1989 and 1996. The band's name refers to the Biblical tale of Garden of Eden burning down after Adam and Eve are banished. Cross Rhythms magazine described them as “pioneers in the evolution and creative development of British music carrying a spiritual message.”
The band recorded three studio albums and two EP singles on CD as well as several audio cassette tapes and one video. There was also a live CD album, Smilingly Home, recorded in front of their home crowd at what is now the University of Gloucestershire. Subsequently, to celebrate 30 years of the Christian Greenbelt festival, they released a “Best of” album (The Hatchery 1990 – 1996).
Eden Burning toured extensively around Britain, particularly in the South and Midlands.[ They appeared at the Cropredy Festival in August 1995.
From January 1994 until Autumn 1996 the band produced nine issues of their newsletter, The Caper, with pictures, interviews, and discussions.
All of Eden Burning's studio recordings were made at FFG studios in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury with David Pickering Pick or for Brink, Mark Turner.
Northup later became general manager of Greenbelt Festivals Ltd..
Discography
1990 | Thin Walls | ffg |
1991 | Much More Than Near EP | ffg |
1992 | Thin Walls / Much More Than Near | ffg |
1992 | Vinegar and Brown Paper | ffg |
1993 | Vinegar and Brown Paper | Storyville Records |
1993 | Live • Smilingly Home | ffg |
1993 | Live • Smilingly Home | Storyville Records |
1994 | You Could Be the Meadow EP | ffg |
1994 | Mirth & Matter | ffg |
1995 | Be an Angel EP | ffg |
1996 | Mirth & Matter | R.E.X. Music |
1996 | Brink | Alliance Music |
2003 | The Hatchery 1990-1996 |
Thin Walls
1990 ffg (FFG 303C)
Paul Northup – Vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Neill Forrest – Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, accordion, mandolin, bouzouki, backing vocals
Charlotte Ayrton – Harmonica, flute
Nive (Kevin Hall) – Bass guitar
Mike Simpson – Drums, percussion
- Help My Unbelief
- Thin Walls
- No Man's Land
- There Was a Time
- Where Did We Hide Him
- The Place I Live
- Do Not Be Afraid
- Things I Didn't Say
- Pictures Tell Lies
- Jericho Skies
- The Waiting
Much More Than Near
1991 ffg (FFG 306C)
Paul Northup – Lead vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar, bouzouki
Neill Forrest – Mandolin, electric guitar, bouzouki, backing vocals
Charlotte Ayrton – Rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, flute, harmonica
Nive (Kevin Hall) – Bass guitar
Mike Simpson – Drums, percussion
- Much More Than Near
- Midnight Sun
- The Calling
- Everlasting Arms
Thin Walls / Much More Than Near
1992 ffg (FFG403C)
A compilation tape of the bands first two releases.
Vinegar and Brown Paper
1992 ffg (FFG309CD)
1993 Storyville Records (7901420529)
Paul Northup – Lead vocals, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, bouzouki
Neill Forrest – Mandolin, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, classical guitar, bouzouki, vocals
Charlotte Ayrton – Acoustic guitar, flute, harmonica, whistle
Nive (Kevin Hall) – Bass
Mike Simpson – Drums, percussion
Dave Pick - Hammond, piano
Simon Hurl - Violin
- My Senses Fly (4:36)
- If I Go Up (4:01)
- The Reel of Pickering Pick (1:38)
- Speak Easy (4:22)
- Different Drum (4:54)
- The Weaver (1:44)
- Feel the Rain (5:16)
- Jubilee (4:13)
- Simply Breathe (3:48)
- Hold the Dream (3:31)
- A Little More (4:05)
- Untitled Instrumental (1:30)
Live • Smilingly Home
1993 ffg (FFG 404CD)
1993 Storyville Records (STO 5001)
Paul Northup – Lead vocals, electric guitar, 12-string guitar
Neill Forrest – Mandolin, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Charlotte Ayrton – Acoustic guitar, whistles, harmonica
Charlie Ingram - Mandolin, backing vocals
Nive (Kevin Hall) – Bass
Mike Simpson – Drums
- There Was a Time (3:45)
- The Calling (3:36)
- Much More Than Near (2:59)
- Alec Murphy's (1:04)
- Hold the Dream (3:14)
- Medicine Bow (2:47)
- Jigs and Hornpipe (1:59v
- My Senses Fly (4:03)
- Jubilee (3:45)
- The Place I Live (3:41)
- If I Go Up (3:47)
- The Reel of Pickering Pick (1:17)
- Working Out Tomorrow (3:24)
- Midnight Sun (5:06)
- Feel the Rain (5:45)
You Could Be the Meadow EP
1994 ffg (CD FFG 408)
- You Could Be the Meadow
- The Brontes, Alice and Me
- Forgive-Me-Not (live)
- Matty Groves (live)
Mirth & Matter
1994 ffg (FFG 405CD)
1996 R.E.X. Music (REX 41038-2)
Paul Northup – Vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Charlotte Ayrton – Acoustic guitar, whistle, harmonica
Charlie Ingram - Mandolin, electric guitar, piano, backing vocals
Nive (Kevin Hall) – Bass, backing vocals
Mike Simpson – Drums, percussion
Dave Pick - Hammond organ, piano
Sarah Pick - Backing vocals
Jonathan Stabler - Cello
Jeff Spencer - Viola
Matthew Denton - Violin
Matthew Elston - Violin
Brian Blessed - Very loud bellowing
- Remember When (4:26)
- The Joust (3:58)
- Me Comfort Still (4:15)
- Sunrise (East of London) (3:23)
- Six Months On (4:38)
- Hey Diddle Diddle (3:28)
- Dependence Day (3:15)
- Forgive-Me-Not (3:58)
- Song For an Unknown God (4:16)
- Hem Me In (6:17)
Be an Angel EP
1995 ffg (CD FFG 409)
- Be an Angel (3:23)
- Like in Minds (3:33)
- Song for an Unknown God (live) (4:23)
- Hem Me In (Ambient remix) (6:28)
Brink
1996 Alliance Music (ALD082)
- Deep Blue Sea (3:06)
- Movers and Shakers (4:06)
- Stories (3:49)
- Almost Spent (4:05)
- Big Regret (2:53)
- Desire Lines (4:36)
- Another Country (4:13)
- With a Kiss (3:34)
- Wrap It Up (4:03)
- Western Eyes (4:30)
- Let Me Lose (7:26)
The Hatchery 1990-1996
2003 Independent
- Deep Blue Sea
- Hem Me In
- Feel the Rain
- Stories
- My Senses Fly
- If I Go Up
- Let Me Lose
- Song for an Unknown God
- Much More Than Near
- There Was a Time
- Hold the Dream
- Desire Lines
- The Joust
- Jigs
- Movers and Shakers
- Six Months On
- Midnight Sun
- Never Could Play the Guitar
- Harvest Home
Compilation Appearances
Mannerisms - A Celebration of the Music of Geoff Mann (1994 Wobbly Records)
07) His Love