PHATFISH PLAYING LIVE
HISTORY/
2004-2006/
Late in 2002, Alan Rose (guitarist) informed the band that he felt God was calling him to new things, and so with some sadness the band said goodbye to him at Festival Manchester in the August of 2003. The remaining four members took some time out to explore other projects. They appeared on the BBC’s Songs of Praise and led worship for a tour entitled Does the Future have a Church, with Matt Redman. Nathan and Luke produced an album for Kingsway’s Survivor label called Soul Sista.

Towards the end of 2004, work started on a new Phatfish worship album called Faithful. The album drew together several of the ‘congregational’ songs that the guys had written over the years and presented them with a fresh sound. The album was released before Christmas that year, and toured in the spring and autumn of 2005. Later that year Nathan started putting together the album Trinity - a response to a book about the need for worship songs with a focus on the Trinitarian nature of God. Phatfish also toured with Stuart Townend on his Monument to Mercy tour and accompanied Lou as she recorded her debut solo album ‘Treasure’.


2006 saw the release of the DVD project There is a Day in which the band expanded the ‘Hope-Unplugged’ video. Bonus features were added to the disk, including a twenty-minute documentary about the band’s history.

Also in 2006, Phatfish put out a new type of resource called ‘Working as a Band’ for local church worship musicians. Mike Sandeman developed seminar material that the band had used at various worship conferences over the years to communicate some basic principles and practical requirements to help less experienced musicians work together effectively. Training up others in music to serve the local church has become a key part of the Phatfish vision.

Late in 2006, working with Heavenbound producer Kevan Frost, Phatfish recorded Guaranteed. The winning combination of vibrant song writing, tight production and superb musicianship assured its place as another Phafish landmark album.