The Word is Love

Jubilation is people from all walks of life coming together to sing songs reflecting universal themes of struggle, salvation, redemption and love. After 20 years firmly bedded in the gospel tradition, this Auckland-based choir is branching out in the same way gospel left the fields and found a city groove.

Our new repertoire interprets artists like Prince, The Beatles and the songs of founding members Jean McAllister and Rick Bryant, and places them comfortably alongside old gospel favourites by Blind Willie Johnson and that wunderkind ‘Trad’. It’s a groovy mix of the divine and the profane, the sweet and the raucous, Americana meets Aotearoa.

For most in this urban vocal collective, singing is not a day job, it’s a labour of love; the way we choose to express ourselves. For the performing artists in Jubilations’ ranks, it’s all of the above plus the chance to branch out and work a different artistic muscle; where else would you hear NZ theatre icon Jennifer Ward-Lealand Te Atamira CNZM let loose in a gospel quartet Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody, or actor/writer Fiona Samuel MNZM melt hearts on the traditional folk song Poor Wayfaring Stranger, or entertainer extraordinaire Jackie Clarke MNZM bring the house down with vintage Tom Waits.

Jubilation creates a truly unique, soulful rock ‘n’ roll experience for audiences of all ages.