I am influenced by scads of musicians, writers, theologians, thinkers. Here’s my running list. I am by no means limited to the following:
:::::: SINGER/SONGWRITERS & MUSICIANS ::::::
• Bruce Cockburn • John Prine • Kate Campbell • Bob Franke •
• Ellis Paul • Tom Kimmel • Dan Hill • Van Morrison • David LaMotte •
• Tom Chapin • Shawn Phillips • David Wilcox • Cat Stevens •
• Dougie MacLean • Gordon Lightfoot • Greg Brown • Dan Tyminski •
• Allison Kraus • Lucy Kaplansky • Sam Bush • Richard Shindell •
• Gillian Welch • Paul Simon • Martyn Joseph • Chris Rosser •
• Jonatha Brooke • Jonathan Byrd • Michael Martin Murphy •
• Mindy Smith • Iris DeMent • Carrie Newcomer •
• Christine Kane • Kenny Loggins • Tim O’Brien • Doc Watson •
• Pat Terry • Chris Smither • Peter Case • Marty Stuart •
• John Paul Walters • Johnsmith • Don McLean • Peter, Paul, & Mary •
• Patty Griffin • Cheryl Wheeler • Bono • Steve Earle • Kathy Mattea •
• Mary-Chapin Carpenter • John McCutcheon • Buddy Miller •
• James McMurtry • Bernie Taupin • Jerry Douglas • Pierce Pettis •
• Hayes Carll • Guy & Candie Carawan • Pete Seeger • Darrell Scott •
• Jim Lauderdale • Loudon Wainwright, III • Dar Williams •
• Mary Gauthier • Joni Mitchell • Andrew Gold • Rodney Crowell •
• Jackson Browne • Mike Cross • Susan Werner • Bob Shane •
• Lindsey Buckingham • John Gorka • Imogen Heap •
• Arlo Guthrie • Sting • Carole King • Tom Paxton • Quincy Jones •
• Lucinda Williams • Slaid Cleaves • Billy Joel • Jimmy LaFave •
• Doc Watson • Earl Scruggs • Eliza Gilkyson • Kris Kristofferson •
• John Mellencamp • Ray LaMontagne • Eric Clapton • Don Schlitz •
• Neil Young • Si Kahn • Gerry Rafferty • Nanci Griffith •
• Tracy Grammer • David Holt • casey driessen • Karla Bonoff •
• John Michael Talbot • Beth Nielsen Chapman • Merle Haggard •
:::::: BANDS ::::::
• Bela Fleck & the Flecktones • Elton John band • Lost Dogs •
• Nickel Creek • Yes • Crooked Still • The Duhks • The Waybacks •
• The Greencards • The Doobie Brothers • The Dixie Dregs •
• The Eagles • The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band • The Kingston Trio •
• The Smothers Brothers • Emerson, Lake, & Palmer • America •
• U2 • Indigo Girls • Sister Hazel • Vertical Horizon • The Chieftains
• Creedence Clearwater Revival • Tannahill Weavers •
:::::: THEIR POETRY, SONGS & MUSIC WILL NEVER DIE ::::::
• Dan Fogelberg • Mark Heard • John Denver • John Hartford • Jim Croce •
• Kate Wolf • Harry Chapin • Johnny Cash • Randy Vanwarmer •
• Steve Goodman • Jethro Burns • Bill Monroe • Woody Guthrie •
• John Stewart • Roy Orbison • Robert Burns • Phil Ochs • Townes Van Zandt •
• Warren Zevon • Buddy Holly • Merle Watson • Django Reinhardt •
:::::: AUTHORS, THINKERS, THEOLOGIANS ::::::
• Christina Baldwin • Barbara Kingsolver • Christopher Moore •
• Eugene Peterson • Walter Brueggemann • John Cobb • Anne Lamott •
• Bonni Goldberg • Bill Moyers • John McPhee • Sigurd Olsun • Robert Service •
• J.R.R. Tolkien • Kathryn Lasky • Leonard Sweet • J. Philip Newell •
• Thomas Merton • Frederick Buechner • Barbara Kingsolver • Brian McLaren •
This is inspired!!
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Call That Christmas co-written by Tommy Brown & Bryan has been awarded the prize of Honorable Mention in the 2008 NSAI/CMT Song Contest. More news HERE.
"What matters to McFarland is the connection
between deep faith rootage and current
courage for faith in action. In cadences that
bring the listener along, McFarland witnesses to
hard issues that must be faced, but sings, in
the midst of those hard issues, about healing,
hope and finally about the divine “You.” Sung
faith generates openness to freedom and
obedience. The beat is just right for free
obedience and obedient freedom."
~ Walter Brueggemann, author of The Prophetic Imagination
"When I heard Bryan's songs, I felt immediately that he was a kindred spirit and helping turn the tide with his beautiful lyrics and energetic music .... Bottom line - I LOVE it. I love the lyrical content (what a relief to hear some good poetry and content, and not a rehash of the CCM cliches!) ... and the musical content. Favorites were Help Us and Lyrical Freedom Riders and Blacktop River. Great stuff, Bryan. There are so few people doing what you're doing ... especially songs that can be sung in public worship. Keep up the good work!"
~ Brian McLaren, author of The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth That Could Change Everything
"Bryan Field McFarland’s All That Matters sets a new standard for independent recordings. Strong lyrics, tight harmonies, catchy melodies, and a solid band lay the groundwork for an enjoyable ride through a variety of genres, while maintaining the theme that “God is love, and love is all that matters.”
The album contains bouncy songs like Open the Gift and Blacktop River, as well as reflective, heartfelt works, such as You Are, Help Us and Lyrica (Celtic Prayer). You’ll also find it hard to listen to What I Want without a smile on your face. McFarland, an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), calls his compositions “sermon-songs,” and rightly so. Each of the 12 songs has a well-crafted message that could easily be used for sermon material.
A master storyteller, McFarland communicates with clarity and passion, obviously a result of many years of ministry experience. He keeps the vocals out in front, never letting the music overpower the lyrics. His uncluttered arrangements nicely complement the mood of each song.
McFarland is contributing a portion of the proceeds of two songs to charities. Enough for Everyone, which addresses world hunger, will benefit the Presbyterian Hunger Program. Lyrical Freedom Riders, whichtells about the 1961 Freedom Riders, who played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement, will benefit the We Shall Overcome Fund.
So whether you’re in the mood for a worship song, a thought-provoking lyric, or a toe-tapping upbeat tempo, just pop All That Matters into your CD player and get ready for an enjoyable encounter with McFarland’s creations. When it comes to music, isn’t that all that matters?
"
~ Jeff Friend, a freelance writer in Largo, FL Presbyterians Today
Along with the release of All That Matters in, Bryan excitedly announces that a portion of the proceeds from two songs will raise funds for two programs in which he deeply believes. Enough For Everyone AND Lyrical Freedom Riders will respectively benefit the Presbyterian Hunger Program AND We Shall Overcome: The Fund. Click HERE to order your copy of All That Matters from CD Baby.
Please join Bryan in working to foster the political will to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. They are attainable!!
All That Matters was recorded, mixed, and mastered at the Nashville-area at Red Alert Studios and features twelve original songs spanning genres from folk to Celtic to gospel. All That Matters includes the title track, a laid-back folksy tune exclaiming that "love is all that matters" AND Enough For Everyone, a folk-rock wakeup-call declaring that abundance is the truth we have to share with a world frightened that there is not enough food, clean water, love, peace, and goodness to go around.
Guest artists on All That Matters include Todd Sholar (various keyboards & percussion), Shawn Conley (bass & electric guitars AND vocal debut on Get Back Behind Me), Geno Weatherbee (drums), Dale Hardiman (drums), Troy Engle (mandolin, octave mandolin, fiddles, dobro, banjo), "Cookie" Weatherbee (backing vocals), the choir of First Presbyterian Church in Gallatin, TN (backing vocals on Lyrica (Celtic Prayer), Abby Sholar (backing vocals on Call That Christmas), Destiny Gleaves (backing vocals on Enough For Everyone) AND Meagan McFarland (backing vocals on Enough For Everyone).
Bryan combines spirituality and emotional storytelling into a sentimental yet lighthearted style. He tours listening rooms, theaters and coffeehouses AND leads workshops and retreats at colleges & universities, churches, conference centers, and private venues.
Congrats on the Honorable Mention for Call That Christmas! That is SO AWESOME!!! I've kept it on my page for a long time and love hearing it! Have a great week!
Thanks for finding me here in Myspace-land and for sharing your cool music with me! I've really enjoyed listening...and hope that our musical paths will cross in the real world sometime. Until then, remember that Life Without Music Would Be A Mistake! :-)
Hey Bryan: It was great to see you at the CD release party....and man...the CD is fantastic.... Great JOB!!!!!! Keep up the good work... and to all who read this ....if you don't have the CD...get it ....you will truly be blessed by it.... thanks again Bryan... Jan
Hey Bryan, thanks for the add and may I say I love your messages. Thru your page I have discovered One.com and am happy to find so many people are interested in applying Christ-like principles in their lives. The greed, selfishness and ingnorance that inhabits our lives these days has gotten way out of balance with the principles and examples that Jesus left with us to ponder. In this country of ours, we have to prove by our everyday actions, whether or not capitalism, democracy and the basic principles of Christ's teachings can exist side by side. Your songs are a great reminder to us that we have to prove our faithfulness to "loving your neighbor as yourself" every day or it fades away in the heat of everyone's personal "bottom line". Keep your faith and keep reminding us that we are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, as they are ours.
The question is the world and music from the heart is at least part of the answer!
Hi Bryan! Thank you for finding me! I could NOT stop listening to your songs! It is so wonderful to listen to a great song that has words that are in sync with the positive way one is trying to live one's life! Thank you for using your talent and music to share joy and abundance and hope! All the best! :)Kelly
I listened to your new album(!) and I cannot wait to listen to it again! "Man, what a generous singer-songwriter!" is what kept running through my mind. Couldn't help but to sing along too. I'm so glad I have this album. Nice artwork too, and I like the interior of the liner notes - would like to know the history of that hand traceable labyrinth..
Let me know when your plans include Texas in your tour, and maybe we can work up a House Concert or something. (o: JoLynn
The Bible says God rested on the 7th day, but what I think he really did was pop in a Brian McFarland CD and CHILLED! What a blessing to those who actually listen, man....what a blessing!
Love ya, Buddy! Let's get together and write SOON!!!!!!!! Try me on my cel this weekend.
