Downhere

The band was formed by Marc Martel and Jason Germain who were roommates at Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Saskatchewan.{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/Downhere.asp|title=Interview: Downhere|year=2001|access-date=May 22, 2010|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout}} In 1999 Martel and Germain added fellow Canadians Jeremy Thiessen and Tyson Manning, along with American Corey Doak, and released an eponymous debut album independently on Slyngshot Records. Tyson and Doak left the band, and later on Downhere signed with Word Records. In February 2001, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee. The band soon added bassist Glenn Lavender, whom they had met two years earlier, after his band had broken up. Downhere's independent album was reissued with the inclusion of bassist Lavender, and released in 2001 as their international debut, Downhere.

File:Marc Martel.jpg performing in the Queen Extravaganza Tour]]

Their second album, also released through Word Records was entitled So Much For Substitutes. In 2006 they were signed to Centricity Records and released Wide-Eyed and Mystified which led to the 2007 Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year, and Covenant Awards for Rock Album of the Year and Recorded Song of the Year ("A Better Way").

In 2007, the band released two additional CDs that were unique. In early 2007, they released Wide-Eyed and Simplified, which contained new versions of 8 songs from Wide-Eyed and Mystified, in addition to three popular songs from earlier releases. Later in 2007, the band released Thunder After Lightning (The Uncut Demos). This album contained 15 previously unreleased demos which were considered for use on Wide-Eyed and Mystified but were not used. The CD also contained demo versions of two songs which were used on Wide-Eyed and Mystified. In April 2007, Downhere released Thank You for Coming (The Live Bootlegs), a six-song collection of live songs recorded in 2007 while on tour with Jason Gray and Lanae Hale.

Their next album, Ending Is Beginning, was released on September 23, 2008. The band released the songs for a few days and gave fans the chance to give input on which songs they should put on the album, and as a pre-release to Ending Is Beginning in June 2008 they gave away the whole album Wide-Eyed and Mystified as a free download.{{cite web|url=http://www.musichristian.com:80/downheredownload/ |title=MusiChristian.com - your source for Christian Music, Christian Books, Christian DVD, Gospel Music, pre-order products and more. |date=June 18, 2010 |access-date=May 30, 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618060050/http://www.musichristian.com/downheredownload/ |archive-date=June 18, 2010 }}

In October 2009, they released How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas, a collection of Christmas songs. This included "How Many Kings", which was a bonus track on Ending Is Beginning. After the release of Ending Is Beginning, Downhere released Two at a Time: Sneak Peeks & B-Sides, a collection of older songs compiled over their career, as well as two new songs: "You're Not Alone" and "The Song You Sing". "You're Not Alone" was released as a single in May 2010.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}}

In May 2011, the first single, "Let Me Rediscover You", from their upcoming album On the Altar of Love was released.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} The album itself was released August 23, 2011.{{cite web |title=Downhere, On the Altar of Love Review |url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/OnTheAltarOfLove.asp |website=www.jesusfreakhideout.com}}

In September 2011, lead singer Marc Martel also gained attention on YouTube for his cover of "Somebody to Love" by Queen, auditioning to be part of the Queen tribute band. Martel was noted for his vocal and visual resemblance to Freddie Mercury.{{cite web|title=Canadian singer Marc Martel goes viral with Freddie Mercury imitation|url=http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/09/26/canadian-singer-marc-martel-goes-viral-with-freddie-mercury-imitation/|publisher=The National Post}} On December 8, 2011, Martel was announced to have been voted as one of six winners (and one of three Canadians) of the contest.{{cite web|title=Canadians Marc Martel and Francois-Olivier Doyon selected for Queen tribute band|url=http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/12/08/canadians-marc-martel-and-francois-olivier-doyon-selected-for-queen-tribute-band/|publisher=The National Post|access-date=April 28, 2012}}

In July 2012 the members of the band announced that as of January 1, 2013 they would no longer be touring together, although the band would not be broken up.{{cite web|title=A Letter From Us To You|url=http://dhposts.com/#501|access-date=July 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618231613/http://dhposts.com/#501|archive-date=June 18, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

Vocalist Marc Martel released an EP, Prelude, on February 1, 2013.^[9] The EP was recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles with producer John Fields.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} His full-length debut, Impersonator, released on September 30, 2014.^[10]

In October 2016, the band got together for one more night to celebrate Centricity Music's 10th anniversary. The band shared live footage of the rehearsal on their Facebook page. They performed their hit song, "A Better Way" at the event.

File:Downhere.jpg, Jason Germain, and Glenn Lavender performing in 2011]]

• Jason Germain – lead vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar (1999–2012)
• Marc Martel – lead vocals, lead guitar, keyboards (1999–2012)
• Jeremy Thiessen – drums, percussion (1999–2012)
• Glenn Lavender – bass guitar, backing vocals, acoustic guitar (2001–2012)
• Corey Doak – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1999–2001)
• Tyson Manning – bass guitar (1999–2001)

;GMA Canada Covenant Awards

• 2002 Rock Album of the Year: Downhere
• 2002 Rock Song of the Year: "Larger Than Life"
• 2003 Modern Rock/Alternative Album of the Year: So Much For Substitutes
• 2003 Modern Rock/Alternative Song of the Year: "What It's Like"
• 2006 Rock Album of the Year: Wide-Eyed and MystifiedDownhere also received 2006 GMAC nominations for Artist of the Year, Group of the Year, and Album of the Year: Wide-Eyed and Mystified. [http://www.gmacanada.ca/go/site/awards/C78/ GMAC 2006 Covenant Award Nominees] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061127060403/http://www.gmacanada.ca/go/site/awards/C78/ |date=November 27, 2006 }}. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
• 2006 Recorded Song of the Year: "A Better Way"{{cite web|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/downhere.takes.home.three.gma.covenant.trophies/8199.htm|title=Downhere Takes Home Three GMA Covenant Trophies|first=Kevin|last=Donovan|work=Christian Today|date=November 4, 2006|access-date=March 19, 2010}}
• 2006 Rock Song of the Year: "The More"
• 2007 nominee, Group of the Year
• 2007 nominee, Rock Song of the Year: "Surrender"
• 2009 Artist of the YearDownhere also received GMAC 2009 nominations for Group of the Year, and Modern Worship Song of the Year: "Live For You". [http://www.gmacanada.ca/go/site/news/2009/08/ GMAC 2009 Covenant Award Nominees] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901190544/http://www.gmacanada.ca/go/site/news/2009/08/ |date=September 1, 2009 }}. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
• 2009 Album of the Year: Ending Is Beginning
• 2009 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: Ending Is Beginning
• 2009 Song of the Year: "Here I Am"
• 2009 Recorded Song of the Year: "Here I Am"
• 2009 Inspirational Song of the Year: "Beggar Who Gives Alms"
• 2009 Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year: "Here I Am"
• 2009 Rock Song of the Year: "My Last Amen"
• 2009 Seasonal Song of the Year: "How Many Kings"
• 2010 Group of the Year
• 2010 Seasonal Song of the Year: "Christmas In Our Hearts"
• 2010 Seasonal Album of the Year: "How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas"
• 2011 nominee, Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year: "Let Me Rediscover You"
• 2011 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: Two At A Time
• 2011 nominee, Artist of the Year
• 2011 nominee, Group of the Year
• 2011 nominee, Male Vocalist of the Year (Marc Martel)
• 2011 nominee, Recorded Song of the Year: "Let Me Rediscover You"
• 2011 Song of the Year: "Let Me Rediscover You"
• 2012 Group of the Year
• 2012 Album of the Year: "On the Altar of Love"
• 2012 Male Vocalist of the Year (Marc Martel)

;GMA Dove Awards

• 2002 nominee, New Artist of the Year
• 2004 Modern Rock Recorded Song of the Year: "Breaking Me Down"
• 2004 nominee, Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year: So Much For Substitutes

;Juno Awards

• 2002 Juno Award, winner Best Gospel Album: Downhere
• 2004 Juno Award nominee, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: So Much For Substitutes
• 2007 Juno Award, winner Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: Wide-Eyed and Mystified
• 2009 Juno Award, winner Best Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: Ending Is Beginning
• 2012 Juno Award winner Best Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: On the Altar of Love

;Shai Awards (formerly The Vibe Awards)

• 2002 Rock/Alternative Album of the Year: Downhere
• 2003 nominee, Group of the Year

;Western Canadian Music Awards

• 2000 Outstanding Festival Act of the Year

• Downhere (independent, 1999){{cite web | url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/Downhere.asp | publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout | access-date=November 2, 2008 | title=Down to Earth with Downhere}}{{cite web | url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p511920|pure_url=yes}} | publisher=Allmusic | access-date=November 2, 2008 | first=James Christopher | last=Monger | title=(Biography) Downhere > Biography}}
• Downhere (2001)
• So Much for Substitutes (2003)
• Wide-Eyed and Mystified (2006)
• Wide-Eyed and Simplified (2007)
• Thunder After Lightning (The Uncut Demos) (2007)
• Thank You for Coming (The Live Bootlegs) (2008)
• Ending Is Beginning (2008, review{{cite web | url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/reviews/2008/endingisbeginning.html | publisher=Christianity Today | access-date=October 11, 2008 | date=September 22, 2008 | first=Russ | last=Breimeier | title=(Review) Ending Is Beginning | archive-date=September 3, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903192511/http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/reviews/2008/endingisbeginning.html | url-status=dead }})
• How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas (2009)
• Two at a Time: Sneak Peeks & B-Sides (2010){{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/artists/downhere.asp|title=Downhere Discography|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|access-date=May 15, 2010}}
• On the Altar of Love (2011)
• Love and History: The Best of Downhere (compilation, 2013){{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2013/10/07.Centricity%20Music%20to%20Release%20Love%20and%20History%20The%20Best%20Of%20Downhere%20October%2015%20to%20all%20Music%20Digital%20Outlets.asp|title=Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News, October 2013: Centricity Music to Release Love & History: The Best of Downhere October 15 to all Music Digital Outlets|publisher=Jesus freak Hideout|access-date=March 18, 2019}}

• While the Word Is Asleep (2004)

• Party of Five: The Complete Third Season (2008){{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

• Joshua - "Larger Than Life"
• The Imposter - "The More"
• No Greater Love - "A Better Way"

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{official website|http://www.downhere.com}}

{{Downhere}}

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Category:Canadian Christian rock groups

Category:Centricity Music artists

Category:Musical groups established in 1999

Category:Canadian alternative rock groups

Category:Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year winners

Category:1999 establishments in Canada