Caronport, Saskatchewan, Canada

Canadian Christian rock outfit Downhere was formed in 1998 by then Bible College roommates Marc Martel and Jason Germain. After adding Tyson Manning and Jeremy Thiessen, the group released its 1999 independent eponymous debut. The album was reissued (and partially re-recorded) internationally in 2001 with new bass player Glenn Lavender on Word Records, and was followed in 2003 by So Much for Substitutes, also for Word. Downhere inked a deal with Centricity Records in 2006 for its third release, the Juno and Dove award-winning Wide-Eyed and Mystified, followed by Ending Is Beginning in 2008. ~ James Christopher Monger