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Catholic Underground ©, a.k.a. CU, is a cultural apostolate of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal - www.franciscanfriars.com. It is a direct response to a call that began with Pope John Paul II, and is continued by Pope Benedict XVI. JPII said that because the Gospel lives in conversation with culture, we must be fearless in crossing the cultural threshold of the communication and information revolution now taking place.

The first part of the evening is Eucharistic adoration, and begins with Vespers (Evening Prayer). This is the universal prayer of the Church - prayed by the Catholics throughout the world in every time zone and in every language. After Vespers, there is a time of simple praise. This provides a window for each person to personally encounter Jesus Christ. The beauty of the darkened Church illumined by candles helps us enter the mystery of our Lord's presence in the Eucharist. The holy hour ends with solemn Benediction.

The second part showcases Catholic artists. Here we experience the "new evangelization". The Underground includes music, poetry, visual art, dancers, film, drama, etc.

We end our evening as we began. With the prayer of the Church. Compline (Night Prayer) is simple and beautiful. It concludes with a hymn to Our Lady, Daughter Zion. Mother of the New Jerusalem.

Coming to CU-Philly this September... Army of Me (Acoustic)

Schedule for Catholic Underground:
7:15pm Confession Begins
7:30pm Holy Hour and Evening Prayer
8:30pm Benediction
9:00pm Coffeehouse and Entertainment
10:15pm Night Prayer

Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul
18th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Free Parking Available
Suggested donation of $5 - includes entertainment, food, and drinks
For more information contact Chris Jones or call 215-965-4625

UPCOMING DATES & FEATURED ARTISTS

Saturday, September 18, 2010 featuring Army of Me (Acoustic) (Listen to Army of Me @ armyofmeonline.com) Taken from Army of Me Facebook Page - “We wanted a record that would communicate with everyone, not just one group of people or another. We’re saying what we feel in a simple way with the hope that if you’re a human being with a heart that’s beating, you will appreciate at least some part of this record”, says Army of Me singer Vince Scheuerman. The big songs of Army of Me’s debut CITIZEN speak from the heart, with the feeling that less is more. And it’s more reminiscent of early Oasis or The Verve, and R.E.M than quirkily trendy indie pop. Army of Me is transcending their humble Washington DC indie roots. "We are trying to be one of the best bands you will ever see", said lead singer Vince Scheuerman during an interview with Alternative Press magazine (June 2005). Army of Me had just been named one of the top unsigned bands in America by the influential rock magazine, and the article started a barrage of major label interest for the Washington DC based band. This came after several years of DIY touring and a string of self released albums and EPs. The new album CITIZEN represents growth and a new chapter for the band. With the band sounding bigger than ever before, the lyrics deal with desire and personal growth in “Perfect”, uncertainty and change in “Going Through Changes”, and rebirth and hope in “Rise” – a song inspired by the tsunami of Dec. 26, 2005; just three of the albums 12 tracks. “It’s a very human record”, says Scheuerman.  ...more on Army of Me...

Saturday, November 20, 2010 featuring The Lee Roessler Band (Listen to The Lee Roessler Band) The Lee Roessler Band, driven by the music flowing through them, ignites the Christian pop rock scene with a message that proclaims the hope we have in Christ.  Propelled into ministry by God's design, TLRB is committed to living faith with integrity, knowing without Him, there is no Way, no Truth and no Life.  With lyrics that compel the heart and a sound that stays in the mind long after the concert is over, TLRB invites the audience to "Come and Follow." This high energy, inspiring band has opened for Jeremy Camp and Matt Maher, and shared the stage with Hawk Nelson, Family Force Five, Skillet, Stellar Kart, GRITS, Francesca Battistelli, and many more.  They won the Ascenxion Scout Project at Ichthus and Indie's Shoutfest, in addition to being finalists out of 48 bands in Legacy's Battle for Christ. Other highlights include playing at Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and leading worship in Long Island, NY for Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States.  ...more on The Lee Roessler Band...

Saturday, January 15, 2011 featuring TBA

Saturday, March 19, 2011 featuring Manchild (Listen to Manchild) Greg Owens (Manchild) is a true believer in the power of hip-hop music. He is one-half of Mars ILL, a duo from Atlanta, Georgia who have been turning the culture on its ear since the year 2000. Along with Mars ILL cohort, DJ Dust, Manchild has released 3 nationally released albums, selling over 40,000 units worldwide, and performing more than 600 concerts in the United States, Canada and Europe. The group has always found a way to gain respect without compromising their message. Manchild has shared the stage with such mainstream notables as KRS-One, Living Legends, Atmosphere, M.F. Doom, Bigg Jus and Brother Ali, Toby Mac, G.R.I.T.S., John Reuben, Kutless, Pillar, KJ-52, Paul Wright, Shawn McDonald, 4th Avenue Jones and many more. Performing in front of varying types of crowds has sharpened Manchild into a top flight performer and communicator. As a solo rap artist and speaker, Manchild uses the art of songwriting to communicate his heart, his mind and worldview. He is able to create music that speaks directly to the issues that real people face every day. He also takes a true-school hip-hop approach and creates positive and upbeat music that reflects the joy of life his expression of it. “I’ve seen the influence of music, both good and bad, over the years. I want to give people a viable alternative to the negative music pushed over radio waves today,” says Manchild.

Saturday, May 21, 2011 featuring Mike Mangione (Listen to Mike Mangione @ www.mikemangione.com) Taken from MikeMangione.com - Mike Mangione creates music that speaks to the masses in a brutally honest tone. His constant dedication to his audience and the art of live performance has been the underlying impetus behind his forthcoming release, “Tenebrae,” an album he recently recorded with his band. The album marks a dénouement of sorts, the culmination of a process that began as a search for a subtle, organic, yet dynamic and expressive sound. ... Born in a northern suburb of Chicago and now residing in Milwaukee, Mangione is no stranger to movement and change. Following the 2005 release of “There and Back,” which charted CMJ at number 16, Mangione has logged approximately one hundred and fifty shows per year throughout the country including such notable performances as SXSW, Midwest Music Summit, Chicago's Mobfest, Milwaukee's Summerfest, and the band has been invited to perform at the World Youth Day Festival (the largest youth festival in the world) in Sydney, Australia in July 2008. Mangione has opened for performers like Jamie Cullum, The Samples, Will Hoge, Jacks Mannequin, Lifehouse, Brian Vander Ark, and Michael McDermott. Through his travels, Mike met with producer Duane Lundy (These United States, Scourge of the Sea, The Parlour Boys, Vandaveer, Ben Sollee) and the two quickly developed a relationship. "Duane and I had a lot in common in terms of musical influences. We had the same vision for the album and decided to record as much as we could live, with very little overdubbing, so that the performances could breathe and bleed together - literally bleed together into the microphones." ...more on Mike Mangione...

Saturday, July 16, 2011 featuring Paul Jisung Kim (Listen to Paul Jisung Kim @ www.pjkmusic.com) Catholic Underground-Los Angeles favorite comes to Philadelphia!  Taken from PJKmusic.com - What sets Paul’s music and live performances apart from the competition are his vocal abilities: beatboxing, harmonies, and lyrics. He gives new meaning to the term: "one-man-band". Using a loop machine on stage that allows him to produce live multi-track vocal instrumentals, he captivates audiences throughout the country. His talent does not cap at his unique sound (which draws influence from artists such as Matisyahu, Coldplay, Imogen Heap, and Jack Johnson) but also extends to his gift of songwriting. Having spent several years as a performer in the genre of spoken word/slam poetry, his lyrics prove to be not only catchy but also marked with a depth that makes people stop and reflect. He also enjoys acoustic music and singing his latest, favorite cover. ...more on Paul Jisung Kim...