Brandon Lake may be the preferred live performance artist in Christian music historical past.
But, he made it clear — proper from the beginning of his sold-out live performance on the SAP Middle in San Jose — that he was removed from being the true star of the present on Sunday evening.
“Tonight is not about me,” stated the singer-songwriter, who’s a worship pastor at Seacoast Church in South Carolina. “But it is about one man — and His name is Jesus.”
Lake proceeded to show the Shark Tank into an enormous revival tent, main what the artist introduced from the stage as a crowd of 15,000 attendees by way of a 2 1/2-hour-plus set of among the strongest up to date Christian music (CCM) songs of latest years.
That each one of this was taking place within the coronary heart of Silicon Valley/Bay Space — extensively generally known as one of many least non secular and most “unchurched” areas within the nation — solely made this accomplishment extra spectacular, drastically underscoring the historic nature of Lake’s trajectory as an artist.
Merely put, this 35-year-old expertise is drawing attendance numbers on the field workplace which can be merely astounding — arguably past something ever seen within the CCM style earlier than.
The closest comparability could be Amy Grant, who often stuffed arenas again on the top of her recognition. But, she by no means did it like Lake — who’s packing main sports activities venues from coast to coast. And we’re not simply speaking about Dallas, Nashville and different CCM strongholds, but in addition the likes of San Jose and Portland.
Lauren Daigle was additionally an enormous draw — particularly a number of years again — but she did in order a crossover artist who arguably appealed equally to non-CCM pop followers.
There’s nothing “crossover” about Lake. He’s not drawing pop followers as a lot as he’s mobilizing Christians to get off the coach and to the concert events– or, as he prefers to name it, “church.”
Brandon Lake performs in his “King of Hearts Tour” on the SAP Middle in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
Lake’s success is a part of a broader storyline that tells of an enormous inflow of latest listeners — particularly youthful listeners — to CCM, making it one of many hottest and fastest-growing genres of the final 5 years.
A part of that has to do with artists like Lake embracing Tik-Tok and different avenues the place younger listeners eat music. A part of it has to do with the superb expertise — and particularly songwriting means — of lots of the style’s newer acts. However, principally, it appears to counsel that CCM is providing issues — hope, religion, renewal, and many others. — that listeners merely aren’t discovering elsewhere.
Taking the stage at proper round 8 p.m., following a superb opening set by former We the Kingdom singer Franni Money, the ever-energetic Lake opened the present with the title observe to his newest album (and tour namesake) “King of Hearts.”
He then upped the ante, by a large margin, with “Count ‘Em” — probably one of the best pure rocker that the CCM style has produced in years — working the group with ardour and goal in entrance of his topnotch band.
There have been instances when followers would merely get swept up within the music — maybe throughout considered one of their favourite songs — similar to they’d do at a live performance from any form of style, swinging their arms within the air, taking Instagram pictures and singing together with gusto. But, time and time once more, Lake introduced us again to the principle level of the night:
“This is not about entertainment,” he stated. “This is about having an encounter with the living God.”
Brandon Lake performs in his “King of Hearts Tour” on the SAP Middle in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
One of many issues that differentiates Lake from others within the style is the best way he’s embraced rock and pop kinds, each within the how he constructs songs — with a quantity like “Count ‘Em” sounding like one thing that would hail from the Foo Fighters catalog — and in the best way he performs on the stage.
This was an enormous funds, large video screens manufacturing, that includes two phases — the big principal one the place the backing band was stationed and a smaller one, linked through catwalk, additional out on the world flooring. It’s not not like one thing you would possibly see at a U2 or Killers present.
Lake’s brilliance additionally stems from his means to go from large rock star spectacle to intimate second on the drop of a hat. He properly illustrated the latter as he took to a piano positioned on the small secondary stage and unleashed a stunning model of the brand new album’s “As For Me and My Home.”
“I told you you came to church, this isn’t just a concert,” stated Lake, who then, as if to additional show his level, went out into the viewers to wish over a person.
That individual turned out to be Isaac Immanuel, who’s a part of the worship music workforce at Enterprise Christian Church in Los Gatos. Lake ended up handing the microphone to Immanuel — who has skilled vital well being challenges over time — and, from his wheelchair, he belted out an extremely transferring model of the artist’s personal “Gratitude.”
“Bro, thank you for blessing me,” Lake stated on the conclusion of the tune. “Thank you blessing 15,000 people.”
He then prayed over Immanuel and his household, earlier than returning to the stage to increase the prayer over the group through the unbelievable Kari Jobe/Cody Carnes/Elevation Worship composition “The Blessing.”
Brandon Lake performs in his “King of Hearts Tour” on the SAP Middle in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
Lake additionally used the live performance to point out that he’s now mining a number of new musical instructions. Most notably, concert-goers in San Jose acquired to witness the stay debut of a rock/rap hybrid referred to as “No Idols,” which Lake carried out onstage with L.A.-based hip-hop artist Skema Boy. The tune, which provides Lake’s vocals to a pre-standing Skema tune, might be launched as a single within the weeks to return.
He additionally performed one other new tune, “When a Cowboy Prays,” a young nation & western tune that deepens the musical vibe discovered on “King of Hearts.”
“You are going to hear a lot more country from Brandon Lake in 2026,” stated Lake, who would deliver nice CCM singer-songwriter Pat Barrett to carry out with him in addition to do his personal three-song set.
Brandon Lake performs in his “King of Hearts Tour” on the SAP Middle in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
Lake then took time to speak about Charlie Kirk, the controversial Turning Level USA founder who was shot and killed at a public occasion in September. Lake led the worship at Kirk’s memorial, on the request of the household, though his resolution to heed that decision didn’t come instantly.
“It’s sad because the first thing I thought was what are people going to say who might not be on that side,” Lake confided. “I just want to tell you, as I’m learning myself, if God tells you do something, don’t worry about what the world says. Be obedient. Obedience brings blessings.”
He additionally took time to thank World Imaginative and prescient, the humanitarian help group that has been on the street with Lake in an effort to get extra sponsors for youngsters dealing with meals insecurity and different large challenges in among the poorest areas on this planet. To date, followers have stepped as much as sponsor 10,000 youngsters in want throughout this tour.
“I just wanted to say thank you,” Lake stated to the brand new World Imaginative and prescient sponsors in San Jose. “You are literally changing a life”
He would later present the area for different lives to be modified, doing an alter name for many who wished to present their lives to Jesus. He’d lead the group in a prayer of salvation after which ask for a present of fingers to see how many individuals made the dedication.
Hundreds of fingers lifted up in unison.
“I think we are living in some type of revival,” Lake stated. “And I think that 15,000 people showing up in San Jose is evidence of it.”
Brandon Lake performs in his “King of Hearts Tour” on the SAP Middle in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
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