GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA - Gospel concerts mark Lenten season North of Boston this weekend

If you're looking to listen to some Christian music this Lenten season, you won't have a problem finding a live concert locally. There are four great options - from traditional to contemporary - north of Boston, all on Saturday night. "We're not your grandfather's Christian music," Plaistow, N.

H., resident Walter Mailhot said about his regional Christian rock band, Agape, which will perform at First Church Congregational in Boxford. The high-energy band plays pop and folk rock inspired by classic sounds from the 1970s through the haze of a fog machine and colored lights.

But there's nothing hazy about the overtly Christian lyrics of its tunes, including "Jesus Train" and "The One the Son." Some band members, like Newton, N.H.

, guitarist Leo Lapointe, have been in Agape for as many as seven years, while others, like Haverhill drummer Mark Lucia, have only been around for one. It takes Mailhot several drafts to write a single song, while Lapointe can complete a tune in no time at all. "I'm motivated by my religious inspiration," Lapointe said.

"I can do two, three songs in a few hours. One time I woke up at 2 in the morning and went downstairs to write three songs." But band members are on the same page when it comes to their faith: it's what grounds them as a band, as well as individuals.

"This is a ministry," Lucia said. "It's an honor to do this and get our gospel message out. Some people don't like going to church, but almost everybody likes music.

We might be able to open some hearts." North Shore trio Maeve is far less obvious about its religious inspiration. The all-female, gospel-influenced acoustic group takes the stage Saturday in Lowell for a benefit concert for Somebody Cares New England, a Christian nonprofit based in Haverhill that is working to alleviate hunger and homelessness.

"Even though the concert is raising money for a faith-based organization, we're not over-the-top serious. People should expect to have some foot-stomping fun," said Maeve member Rollyn Zoubek of Marblehead. "We try to make our lyrics a little more mysterious and poetic - it's not overt or in-your-face.

In fact, we get a lot of play on college radio. "..

.Good art is good art. We can create music that appeals to a lot of listeners, hopefully making quality art.

" The women performed separately before a mutual friend suggested they collaborate for a 2001 performance. They quickly realized they had a lot of fun singing together and a lot in common. Band member Rachel Taylor of Marblehead is the daughter of a Baptist pastor and fellow member Courtney Reid of Gloucester is the daughter of two Episcopal minsters.

"It adds some variety to the writing. Even now, we don't all go to the same church. I think we have enough in common that we can share the same goal and experience our faith differently," Zoubek said.

"Often times, you write what inspires you. All three of us are interested in faith and personal faith, so that comes into the writing process." Gordon College freshman Elizabeth Andrews prefers the less overt Christian artists, and is thrilled that Braddigan will be performing at a campus benefit concert on Sunday.

The concert will raise money for My Sister's Keeper, a Boston-based nonprofit that assists and advocates for the women of southern Sudan. The band's frontman is Brad Corrigan, formerly of the group Dispatch. Andrews expects Braddigan will perform its pop tunes that touch on Christian themes, like love thy neighbor, without delving directly into biblical psalms.

Gordon College Choir member Michael Ingram, meanwhile, prefers more traditional Christian music, which his group performs. "I really enjoy serious music - and the older pieces are a real treat to sing," the 21-year-old pianist said. "A lot of the group members grew up singing in a choir, but this is a new experience for me.

I've had to learn the language of the vocalist, which means learning different terminology. Singers think and do things differently than instrumentalists." The Gordon College Choir will perform meditative music for the Lenten season Saturday at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Newburyport.

Director Oliver Goodrich will lead the 55-voice choir in an eclectic mix of songs from the Renaissance to today, including a world premiere of "The Tears of Mary and Martha" by composer Carol Barnett. The group will also preform arrangements of traditional hymns and spirituals, as well as works by Heinrich Schutz, William Byrd, Anton Bruckner and Stephen Paulus. Barnett started talking with Goodrich about composing a song specifically for the choir about a year ago.

The lyrics come from translated ancient Greek text about the day Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead. Saturday's concert coincides with the Raising of Lazarus, which is celebrated the Saturday before Palm Sunday in certain churches, like the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. "I'm most excited about the Carol Barnett piece.

There's always excitement about doing a piece that has not been done before," said Goodrich, a former Gordon College student. "But the entire program represents the emotional journey of Holy Week. Some of the text is about Palm Sunday, and is very celebratory and joyous.

And some is about the serious contemplation of Holy Week." Where: Family Life Center at the First Church Congregational of Boxford, 4 Georgetown Road, Boxford How: Admission is free. For more, go to www.

agapetheband.com or www.firstchurchboxford.

org. What: Braddigan, with opening acts Alijah Wyman and Adam Ezra Group, performing for a Save Darfur Benefit Show Where: A.J.

Gordon Memorial Chapel at Gordon College, 255 Grapevine Road, Wenham How: Admission for Gordon College community members is $10; general admission is $15 in advance; tickets at the door are $20. To purchase online, go to www.gordon.

edu. How: Tickets in advance are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and children; call 978-499-7822. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

For more, call 978-465-5757 or visit www.annunciationgoc.com.

What: Maeve in a benefit concert for Somebody Cares New England, with opening act Asheley Clark When: Saturday, doors open at 6:30 p.m. How: Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door.

To reserve online, visit www.SomebodyCaresNE.org.

For more, call 978-377-0447 or visit www.ccfcca.com.