Liverpool to Host Inaugural UK Gospel Music Festival

May 31, 2023210 views0

Liverpool to Host Inaugural UK Gospel Music Festival

2023-05-31T10:39:51+01:00

By Church News

UKs first ever-mainstream Gospel Music Festival has been announced to take place on 9^th September 2023 to coincide with a drive by the UK gospel music community to make September a Gospel Music Heritage Month.The festival will take place in Stanley Park, Liverpool and will feature internationally known artists, including headliners The Kingdom Choir and CalledOut Music.The festival organised by Liverpool Lighthouse, a charity based in Anfield working to create thriving communities of people living more fulfilled lives, is Sponsored by VistaPrint, Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council among others and is supported by the Gospel Music Industry Alliance.As the festival develops to be an annual event, it will also include panel discussions with artists, meet the artist events, participatory activities for families, the community and wider celebrations of black culture.Anu Omideyi, Liverpool Gospel Music Festival Director and Music Director at Liverpool Lighthouse said, “As part of the wider vision to spread the power and joy of gospel music alongside the positive impact of black culture, the festival will be accompanied by a programme taking gospel music into schools.“In partnership with music education hub Resonate, the schools programme will initially pilot the work with two secondary schools in June and will roll out to more schools in the next academic year, with the eventual aim of curriculum change that will see young people nationwide learning about the music genre.” As evidenced by events such The Ascension Choir’s performance at the recent Coronation and The Kingdom Choir’s performance at the 2018 royal wedding, gospel music has the power to move and connect with a mainstream, diverse audience.The festival will feature music from The Kingdom Choir, CalledOut Music, Love & Joy Gospel Choir, Sarah Teibo, Sense of Sound, Lighthouse Choir, Volney Morgan & New Ye, DavidB, Wavertree Gospel Choir and NaffymaR and more artists are to be announced.ALSO READ: Pope to Visit Fátima During Trip to Portugal in August