By Nsofwa K. Nwannadi
Traditional gospel music has been loved and celebrated for decades across the globe, but in recent years the genre has been propelled into the mainstream music scene, making a lasting impact on new listeners from all faiths and backgrounds.
To celebrate and mark the prominence of gospel music, the UK’s first mainstream gospel music festival will take place in Stanley Park, Liverpool, on 8 and 9 September.
It will feature international artists, including headliners 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.
The festival is organised by Liverpool Lighthouse, a charity based in Anfield that works to create thriving communities of people living more fulfilled lives.
The accessibility of gospel music through streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple has attracted younger generations to worship music through genres including Afro gospel. Gospel’s inclusive, joyful and uplifting sounds have helped to celebrate the stories, histories, cultures and achievements of black communities.
It’s clear, too, that that gospel music has the power to connect with a mainstream, diverse audience, as shown by the Ascension Choir’s performance at the Coronation of King Charles and the Kingdom Choir’s performance at the 2018 wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Additionally, the British rapper Stormzy reached the top 10 in 2017 with his single, Blinded by Your Grace.
Much modern mainstream music, as well as many genres of black origin music, owe their inspirations to gospel. These roots often go unacknowledged and unrecognised.
Anu Omideyi, director of the Liverpool Gospel Music Festival, said: “It has been wonderful to see how gospel music has featured on a national scale recently … But gospel music and musicians have significantly supported mainstream popular artists for decades and now we’re excited to build a mainstream platform that celebrates and platforms the genre itself. We welcome gospel music lovers from all over the world as well as those who want to know more!”
Who are the Kingdom Choir?
The Kingdom Choir captured the hearts of the nation with their show-stopping performance of Stand by Me at Harry and Meghan’s wedding. The choir later signed a record deal with Sony and have toured sell-out show across 18 British cities. The choir have performed at the British Summer Time festival with Barbra Streisand, performed headline tours across the United States and Australia, and headlined at Latitude and the Hay Festival. The choir were founded in 1994 by the award-winning choir conductor Karen Gibson, described as “Britain’s Godmother of Gospel” and their latest release, Not Giving Up, is a stunningly crafted ballad that tells the story of hope.
Who is CalledOut Music?
CalledOut Music, born Samuel Nwachukwu, is a British music producer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Hampshire. The 28-year-old Nigerian-born musician moved to the UK when he was 12 and first showcased his talent and passion for music at the age of seven in his local church. He launched his gospel career in 2016 and has released albums In Due Time (Genesis) in 2018, Portraits in 2020, and My Beautiful Reality last year, as well as a number of EPs, the latest being Blues and Roses.
Samuel started the Gospel ministry Called Out with the aim to “get everyone to have the belief or mindset that they are called out for service to God”.
Other performers
Adding local talent to the line-up are the Lighthouse Choir, who were formed by the Liverpool Lighthouse Community over Zoom during the Covid pandemic. The goal was to connect the community through singing, to help people stay well through lockdown and to build on the traditions of the Love & Joy Gospel Choir, who sang at the Hillsborough memorial service at the Anfield Stadium in Liverpool.
Other artists performing at the gospel festival include the award-winning VM & New-Ye, who burst onto the gospel scene with their electrifying stage presence, vibrant dance moves, rhythmic sounds and heartfelt performances. Having been picked by Stormzy for his A Very #Merky Christmas concert as well as sharing stages with gospel legends Kirk Franklin, Tye Tribbett, Michelle Williams, Matt Redman and Cece Winans, VM & New-Ye are sure to bring an electrifying performance to Stanley Park this weekend.
What else can you expect from the festival?
Ms Omideyi, who is also music director at Liverpool Lighthouse, said: “We’re excited about all the festival activities and we truly believe that festival-goers are in for a treat! We will celebrate the genre of gospel music, especially in the month of September which the gospel community is advocating for as Gospel Music Heritage Month.”
While organisers acknowledge and value the roots of the genre in Christianity, black culture and spirituality, the festival welcomes people of all faiths, ethnicities and identities to enjoy two days of worship, music, education and faith.
She continued: “Gospel music impacts many of [us] in different ways as the soundtracks to our lives — from the singers behind your favourite pop star to the inspiration for music in your favourite film. We really want to platform the music in its true form in a way that absolutely everybody — whatever your background, beliefs or non-beliefs, can enjoy.”
Though the main event takes place on Saturday, lovers of gospel can sign up to a selection of workshops on Friday, 8 September. Starting Friday’s schedule will be Karen Gibson, of the Kingdom Choir, who will host a singing masterclass at Liverpool Town Hall from 7pm to 9pm. It promises to be a relaxed and rewarding evening of singing uplifting music, learning gospel songs, harmonies and will be there to help improve vocal techniques and skills for all those who sign up. Tickets for the masterclass can be bought here.
The same evening, a panel of industry experts will take part in a discussion, advising budding artists how to grow their audience as gospel musicians. The panel includes Anthonia Edwards, winner of The Voice UK in 2022, Muyiwa Olarewaju, station director at Premier Gospel Radio, Roger Moore, co-chair of Gospel Music Industry Alliance, Wizdom Layne, head of MOBO Unsung, and Ayo-Dele Edwards, an African theatre performer. Tickets to the discussion can be bought here.
Liverpool, as well as being a city with a fantastic music and cultural heritage, also has deep links to black history through its role as a slave trading port in the 19th century. The International Museum of Slavery is based there.
Rebecca Ross-Williams, creative director of Liverpool Lighthouse, said: “It is beyond exciting to be organising the first mainstream Gospel Music Festival.
“Liverpool Lighthouse is committed to supporting the protection and development of gospel music and we aim to provide a much-needed platform to gospel music artists, to showcase some of the best and to bring joy to our audiences.”
