This weekend, Gospel Rising, a new Irish Gospel music festival, is taking place in Ennis. The organising group from several choirs want it to be a social, educational and fun event for gospel music enthusiasts from all over the country. Choirs and individuals, singers and listeners, are all invited to workshops, and performances over the weekend, and to sing in local churches during Sunday services.
When asked about where the idea for the event came from Lindsey Rowntree, one of the festival’s organisers said, “It is about the rising of gospel music that seems to have happened in Ireland. We have plenty of choirs popping up all over the place in the last ten years or more. We decided that it is time that all those choirs got together. There have been some regional gatherings but this is the first time in Ireland, that we know of, that this is happening.”
Lindsey is involved in the Gardiner Street Gospel Choir, which is very popular and has helped increase mass attendance. He is also in the Valley Gospel Choir, which was involved with the music of Elvis Presley and has influences from the Deep South in America.
As a genre of music, gospel is very varied.
In Ireland it ranges from Irish people singing some of the classics mixed with contemporary, or immigrants, especially from Africa, with a very different take.
The American influence at the weekend will come from special guest Andre Crouch who is considered one of the grandfathers of gospel.
Also present at the weekend are London Community Gospel Choir members and Jack L.
Whatever the genre, gospel choirs have one thing in common – their enthusiasm. “You get to sing as loud as you want, within reason, and you can move and clap and express yourself,” Lindsey explains.
He feels that gospel choirs are a step on from folk – something new and lively.
The festival culminates in a gig that showcases as many Gospel music styles as possible.
It includes at least six choirs as well as the special guests London Community Gospel Choir members and Andrae Crouch, at the Glór Venue, Ennis.
This year the festival is being held from May 7 - 9.
For further details: Tel: (065) 6823958 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (065) 6823958 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Email: info@gospelrising.com
SIC: CIN