“Fall Gospel Fest fills a certain niche, a certain void that we have here in Madison … It brings the biggest and brightest national gospel artists here where people can actually see them live and in person,” says Clyde Gaines, the organizer of the 18th annual Fall Gospel Fest. “Most of the time you’re seeing these artists you’ve going to other cities to see these gospel artists.
Talented musicians have traveled to Madison from all over the world to perform in front of a live audience at Fall Gospel Fest, which annually features some of gospel music’s biggest and brightest stars. It returns for its 18th year at the Capitol Theater of the Overture Center on Nov. 12 and is hosted by Peboga (People Building Opportunity through Grace and Action).
(Photo supplied.)
“We’ve got several hot artists who are going to be performing this year. This is our first year back after a brief hiatus due to COVID where we have presented the Fall Gospel Fest in a virtual platform,” Gaines tells Madison365. “We’re happy to be back inside at the Overture Center and this is the first time that Fall Gospel Fest will actually be held at Overture Center, so we are pleased and happy about that, too.
(Photo supplied.)
“We just need people to come out and support Fall Gospel Fest back in person and to come and kick off the holiday season with us,” he adds. “We’re very happy about the artists that will be featured at the event.”
Fall Gospel Fest 2022 will feature Joshua Rogers, a gospel singer who rose to prominence in 2012 when he became the first male and youngest winner of Black Entertainment Television’s “Sunday Best” during the show’s fifth season.
“That show has really turned out some dynamic winners over the years and Joshua was the first male and the youngest Sunday Best winner during season five,” Gaines says. “He is a dynamic singer as well and has some hit songs out there. We’re pleased with his ministry and glad to have him committed to Fall Gospel Fest.”
This year’s event also features Grammy-nominated Jekalyn Carr, who is not only a top-selling recording artist, but also a speaker, entrepreneur, actress, and author. She was nominated for a Grammy for Best Gospel Album in 2021/22.
“Jekalyn is a young, dynamic artist who has had I believe 8 or 9 number-one singles on Billboard before the age of 21. I think that was like a record. No pun intended,” smiles Gaines.
(Photo supplied.)
Angela Primm is an ordained minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a professional singer who began as a background vocalist in 1986 and has traveled throughout the world sharing this music and the faith.
“Angela Primm is one of the premiere voices of our time. She has sung with some of the biggest names in gospel music including Bill Gaither. She has performed with Barnaby Jones and just a myriad of other artists in Gospel music, and particularly southern gospel music.”
All three artists, Gaines says, are making their debut appearances at Fall Gospel Fest.
The event, he adds, fosters a unique opportunity to create fellowship with people from different age groups, ethnicities and backgrounds while delivering messages of hope, healing and encouragement.
“This is a great way to just see and greet and fellowship and community with people who you haven’t seen in a while and you haven’t been in contact with during the pandemic,” Gaines says. “So it’s a great chance to get out of the house and enjoy each other’s company and enjoy the great music that is going to be presented.”
Gaines founded Fall Gospel Fest, originally titled “Fall Inspirational Music Fest” in December of 2004, to create an event to bring people and community together through inspirational music regardless of background, age, culture or economic status.
“When I first did Fall Gospel Fest, we were just thinking it was just going to be for that one year… we weren’t thinking that we would still be doing this. That’s for sure,” Gaines says. “But people gravitated to it and it really built up over the years and it started to become a very anticipated event in the Black community and it really gave people in the Christian community an opportunity to have an event like this featuring national recording artists coming to Madison.
“It just met a lot of needs and we were glad to keep continuing this event,” he adds.
The 18th annual Fall Gospel Fest will take place on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Capitol Theater of the Overture Center. For ticket information, click here or call (608)258-4141.
