Gospel music festival makes a welcome return

It brings together the best in Gospel music from Northern Ireland and further afield.

Visitors from all over the Britain and Ireland are set to converge on the thousand seater marquee located just off the main road between Waringstown and Banbridge, for what is now recognised as one of the largest Gospel music festival in the British Isles.

This year Gospel Fest will take place from Friday, August 16, to Sunday, August 18, and will be hosted each evening by top Country/Gospel band, Live Issue which has just returned from a very successful tour of the United States.

In addition to Live Issue there will be a host of top Gospel artists from Northern Ireland as well as Zac and Robert Schmidt who are a duo from Colorado in the United States.

Ulster Unionist MLA Jo-Anne Dobson has said the local community are looking forward to Gospel Fest 2013.

She said: “The atmosphere is building ahead of what promises to be yet another fantastic event attracting people from across Northern Ireland to Donaghcloney.

“Every year it is marvellous to see so many people coming to the local area to take part in a wonderful celebration of praise. The organisers arrange so many different artists to perform for us and the professional organisation of the events ensure it is a tremendous atmosphere.

“This will be the fourth annual Gospel Fest and I would encourage those who haven’t been before to come along and join in the praise.”

The line up of artists each evening is as follows;

Friday, August 16, at 7.45pm: Live Issue, Paul Silcock, Stonewall, Laura Dowey, Zac and Robert Schmidt.

Saturday, August 17, at 7.45pm: Live Issue, Crimson River, Crawford Bell, Liz Clarke, Slemish.

Sunday, August 18 at 3.00pm: The Voices of Praise Choir

Sunday, August 18 at 7.45pm: Live Issue, Justified, The Dixie Heasley Band , Ruth Trimble, The Harvesters.

The event takes place on land belonging to Roy Dreaning located on the Old Bann Road adjacent to the main Waringstown to Banbridge Road opposite the Midway Autopoint. Roy also organises the event each year and is a member of the group Live Issue. Gospel Fest has been a huge encouragement to many people throughout Northern Ireland and beyond over the past number of years and it is hoped that this year will be no exception.

Although there is no entrance charge, a donation will be taken up during each evening concert with a suggested adult contribution of £5 per night to cover the many expenses incurred in running the Gospel Fest event.

For directions and further information please visit www.liveissuemusic.com/gospelfest