Home > Press > NEWS.

NEWS.


Haka Dance adds Warrior Spirits to the Festival Pacific Spirit, a dance troupe made up of members from the South Pacific islands of Tonga, Samoa and New Zealand stomped out their traditional warrior dance for audiences in Anfield at Saturday’s concert. They’ll be performing more of their dances and songs on Hope Street this Saturday as part of the Festival of Hope.
Festival Moves to the City Centre After the success of the City Sings Gospel International Concert last night the festival will now move to the city centre. On the 13^th of June, a mass choir will lift the roof off the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral at the ‘Feast of Choirs’ concert. X-factor contestant Beverly Trotman will join over 600 singers from choirs all over Merseyside for two special performances. City Sings Gospel will continue to make a mark on Liverpool with it’s massive free street party on Hope Street on the 14^th of June. Spokesperson Muireann Kyeyune said “The Festival of Hope is a one off event for the Capital of Culture celebrations. We want to raise the hopes of the city and the community with our gospel music. The music will cover so many exciting genres from World music to Rap and I hope we’ll have people of all ages dancing in the street. You can’t feel depressed when you listen to this music so imagine a full city alive with it”
Fun Networking at this year's Summit. Upcoming artists and established industry figures speed networked today at Liverpool Lighthouse as part of the International Gospel Arts Partnership Summit. Similar to speed dating, speed networking is a fun way to break down barriers and help delegates forge positive business links with each other. Delegates were paired off and after two to three minutes switched partners when the bell sounded. This ice-breaker was just one of the many innovative parts to this year’s summit. Delegates were delighted to have Michael Coleman, President of Integrity Music to lend his expertise during his keynote address. A dominant figure in the Gospel Industry having founded the biggest selling Christian music label in the world was laid back and grounded. Martin King, the Director of the MerseyPartnership, Liverpool’s tourism board, delivered an informative speech on ‘partnership’. Other key figures such as Clive Ennis, Luke Penwal and Viv Broughton gave interesting workshops. Luke Penwal, of Premier Radio, motivated up and coming artists to use My-space, e-marketing and modern technologies of podcasting and God Tube to get their music out there.
Gospel Festival Kicks Off The world is descending on Liverpool this year for a jammed packed programme of cultural events and shows including a festival dedicated to Gospel Music- City Sings Gospel. The 15 day festival kicked off last Sunday with Gospel chart topping Muyiwa and Riversongz in Anfield. Anfield was definitely the centre of the music world. Muyiwa joked “I had originally booked the stadium for my album tour but that when I heard Macca needed it I moved the show here to the nearby Liverpool Lighthouse”. After only two minutes into the performance Muyiwa and Riversongz had everyone dancing and singing along to the African style beats. Soon a crowd formed a Conga line at the front of the stage and Muyiwa jumped triumphantly from the stage and into the crowd. This energy and vigour will characterise the entire festival. On Saturday, artists from the US, Poland and the UK perform in a variety of Gospel styles such as Jazz, Rap and Funky Soul. The concert will mark the end of an International Gospel Arts Partnership Summit where artistes and professionals from Africa to the USA are gathering to hear about the upward surge of gospel music in different parts of the world, forge new links, showcase new talent, and learn about current developments in the industry.
Feast of Choirs compere: Cathy Tyson City Sings Gospel is delighted to announce that Cathy Tyson will be compering at The Feast of Choirs event on the 13th of June. Cathy Tyson trained at Liverpool's Everyman Theatre and the RSC, this striking actress made a stunning debut as Simone, the elegant and mysterious black prostitute in Neil Jordan's acclaimed Mona Lisa (1986). Her assured performance received a BAFTA nomination and a Golden Globe (supporting actress). Significant film work failed to follow and subsequent minor roles, such as those in Business as Usual (d. Lezli-An Barrett, 1987) and Priest (d. Antonia Bird, 1994), indicate that it is lack of opportunity rather than ability that has stalled her film career. In the excellent TV series Band of Gold (Granada, 1995), Tyson revisited the world of prostitution with the dignity and composure one associates with her. She is the niece of American actress Cicely Tyson. Source: Melinda Hildebrandt, Encyclopedia of British Cinema
Bringing Some X Factor to the Festival CSG 08 is proud to announce that Beverley Trotman, who starred on the X-Factor will be participating in City Sings Gospel Feast of Choirs on June 13th. Luton school teacher Beverley Trotman shot to fame when she went to audition for the X-Factor and amazed us with her magnificent voice. Beverley gained massive popularity spending six weeks doing the live Saturday night X-Factor show and making it to the final 12 contestants. Since the show she has carried on performing. Beverley, who has been singing in choirs since the age of four and is a member of the award winning Kingdom Choir, is now back at home with husband Jonathan, and children Tianna, 12 and Luke, 10.
Guest Speakers Confirmed for Summit The exciting programme for the International Gospel Arts Partnership Summit is out. Many of the big names in the Gospel Music industry are taking part including Michael Coleman, Noel Robinson, Clive Ennis, Juliet Fletcher, Karen Gibson and Luke Penwal. To learn more about these speakers and which workshops they will be leading click here.
Over £2,000 Raised By Love and Joy Gospel Choir Gospel music fans got behind Saturday’s fundraising concert in Liverpool Lighthouse with gusto. Love and Joy Gospel Choir’s performance on April 5 raised £2,000 for the international Gospel music festival which will bring singers from around the world to Liverpool in June. Performances by Rnwd and soloists from Love and Joy Gospel Choir added to the jubilant atmosphere, where the audience were standing, dancing and clapping to the joyous music. Spokesperson Muireann Kyeyune said “It’s a real taster of what’s to come in June- no one can sit here and not be lifted by this passionate singing. City Sings Gospel will lift the roof off the city with this music” Silky Skills wowed the crowd with his balancing football skills while John Adu and Helen Hawley rallied interest in the festivals events and future fundraising activities. Organisers said they are £70,000 short of the estimated £350,000 cost of the festival and are calling on continued support for their fundraising efforts.
Thirsty? Hope’ bottled water is now on sale – proceeds go directly to supporting City Sings Gospel 08. As pure as hope- this refreshing, natural water has been bottled at source, an artesian spring shadowed by the Black Mountains in Wales. The bottled water is available at Liverpool Lighthouse and Bistro Light but in order to maximise on sales LJM group wish to retail it to other businesses. To order, please ring Henry Keesz on 0151 476 2342. If you would like to support any of our other fundraising activities please contact our Sponsorship team or log on to www.ljmgroup.org.uk for current events.
A Festival Taster in April Why not get an early taster of the festival at The Friends of Love & Joy Fundraising Concert with Love & Joy Gospel Choir? The Love and Joy Gospel Choir are spearheading the fundraising for CSG 08 with a special fundraising concert on Saturday 5th April 2008. This intimate concert of jubilant gospel music at Liverpool Lighthouse gives our friends the opportunity to support this vision financially. Doors open at 7pm for the 7:30pm start. Tickets are £10 (Concession £7) and can be purchased from Liverpool Lighthouse.
Michael Coleman- Special Guest at International Gospel Arts Partnership Summit Michael Coleman, the President, co-founder and chairman of the Integrity Music will be a special guest at the International Gospel Arts Partnership Summit that will be held at Liverpool Lighthouse. Integrity Music is a privately held media communications company that produces publishes and distributes Christian music and related materials that are sold throughout the United Stares and in over 160 other countries. Integrity Music is one of Christian music’s biggest success stories. Michael Coleman, a native of Mobile, Alabama, earned his bachelor's degree in finance from the University of South Alabama, and a Master of Business for Global Executives from Duke University. He has served as the leader and visionary for the Integrity Music since its inception in 1987. An ordained minister, with more than 20 years of international ministry experience, he is the founder and leader if Integrity Worship Ministries