The 2014 SVG Gospel Fest got underway on Sunday at Victoria Park with a show that suggest declining enthusiasm about the festival.
Several local artistes and groups, many of whom have featured on the programme repeatedly since the festival began in 2003, performed at Sunday’s opening, where the turnout was remarkably lower than in 2013.
The featured artiste was Jamaican Judith Gayle of “Things Already Better” fame.
But it was probably KLT Dancers of Kingdom Life Tabernacle who was most memorable at the opening with their presentation “A View of Heaven”, in which they mimed to the worship song “I Can Only Imagine”.
Gospel Festival continues this weekend with a number of activities around the country.
On Thursday there will be the staging of the Bequia Zonal Gospel Showcase at the Bequia Community High School in Port Elizabeth from 6:30 p.m., which will see presentations in music, song and dance.
Hope for Life Restoration Ministries in Arnos Vale will be the venue on Good Friday evening for a special presentation of “Hosanna”, a spectacle of dance, drama and song to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
On Saturday, the festival moves to the Peace Memorial Hall for an evening of dance from 6 p.m., entitled “Praise Him in the Dance”.
This event will feature 15 gospel dance groups from around the country. These will include Diadem Dancers, KLT Dancers, Shabach, Yeshua Praise, Youth With A Purpose among others.
The Zonal Showcases will be staged on Sunday evening in four zones from 6 p.m.
North Leeward will be at the Petit Bordel World Wide Mission Church; South Leeward will be at the Barrouallie Square with a concert in conjunction with Pan Against Crime; Marriaqua will be at the Kingdom Life Tabernacle and North Windward at the Bethel Gospel Assembly in Georgetown.
SVG Gospel Fest is being celebrated under the theme “Experiencing The Power of God”.
The festival will climax on April 27 with the staging of the National Gospel Showcase at the Victoria Park.