Editorials
18 Aug 2008
Another Success!
It's hard to believe that another year of the SGN Fan Festival has come and gone. For the 9th year in a row, fans have come from across the nation to be blessed and moved by great Gospel singing. Expanding to six nights this year, the crowds seemed to savor every moment that the glorious harmonies and melodies were flowing. One of the most common expressions we hear is that there is so much variety at the Fan Festival. There seems to be something for everybody, from the young people in attendance, to the silver headed crowd.
Starting the event off on Monday evening, the Quicks were full of energy, and the crowd loved their choreographed movements. The crowd was on it's feet as the flags came down the aisles during their patriotic song. The SGN Fan Festival has always been known for giving bright new talent a chance to shine and on the very fist night, Tara Jackson thrilled the crowd with her great soprano voice. Falling Tara, the Galloways took the stage and had the fans on their feet. Sharlene Galloway is certainly an under-rated singer and Earl is a great emcee, then add their daughter, Brittany, and you have an exciting sound. Kirk Talley took the stage next, and as usual Kirk had the crowd laughing one minute and crying the next. Of course his whistling song is always a treat. Southern Sound closed out the evening with great classic quartet singing. All you can say about their harmony is WOW. They were a great ending to a great night of singing.
Tuesday night again started off with a lot of energy as the Gardners, another family group. Their style of Pentecostal singing got the place on fire. Mitchel Jon kept that fire alive singing some old hymns as well as some older Three Bridges material that he had help make so popular. Palmetto State Quartet hit the stage next and I'm not sure if the crowd ever sat down in their whole set. IF you were expecting to hear some Crabb Family songs then Crabb Revival didn't disappoint you. hey had a full band with them an the crowd seemed to really enjoy them. Closing out the program the Tribute Quartet, 2008 SGN Award winners, caught the fire that was in the building receiving three or four standing ovations. Night two had ended and the excitement was growing each night.
The ever exciting and high energy Three Bridges opened the program on Wednesday night. All I can say is that Three Bridges is back in stride and they simply thrilled the fans as they set the mood for the entire evening. Mike and Kelly Bowling sang next and I thought we were about to have a shouting spell in the house when they sang their hit song "Your Cries Have Awoken The Master". It was a special moment when Mike and Kelly's daughter, Hope, sang with them. Hope is already a great little singer. Aaron and Amanda Crabb were next, ans what can you say about them? Their singing is excellent and they are so ministry minded.
On Thursday, Anthony Facello's new group, Beyond The Ashes got the evening started with some wonderful praise music, while Eighth Day brought some nice tight country harmony. As he does every year, Johnny Minick with his friends took the crowd to s spiritual high singing some of the old Goodman classics. The Sunday Edition, the host group of the Festival, is always a crowd favorite sang next, while Brothers Forever closed out the evening with some barnstormers.
Starting off Friday night, which probably should have been called quartet night was the Kings Heralds When you look up harmony in the dictionary you'll see these guys picture. The only non-quartet group of the evening was the Glovers, but it didn't stop them from giving a stellar performance. They have great family harmony and are very ministry minded. The Imperials, always a crowd favorite, had all those gray headed people on their feet as they sang their old contemporary hit "Water Grave". The Prophets then hit the stage with an old Prophets song, "Sweeter As The Days Go By". The show stoppers of the night were the Blackwood Gospel Quartet who had the fans on their feet for most of their stand and were the only quartet to let their Bass singer cut loose on those low notes. The crowd ate it up as Bass singer Brad Smith bottomed out the subs on some of their songs.
On Saturday night the Festival decided to treat the fans to some great regional artists. The fans were not disappointed as Allison Lynn opened the program. This young lady from Canada made some new fans with her singing. Next, By Faith , a group with great family harmony brought the crowd alive with some great old time singing. Darlene Chapman is a little bitty gal, but she sure can sing. There is a whole lot of every in that little package. Back Home, a husband /wife duet had a very worshipful set. Bev McCann, one of the sponsors of the Festival got the fans going with some of her original songs that she has written. Closing out the evening was the only quartet of the night, the Cavaliers. The crowd loved it as they sang some of their radio charted songs.
Lastly, we can't forget Al Mahan. Al did a wonderful job of performing every night for our offertories. Al does parodies that puts a Christian message to his songs. When you heard him, you might have thought you were hearing Johnny Cash.
It was a great Fan Festival and the crowd was already making plans to attend next year's concerts.
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Sounds like it was a great time.
Written: 08/18/2008 
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