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Another July has passed, and with it, so has SGN's biggest event of the year – the annual Gospel Music Fan Festival & Talent Contest. Planning the event starts almost a year and a half in advance: planning, debating, and booking the year's best from Gospel music to come for a time of fun and fellowship with the fan.
This year's GMFF was no different. The crowd grew to capacity in the present building, as fans from all over the United States came to hear Southern Gospel's best artists and hottest up-and-coming acts.
Wednesday – July 27, 2005
We knew that this year was going to be huge, as it was the first time that we had a crowd standing outside the doors an hour and a half before they opened on Wednesday evening. It quickly became apparent that we might not have enough room as the crowd steadily filled up the auditorium. Starting about five minutes late, Deon Unthank and Richard Johnson of Solid Gospel took the stage to welcome the visitors.
Psalm 101 opened the entire festival with their country-tinged sounds. “I'm Climbing Up” was a testimonial song that had the crowd on their feet at the end of their set.
After Psalm 101, Mike Bowling quickly gained the crowd's attention as he ripped through concert favorites like “Heat of the Battle ,” “Solid Rock & Shifting Sand,” and the crowd favorite “He Gave Me Water.”
Mike then introduced his brother and sister-in-law – The Bowlings . The three of them sang through a few tracks before ending on the smash-hit “When He Says Arise.”
After the offering and Sunday Edition , the Crabb Family took the stage to the delight of the crowd. “He Came Looking for Me,” “Don't You Wanna Go,” and “Greater Is He” were highlights of the set, yet the popular group had the crowd eating out of their hands at the end of “Redeemer.”
There aren't many artists that can hold a crowd's attention after the Crabb Family, but if anyone could – it was Johnny Minick . Johnny's barebones performance of “Were You There?” with popular studio musician Angie Primm won the crowd over, and he finished out his set by doing old Happy Goodman songs with special guests like Allison Durham Speer , Mike Allen , his son Aaron Minick , Brad Smith , and his wife Sherry Minick . The evening ended with Johnny and friends performing the Goodman signature tune “I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now.”
Thursday – July 28, 2005
It would seem like Wednesday evening would be a tough night to beat – and if Thursday evening didn't do it, it sure came close. Led by Ed Crawford, the Mystery Men Quartet opened up the evening with a sound reminiscent of the old Kingsmen.
The crowd did not seem to want to let them leave before HisSong hit the stage – demanding the audience's attention. The group was in extremely fine vocal form as they brought the crowd to their feet with songs like “Look at Me,” “Closing Time,” and “Three Words, Three Nails, Three Days.”
Jonathan White had a tough act to follow but immediately drew the crowd in with his amazing tenor voice. White wowed the audience with his impressive vocal acrobatics on the #1 hit “The Passion of the Christ.”
By the time the offering was taken up, it was standing room only for the Booth Brothers . The group's mellow delivery and exquisite harmony had the crowd entranced. “He Saw It All” was an evening highlight, yet the group ended their set with an acoustic version of “Through It All.”
Sunday Edition performed after them, only to be followed by industry favorites Gold City . The group mainly performed tunes from their latest album, Heaven , but ended on the classic “When He Calls, I'll Fly Away.”
Not missing a single beat, Three Bridges closed the evening with their mix of traditional Southern Gospel and bluesy-Black Gospel numbers. The evening ended with the group calling several performers like Michael Booth , Amy Marie Unthank , and Chip Cooper to the stage to help them out on the favorite “I'm a Soldier.”
Friday Afternoon – July 29, 2005
We had to be up earlier than usual on Friday to get ready for the SGN & SSE Showcase on Friday afternoon. Brad Smith (of the Impacts and formerly of New Speers ) had the crowd rolling with laughter with his comedy act.
First Love came on after him wowing their crowd with their beautiful harmonies and ease on stage. “What a Day That Will Be” was an afternoon highlight.
SGN staff writer James Hales performed a few songs to the delight of the crowd, after which Janice Peavey took the stage with her commanding country sound.
The Imperials were up next and blew the crowd away with tunes like “Arise My Love” and “Beautiful Day.”
Like the Imperials, Jonathan White was called on at the last minute and delivered even more stellar vocal performances – bringing the crowd to their feet on “I Bowed On My Knees and Cried Holy.”
Friday Evening – July 29, 2005
After having major sound issues during sound checks (remind me again to never put three groups with full bands on the same evening), Christlike kicked off the Friday evening in a more ministry oriented fashion. The crowd was drawn to the group's hit song “Here I Am Again.”
Texas ' own Apostolic Boys got the crowd moving with their blend of Southern Gospel classics and new tunes.
The group gained just enough momentum in the crowd for former Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune . Fortune's mix of live band and tracks had the crowd engaged the entire time.
The McRaes admitted to being a little in awe of performing after a “real live Statler Brother” – but still moved the crowd with their songs like “There Is a Remedy,” “The Blood Says You Can,” and “How Great Thou Art.”
After Sunday Edition and the offering, the crowd was greeted to a special number by visiting artist Joyce Martin . Joyce performed the 2004 SGN Music Award Song of the Year “The Promise.”
Hope's Call took the stage after Joyce performed. Mixing their usual blend of a ccapella numbers and studio cuts, Hope's Call had the crowd on their feet with Donna Beauvais' “O Holy Night” and the group's a capella songs “Change In Me” and “How Great Thou Art.”
The Talley Trio was up next and continued the momentum set by Hope's Call & the McRaes. The group performed their uber-smash “His Life for Mine” at the end of their set.
Jody Brown Indian Family were real troopers as they battled through an angry sound system. “You Don't Have to Move That Mountain” was a musical highlight, but Jody's extremely moving testimony had the crowd in tears.
Sondra Burnett followed with her usual mix of comedy and country-tinged numbers. She brought her nephew, Adam, up to perform a few numbers as well.
Despite being 45 minutes behind schedule, The Pathfinders closed the evening out with their beautiful harmonies. The crowd loved their version of the Greg Day number “Behold, I Come Quickly.”
Saturday Morning – July 30, 2005
The talent contest was going on in a different city while sound checks were going on for the Family Music Group & Friends Showcase . Artists performing during the showcase included Christlike , Sondra Burnett , Sharron Kay King , Chris Hester , Living Waters Trio , Jamie Farmer , Cheri Taylor , the Glovers , and many more. Jimmy Fortune did an extended set in the afternoon with the Christlike band.
Saturday Evening – July 30, 2005
Saturday evening's sound checks went much smoother than Friday, and each group was afforded a little more down time than usual. The evening got started by Amanda Hudson , winner of the solo division of the talent contest. Family Legacy was the group division winner, and they performed after Hudson .
The River of Life Choir and the Daryl Williams Trio combined sets and had the crowd itching for more by the time they finished up.
Kirk Talley was introduced next, and the crowd welcomed him with open arms as the River of Life Choir backed him up. There wasn't a dry eye in the house as he performed his testimony songs “Potter's Hands” and “Intimacy with Jesus.”
Embrace took the stage after Talley and kept the crowd happy with their extremely tight vocal harmony and progressive style.
Mercy's Mark followed Embrace and showed the crowd what Southern Gospel quartet music was all about. “His Response” and “I'm On the Battlefield” were crowd favorites.
Garry Jones then took a minute to express his very first impression of the Martins before letting Judy Martin Hess take control of the stage. Her new song, “Shoes” was a festival highlight, but her transparency about dealing with depression had the crowd in tears once again. She ended her set with the worshipful tune “Pure Heart.”
After Sunday Edition and the offering, Inheritance was another crowd favorite with their energetic stage presence. “We Will Stand for the Cross” was another weekend highlight.
The Imperials were next and started off with “Beautiful Day.” Their a capella version of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” kept the crowd interested, but they blew the audience out of their seats on “Because He Lives,” “He Touched Me,” and “Arise My Love.”
Master's Voice had to follow up the Imperials, but managed to show that they had what it took to be the next big thing in Southern Gospel with their traditional Southern flare.
Daryl Williams closed the evening out with a performance of “Oh I Want to See Him” along with performers from earlier on in the evening, including Master's Voice , Inheritance , the Imperials , Kirk Talley , Joyce Martin , and members of Mercy's Mark and the River of Life Choir .
Overall the Fan Festival was bigger and better than in years past. Make plans now to attend next year's Festival – scheduled for July 25-29, 2006.
Pictures of the week's events can be seen at www.gospelmusicfanfestival.com/gallery/
Reader Comments
Bud,Keep your eye on this website and on the Gospel Music Fan Festival Website ( http://www.gospelmusicfanfestival.com )for more information on the 2006 Fan Festival and Talent Contest
Southern Gospel News Administration
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Written: 08/01/2005 
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