John Mayall, B.B. King’s daughter headline Niagara Falls Blues Festival

Weekend festival kicks off Friday

NIAGARA FALLS – The legendary John Mayall, a Chicago Blues review and Claudette King, daughter of icon B.B. King, headline three days of music as the Niagara Falls Blues Festival kicks off Friday on Old Falls Street.

The Full Moon Chicago Blues Review gets underway at 5 p.m. Friday, while Mayall, a pioneering British artist, and his band, the Bluesbreakers, take the stage Saturday. B.B. King’s youngest daughter closes the festival next Sunday.

Additionally, the 10th annual Memorial Classic Car and Bike Cruise is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, beginning at Sal Maglie Stadium on Hyde Park Boulevard and traveling down Pine Avenue to the festival site.

The free festival also features a Gospel Blues Brunch with Marsha McWilson from noon to 7 p.m. next Sunday.

“This is a treat for everybody,” said Toby Rotella, festival founder. “Everyone should make it for at least one day and see what we do. It’s good for the soul and it’s free!”

Friday’s lineup opens with Shawn Holt and the Teardrops and special guest John Primer, followed by Eddie Shaw and the Wolfgang, with guest Donnie “Mr. Downchild” Walsh, and Mac Arnold and Plate Full O’ Blues. They are followed by the Chris O’Leary Band at 10:30 p.m. under the tent.

Local favorites Aces and Eights will get things started at 1 p.m. Saturday, followed by The Electras, the Tommy Z Band, and Chicago’s Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials before Mayall takes the stage.

Mayall, who has been referred to as “The Godfather of British Blues” over the span of his 50-year career, was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame just this past May.

Popa Chubby, purveyor of “hard swinging blues rock,” will perform under the tent at 10:30 p.m.

The Gospel Blues Brunch gets underway at noon Sunday with free coffee and pastries.

“I’m bringing in friends from all over Western New York to help me,” said McWilson, who is organizing Sunday’s acts and will begin the day by performing Gospel hymns. “This is going to be like those old tent revivals, back in the day, so people can get a feel for it.”

Among her featured guests will be recording artist Malcolm Wilson and the Joshua Generation; Oral Roberts, originally from Trinidad, to perform Caribbean-Calypso Gospel selections; Richie Derwald, who will perform Elvis Presley’s Gospel selections; and Angel Vox with Marshall Badger, whom McWilson described as an African teen group.

“And we’ll have the super fabulous Constance Matthews of Niagara Falls, one of our premier Gospel singers,” McWilson added. “We’ll also have Men in White, founded by Pat Regan, and liturgical dancers from the Potter’s House here in Niagara Falls.”

The lineup also includes: Jimmy Smith; Ezra Scott; Church Boy 100, teen rappers who perform Christian music; Jesus Centered Music of Buffalo; Living Waters; Steadfast; and Cathy Townsend, a Chicago artist who performs Gospel, jazz and blues.

At 5 p.m., McWilson takes the stage again in an Etta James review, backed by Anthony Taylor and the Beautiful Music Band who will also accompany King at 6 p.m. McWilson and King will perform together to close out the festival.

For more information, visit: www.NiagaraFallsBluesFest.org. The festival is organized by the nonprofit Niagara Festival and Entertainment Group.

Gospel artist says she will never perform in any political even

– Christina Shusho has said she will never perform in any political event

– According to the gospel singer, she would refrain from performing since as a gospel artist, picking political sides will make her look “unchristian”

– This is after a number of gospel artists are in the spotlight for gracing the recent ODM and Jubilee’s events 

Gospel singer Christina Shusho isn’t happy how gospel artists are aligning themselves with political parties.

READ ALSO: Mike Sonko’s grand entry to Kasarani for Jubilee launch disrupted

She believes it’s not the right thing to do as a true Christian.

“I don’t mind my songs being used during various political rallies to reach out and touch the lives of many,” she said in an interview with SDE.

 
Award-winning gospel singer Christina Shusho won’t be seeing performing at any political event anytime soon. Photo: Courtesy

Shusho has worked with controversial gospel singer Ringtone for their sensational gospel hit “Tenda Wema”.

She believes performing in the political events would make her fans think she’s picking sides, which is the last thing she would want.

“I would not dare perform because it may appear like I am part of the campaign or perhaps supporting a particular party which is not a good character as a true Christian,” Said Shusho.

This comes after a number of gospel artists performed at ODM’s 10th-anniversary party in Mombasa and Jubilee’s party launch at the Kasarani stadium.

Women also love Politics! Photos of the HOT women who went for the Jubilee Party launch

Bahati was not only in the spotlight for performing in the event, but also for sitting on Uhuru’s chair while performing.

Apostle Johnson Suleman Blesses Actor Emma Blaq With Peugeot 206 Car, N1.6m

…Builds 700-Rooms Low-Cost Boarding House For 

Auchi Poly

That extraordinary things are accomplished through faith is a fact that is indisputable. And the fact that we wait for God’s plans to be fulfilled in our lives, no matter the waiting period; waiting for Him to act, is justifiable.

An award winning Nollywood actor, Emmanuel Emoabino a.k.a. Emma Blaq, is the latest discoverer of favour from God through His Servant, Apostle Johnson Suleman.

Emma Blaq

During last Sunday service, 4^th of September, 2016, the ‘I’m schooled by the Holy Spirit’ thespian, Emma, who discovered his talent in Ghana, was among those met with blessings as Apostle Suleman once again unleashed his public-spirited deeds on members of his advanced ministry and people of faith.

As we gathered, Emma, a native of Auchi and faithful assistant of many years, was blessed by the Apostle who is popularly referred as ‘God’s Oracle’, with the sum of N1.6 million and a Peugeot 206 Convertible car.

According to our sources, the cash was a take-off gift for the actor who has nursed for a long time a dream to establish a film village. The day’s service and blessing sessions were witnessed by the incumbent Vice-Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, who was around to appreciate God’s glory.

Also, Apostle Suleman extended his caring gesture to the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, by promising a 700-room, self-contained blocks of building to the institution at a reduced price. The groundbreaking event for the project billed to be completed in seven months is slated for this week Saturday, 10^th of September, 2016.  After Auchi, Suleman promised to extend the innovation to two capital cities, Benin City and Ibadan.

Speaking on his regular giving schemes, Apostle Suleman, whose ministry’s annual ‘September To Remember’ prayer gathering comes up between Wednesday 7^th and Friday 9^th September, 2016, maintained during the service that, “I don't do this to please the world. I do it to please God. This is my own way of conforming to God's set standards for His servant.”

I'M STILL SINGLE ON PURPOSE

I'M STILL SINGLE ON PURPOSE

A SENSATIONAL INTERACTIVE SINGLE NETWORK

FOR THE GIRLS AND THE GUYS WHO LOVE THEM.

With Pastor Impact Ogbeide

Armed Robbers Attack Basketmouth At Lekki Home

Popular comedian Bright ‘Basketmouth’ Okpocha was today the victim of an armed robbery attack.

The MTV Ridiculousness host was robbed at gunpoint in his home in Lekki Phase 1 in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The incident was revealed by his close friend and fellow comedian,Bovi.

READ: PHOTOS: Basketmouth, Rita Dominic And More With Mark Zuckerberg

Basketmouth robbed in Lekki

Bovi wrote on Instagram: “@basketmouth was robbed this morning in his home in lekki phase 1 between the hours of 2am and 4am, 7th of September 2016.”

“He and his family were held at gun point while the sad episode lasted. Nobody was hurt. Valuables were  however taken including the cctv device. A report has also been made at the police station. He can’t be reached at the moment but will be back on as soon as possible.”

Our thoughts are also with the family.

Album Review: Frank Edwards – Frankincense

Frank Edwards – Frankincense – Frank Edwards, gospel artiste, multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter and veteran of at least 3 well received gospel albums (The Definition, Angels on the Runway, Unlimited) returns with Frankincense, perhaps his most realized body of work yet.

Frank Edwards – Frankincense

At a lengthy 21 tracks, all written and produced by Edwards himself for his own Rocktown records,Frankincense runs the risk of being monotonous and indeed after about the first two thirds, the record begins to drag as the songs start to blur into each other. But when what has come before is so rewarding and musically rich, then it becomes easy to forgive Mr Edwards this excess.

The genuine faithful by now know what to expect from a Frank Edwards record; keyboards, guitar strings, his scratchy voice, helped along by licks of autotune, big booming choruses that allow him to stretch and display his stunning range and a feel good, sing along feel to the proceedings.

Frankincense boasts all of these, and then more. More comes in the form of international Gospel superstar, Don Moen who sings in near effortless Igbo on the worship tune, Ka Anyi Bulie, as well as US singer Micah Stampley who appears on Baba.

Edwards’ range of influences goes beyond cookie-cutter gospel pop to embrace highlife sounds (Oyege,) Country (Only You are Holy,) Motown (Na You) and spiritual soul searching music (Onye). The songs are ready made for as wide an audience as possible and the choruses are booming, produced with every intention to be staged at huge arenas.

While Edwards’ song writing is pretty sublime, he breaks no new grounds and falls into the easy mold of generic, Pentecostal praise and worship lyrics. Mr Edwards offers little of himself on the records, except perhaps for a well-established love for God and all things holy. This deficit of experimentation is not as glaring anywhere else as it is on the song titles where at least 3 songs have the Igbo word for praise in their composition (Nye Ya Ekele, Agam Enye Gi Ekele and Nara Ekele.) Which is not to say that any of these songs are less than stellar. Any arrangement Mr Edwards touches seems to turn to gold and he teases acceptable, rousing stuff from the most generic of material.

But even he cannot save the bland reggae lite vibrations of Gratitude or the repetitive chants ofAyaya. They mar but do not necessarily interrupt the pure listening pleasure of the entire record.

Frank Edwards manages to outdo himself on the album highlights, If God Be For Me, an ambitious stunner that obeys no genre limitation rules and Don’t Cry, a hope filled duet with the irrepressible Nathaniel Bassey.

It is near impossible to listen to Frankincense and not come away with a modicum of appreciation for the man who has managed to string together all these influences with his faith and make it work for a mainstream audience ever on the search for cheap thrills. Frankincense is just perfect for its time. Praising God never sounded this rewarding.

TYE TRIBETT TO CO-HOST 47TH ANNUAL GMA DOVE AWARDS

         

*The Gospel Music Association (GMA) announces Two-Time Grammy, Two-Time GMA Dove Award, Four-Time Stellar Award and Soul Train Award winning artist,producer and songwriter, pastor and television host Tye Tribbett along with award winning duo for King & Country  as the hosts for the 47th Annual GMA Dove Awards.

The awards show will take place on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville at6:30 p.m. CST. Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) will exclusively air the awards show on Sunday, October 16. Tickets to the 47th Annual GMA Dove Awards are now on sale at the Allen Arena box office or online here.

GMA’s President and Executive Director Jackie Patillo states: “I am delighted to welcome for King & Country and Tye Tribbett to the Dove Award stage. Tye has made a tremendous impact in Gospel music throughout his career, and for King & Country has earned immense critical praise and a huge following in the CCM world.

Together, they are going to make this year’s show one of the best yet!”

Tribbett adds: “I can’t really explain how elated I am to be co-hosting the 47th Annual GMA Dove Awards this year! To be along side for King & Country is a real dream come true! I cannot wait!”

The GMA Dove Awards celebrate the contributions of artists from every style of Christian/Gospel music. Nominees are determined by over 1,600 professional members, and winners will be voted on by the entire GMA membership of nearly 2,500. For more information, visit www.doveawards.com/live

In addition to Tribbett co-hosting the GMA Dove Awards his whirlwind year continues as he prepares to release his sixth album Bloody Win (Motown Gospel) later this year. His debut as host of the new BET inspirational series titled Joyful Noise premieres on Sunday, October 9 at 9a EST/8a CST on BET. Special guests for the upcoming season include Fred Hammond, Yolanda Adams, Fantasia, Kelly Price, and more.

About Tye Tribbett:

Born in Camden, New Jersey, Tye Tribbett is the son of two preachers. Growing up surrounded by hymns and gospel music, Tye learned to make music at an early age. As a teenager, he honed his skills as a keyboardist by accompanying such regional notables as Steve Middleton and the Tri-State Mass Choir of the Edwin Hawkins Music & Arts Seminar. In 1996, Tye founded a gospel choir, Greater Anointing (G.A.), consisting of a group of friends whose hearts were set simply on praising the Creator through the gift of great music. G.A burst on the national stage when their song “Let Go, Let God” was featured on the soundtrack of Steven Spielburg’s hit animated feature film, “The Prince of Egypt”.

Tribbett and G.A. soon found themselves sharing the stage with such superstars as Gloria Estefan, LeAnn Rhimes, Elton John, Luther Vandross, and Stevie Wonder. An invitation from mega-producer David Foster to perform on stage at the annual City of Hope event at Universal Studios in Hollywood led to national tours singing backup for Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Don Henley. G.A. ‘retired’ in 2009, allowing its members to pursue their personal goals and dreams.

To date, Tye has released five albums Life, Victory Live, Stand Out, Fresh, and Greater Than – with the latter four landing at #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart. He has sold over 1.1 million records worldwide in his career and has won two Grammy® Awards, four Stellar Gospel Music Awards, two GMA Dove Awards and a Soul Train Music Award. Tribbett is currently the host of BET’s Sunday morning inspirational series Joyful Noise and is slated to release his sixth album Bloody Win later this year.

About GMA:

Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Gospel/Christian music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the Gospel through music of all styles including Pop, Rock, Praise & Worship, Urban Gospel, R&B, Hip Hop, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, Country, Latin and more. The GMA community includes agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards and IMMERSE. For more on supporting the GMA or becoming a member, please visitwww.gospelmusic.org

source:
Jason Hardy
jason@thejhardyagency.com