Comin' on home to glory

This year's Gospel Days will bring emotional joyful music and a spiritual experiences to audiences between September 22 and 24. This will be the fifth time the festival has brought the religious music of Black America to Warsaw.

According to the founders of the festival, the Polish Association of Choirs and Orchestras, gospel is, in the ecumenical sense, linking various branches of Christianity and various generations of musicians and listeners. The audience should experience this first-hand thanks to the caliber of the invited artists.

The idea of the festival is to present the most interesting choirs and bands from all over Poland. They perform gospel music both a cappella and with musical accompaniment. Its main goal is to popularize spiritual and gospel music in its classical sense among Polish singers and listeners.

The opening concert on September 22 will start with performances by American guests. The Lee Brown Gospel Consort with Reverend Lee Brown, Dennis and Mellissa Legree, Tommi Harris and Donna Brown will kick things off, followed by Lifted, a Polish-African group from Warsaw, and John Henry's Cool Band from Kutno.

The festival will also host a contest for the best gospel vocalist. Artists from Soul Connection, Light of Light, John Henry's Cool Band, Sound'n'grace and Cantore Gospel will take part. Organizers of the festival have also prepared a gospel workshop for young singers. Events will also take place on the outskirts of Warsaw, in Łomianki, Grodzisk Mazowiecki and Żyrardów.

Further information: www.gospel.waw.pl