THE UKs 1st ever mainstream Gospel Music Festival has been announced to take place on 9 September 2023 to coincide with a drive by the UK gospel music community to make September a Gospel Music Heritage Month. The festival will take place in Stanley Park, Liverpool and will feature internationally known artists, including headliners The Kingdom Choir and CalledOut Music.
 

The festival organised by Liverpool Lighthouse, a charity based in Anfield working to create thriving communities of people living more fulfilled lives, is Sponsored by VistaPrint, Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council among others and is supported by the Gospel Music Industry Alliance. As the festival develops to be an annual event, it will also include panel discussions with artists, meet the artist events, participatory activities for families, the community and wider celebrations of black culture.

Anu Omideyi, Liverpool Gospel Music Festival Director and Music Director at Liverpool Lighthouse said:- "As part of the wider vision to spread the power and joy of gospel music alongside the positive impact of black culture, the festival will be accompanied by a programme taking gospel music into schools. In partnership with music education hub Resonate, the schools programme will initially pilot the work with two secondary schools in June and will roll out to more schools in the next academic year, with the eventual aim of curriculum change that will see young people nationwide learning about the music genre."

As evidenced by events such The Ascension Choir’s performance at the recent Coronation and The Kingdom Choir’s performance at the 2018 royal wedding, gospel music has the power to move and connect with a mainstream, diverse audience. The festival will feature music from The Kingdom Choir, CalledOut Music, Love & Joy Gospel Choir, Sarah Teibo, Sense of Sound, Lighthouse Choir, Volney Morgan & New Ye, DavidB, Wavertree Gospel Choir and NaffymaR.  More artists are to be announced. 

Gospel Music is an inclusive, joyful, uplifting, moving music genre that, in addition to relating to the Christian faith, celebrates the stories, histories, cultures and achievements of black communities. Much modern mainstream music, as well as many genres of music of black origin, owe their origins and inspirations to gospel music. However, these roots often go unacknowledged and unrecognised. This will be the 1st ever mainstream UK gospel festival.
 

Liverpool is a City with a fantastic music and cultural heritage, known as being the home of The Beatles, the European Capital of Culture, 2008 and recent host to The Eurovision Song Contest.  It also has deep links to black history through its role as a slave trading port in the 19^th century and the location of the International Museum of Slavery. Liverpool is also home to Liverpool Lighthouse, which is currently working to develop the National Gospel Music Centre, a hub for supporting and developing gospel music and gospel music artists in the North West.
 

Rebecca Ross-Williams, Creative Director of Liverpool Lighthouse said:- “It is beyond exciting to announce Liverpool Gospel Music Festival this September as it responds to a national need, as there isn’t an equivalent.  It is the right time for the festival with a drive to make September Gospel Music Heritage Month, with Liverpool as UNESCO City of Music, having such a strong music heritage and because of Liverpool’s contribution to black history. Liverpool Lighthouse is committed to supporting the protection and development of Gospel Music and we aim to provide a much need platform to Gospel Music artists, showcase some of the best internationally and bring joy to our audiences.”
 

Liverpool Football Club players, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Luis Diaz recently visited Liverpool Lighthouse to demonstrate their support for the festival along with VistaPrint which is a main festival sponsor. The players surprised the staff, beneficiaries of the charity and the combined choirs of Liverpool Lighthouse - Lighthouse Choir and Love & Joy Gospel Choir – as they were rehearsing a gospel song and all were shocked to see the football players enter the theatre in the building and join in with the choirs. Oxlade-Chamberlain was persuaded to play drums alongside the choir, much to the delight of everyone, whilst Diaz enjoyed the music. 

Liverpool Football Club player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain said:- “It was really, really good! Alisson plays it (Hallelujah) non-stop in the changing room, so Hallelujah is what I hear most days. It's where a lot of soulful music comes from.”

Anu Omideyi, Liverpool Gospel Music Festival Director and Music Director at Liverpool Lighthouse added:- “It has been wonderful to see how gospel music has featured on a national scale recently, for example, during the Coronation ceremonies and celebrations and as highlighted through Lighthouse Choirs during the Eurovision programming in Eurovision Welcomes the World. But gospel music and musicians have significantly supported mainstream popular artists for decades and now we’re excited to build a mainstream platform that celebrates and platforms the genre itself. We welcome gospel music lovers from all over the world as well as those who want to get to know more!”

Sabine Leveiller, Marketing Director Europe at VistaPrint says:- "At VistaPrint we are pleased to support such inspiring initiatives that have a clear and direct impact on the local community. This is the core of our partnership with Liverpool FC and our own mission to support local businesses across Britain with their marketing and design."

​The Gospel Music Industry Alliance identifies UK Gospel Music as derived from the African, American and Caribbean musical experience relating to the Christian faith. It had a profound impact on the development of popular music throughout the 20th century. The Liverpool Gospel Music Festival, whilst acknowledging and valuing the roots of the genre in Christianity, black culture and spirituality, welcomes people of all faiths, ethnicities and identities.