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Gaither Homecoming Series
now starting schedule for 2006
Click here to
see tour schedule to date for 2006
What was one of the entertainment and
spiritual highlights of last year that
we reviewed was the visit of The Gaither Homecoming Series to Savvis
Center in St. Louis.
Now, the Homecoming Series is launching
its 2006 Homecoming series. Complete with an array of legendary Southern Gospel
singers (click here to
read our review of Jake Hess ), the Homecoming Series has
established itself as a 'must-see' for anyone with an appreciation of
Rock-solid Gospel music.
Over the past
decade, the Gaither Homecoming Tour has ranked as one of the top attended
tours of all genres of music, often out-selling the top names in rock, pop,
contemporary Christian and country music.
The Homecoming Tour, like the
popular video series, has become something of a phenomenon in the
entertainment world; while the top names in music are commanding upwards of
$100 for a two-hour show, the Homecoming concert tour provides more than
four hours of music, comedy and inspiration for less than $35 a ticket.
“Lots of great music…lots and lots and lots of music,” laughs Paul Emery of
concert giant Clear Channel, who has promoted the Homecoming Tour the past
three years. “I have affectionately told Bill he’s the Eveready Bunny of
southern gospel music, because he just keeps going and going and going.”
Emery contends
that the key to the remarkable success of the Homecoming phenomenon is that
Bill genuinely loves the music. “The magic of Homecoming is that all these
artists are like family, and they have a passion for the music,” he added.
“They just sing their hearts out, every minute they’re on stage, and even
backstage before the concerts. They’ll have a little meeting in catering
before going onstage, and it always ends up being five minutes of talk and
20 minutes of singing. It just blows my mind, but this is what Bill is all
about – it’s not about how many tickets are sold, what building we’re
playing or who’s on the show, it’s about the power of the songs, and he’s
just so passionate about that. It’s driven my respect for him as an artist.”
The 2004
Homecoming Tour has been bittersweet with the passing of two Homecoming
favorites in late 2003, Jake Hess and Vestal Goodman, but Emery notes that
while those artists can never be replaced, newer acts are stepping up to the
plate and receiving raves. “All of us miss Vestal and Jake deeply—they were
giants, and their absence is felt every night,” he stresses. “But there is a
new generation coming into play and they’re raising the roof.”
Emery pointed out
that Kim Hopper often takes Vestal’s parts, and the similarities in their
voices is eerie. “Another group that is tearing the seat covers off is
Signature Sound,” he continued. “They are so exciting and so much fun, and
they get two or three standing ovations every night. They are wonderful
vocalists and riveting performers. There is a lot of terrific talent on that
stage--they may not get the same kind of recognition as the huge pop acts,
but no one in popular music can hold a candle, vocally, to 99 percent of
these artists who take the Homecoming stage.”
While the music
may be called southern gospel, Emery is quick to emphasize that the tour is
particularly hot in Canada and the Northeast U.S. “We shattered our
attendance records last year in Ontario, and we’ll return there in
September” he said. Emery explained that the plan over the past couple of
years has been to go into new markets where the tour had never been to raise
visibility of the music. One new city in 2004 where the tour will stop again
is
ill Gaither and his
staff, along with Paul Emery and the Clear Channel team, are putting the
final touches on the 2005 Homecoming Celebration Tour that will stop in 56
cities in the U.S. and Canada over a nine-month period. The first leg of the
tour will conclude with Family Fest in Gatlinburg Memorial Day Weekend, and
a week later, the Homecoming Friends embark on the annual Homecoming Cruise.
Over the past
decade, the Gaither Homecoming Tour has ranked as one of the top attended
tours of all genres of music, often out-selling the top names in
B
rock, pop, contemporary Christian and country music. The Homecoming Tour,
like the popular video series, has become something of a phenomenon in the
entertainment world; while the top names in music are commanding upwards of
$100 for a two-hour show, the Homecoming concert tour provides more than
four hours of music, comedy and inspiration for less than $35 a ticket.
“Lots of great music…lots and lots and lots of music,” laughs Paul Emery of
concert giant Clear Channel, who has promoted the Homecoming Tour the past
three years. “I have affectionately told Bill he’s the Eveready Bunny of
southern gospel because he just keeps going and going and going.”
Among the artists
confirmed to appear on the 2005 Homecoming Celebration Tour are the Gaither
Vocal Band, comedian Jeff Allen, Mike Allen, Anthony Burger, Jessy Dixon,
the Easters, the Isaacs, Ivan Parker, Lynda Randle, Ernie Haase and
Signature Sound Quartet, Ben Speer, Russ Taff and Kevin Williams. Some such
as the Booth Brothers and Larry Ford will play select markets, as will
others from time to time.
Ticket prices vary
according to location in the venue. Click here for 2006 Schedule as of
January 15, 2006. |