New Gospel Festival to gather by the river in Hartford on Friday

Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant
·2 min read

With so many gospel songs about rivers such as “Come to the River,” “Shall We Gather at the River” and “Peace Like a River,” it seems only natural that Riverfront Recapture is hosting its first Gospel Festival at Hartford HealthCare Community Stage at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza on Friday.

Sponsored by the Conference of Churches, Greater Hartford Arts Council, the consulting service Goall Friends and the non-profit Our B.R.O.S., the inaugural Gospel Festival runs from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday. Besides live performances there will be food trucks, a raffle and other activities.

Local singers and choral groups participating include Bethel Bloomfield Praise, Shane Davis Ministries, Kymberli Joye and Anthony Smith & Fully Committed.

Joye, who is from Windsor, appeared on Season 15 of “The Voice” in 2018, singing pop and country songs as well as gospel. Anthony Smith & Fully Committed are based in Bridgeport. Shane Davis is a self-described “musicianary” (musician/missionary) who has recently returned from traveling in Europe, and Bethal Bloomfield Praise is a vocal ensemble based at Bethel AME Church in Bloomfield.

Organizers say the first 150 students at the festival will receive free backpacks and school supplies.

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin plans to make a public announcement about the festival on Wednesday at noon at Mortensen Plaza. He will be joined by Rev. Lydell Brown of the Conference of Churches, which also now owns 224 EcoSpace, and Rev. Dr. Shelley Best of the Greater Hartford Arts Council.

Besides its many weekend festivals, Riverfront Recapture has also been presenting live weekly music events on Thursday nights at Great River Park in East Hartford. The final concert in that series is this Thursday at 6 p.m. with live music from local party/rock band The Score. Other upcoming Riverfront events include a Summertime Pops concert by the Middletown Symphonic Band on Saturday, the Hartbeat Music Festival on Sept. 9 and Riverfront Dance Fest on Sept. 21.

For more information on Riverfront Recapture events, go to riverfront.org.