Inaugural Branson Gospel Music Convention Coming in July

BRANSON, Mo. – A new annual event in the heartland of America is coming soon. The Branson Gospel Music Convention will be held July 14-17, 2009 at the Branson Convention Center in Branson, Missouri.
This four day event will celebrate the legacy of Southern Gospel Music and the artists who made it great, while featuring some of the best known and best up and coming artists in the nation. Southern Gospel owes its success to names that reach back to its roots, and to celebrate that success, the Branson Gospel Music Convention will feature some of the biggest names known to Southern Gospel.
Performances by The Blackwood Quartet, The Stamps Quartet, The Florida Boys and The Chuck Wagon Gang will anchor this multi-day music festival that is sure to become one of the nation’s premier Southern Gospel concerts. In addition to these pioneers, the concert will also feature some of the best-known artists from today, as well as some great regional artists from all over the country.
Along with this musical lineup, the Branson Gospel Music Convention will also feature more than 150 artist booths that will allow visitors to meet and get to know their Southern Gospel favorites. The exhibit hall will be free and open to the public in Branson. The evening concerts will be ticketed events and will be held in the beautiful ballroom of the Branson Convention Center. Spotlight showcase events will fill the days at Branson, with appearances from some of the best-known artists in the business. These daytime showcase events will also be free and open to the public.
“The Branson Gospel Music Convention will focus on the history of Southern Gospel as well as its future. The brightest spotlight, however, will shine on the ministry of Southern Gospel. We want this event to be a family-friendly, family-affordable good time, but most importantly we want the message of Jesus Christ to be shared openly in the city of Branson,” said Kelly Burton, Program Director for the event.
Kelly added that, “Southern Gospel Music has such a rich heritage that deserves to be celebrated. Many people who are not fans today grew up on names like The Blackwoods, The Stamps, etc. We want to reach out to those people as well as the wonderful fans of Southern Gospel today. This will be an event that no fan will want to miss”.
Other artists scheduled to appear during this event include: The Nelons, Kenny Bishop, Kirk Talley, LuLu Roman, Crossway, Dale and Cheryl Golden, Eric Hinson, Marcey Wall, Mary Fay Jackson, Shannon Bunch, Sue Ann O’Neal, The Cerces, Young Harmony, McMillan & Life, 2nd Generation, Beyond The Ashes, Curt Shoemaker, Rod Burton, Solo Quartet, The Missourians, The Nehrkorns, Wendy Word + Forgiven, Debbie Bennett, Lookin Up, The Shireys, Peggy Inks, Sunday Edition, The Bethels, and Weston Hinson & By Faith, plus dozens more.
The SGN Scoops Diamond Awards, Southern Gospel Music’s second-largest fan-voted awards show, will be featured on Thursday night and will include performances by Blackwood Brothers Quartet, The Nelons, Kirk Talley, and many more. Admission to the awards show is included in the ticket price for that evening.
Special rates are being offered to fans through the Jasper Hotel Group by calling (800) 324-4191 and by the Branson Hilton by calling (417) 336-5400.
Event & Ticket information: Daytime concerts are from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM Tuesday, July 14 – Friday, July 17 and are free of charge. Evening concerts begin at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, July 14 – Friday, July 17. Reserved seats within the first 20 rows are $20.00 per night or $70.00 for all four nights; General Admission tickets are $15.00 per night or $50.00 for all four nights. Children under 12 receive $5.00 off the ticket price. Group rates are available by calling (708) 960-0111.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.bransongmc.com, by calling (708) 960-0111, or by visiting one of the Christian Book Outlet locations in Branson (417) 332-2025. A complete list of artists singing for each day and night is available at the website as well.