THE rich sounds of gospel music and family activities are scheduled to take centrestage at the ninth staging of the Best Dressed Fun in the Son Gospel Festival.

Hosted under the theme Kingdom Come, this highly anticipated calendar celebration will take place on the grounds of the University of the West Indies (UWI) at the Mona Bowl on Saturday, March 19. This gospel festival has earned the reputation of being the premier gospel event in Jamaica and has the ability to bring together tens of thousands of local, regional and international patrons in one location for one day of continued praise and worship.

To cater to the growing number of younger attendees, organisers Glory Music will introduce a host of exciting and electrifying young ministers to the Best Dressed Fun in the Son stage where they will be given the platform to share their testimonies and minister to the large audience on hand. These new generations of international and local acclaimed gospel ambassadors are Que out of Trinidad, James Douglas, Sharon Wiles and Tamara Cushnie from Florida and our local Papine choir. James Douglas and Tamara Cushnie are winners of a Florida based Gospel Song contest and the Papine Choir was a favourite in ‘TVJ’s All Together Sing Competition’.

The organisers note that this year’s concert is expected to be bigger and better and more interactive than in previous years. The festival will have something for everybody including a Reggae Jammin Sporting Zone which will facilitate three-on-three basketball matches, football and netball games, BMX bicycle and skateboard demonstrations. The venue will also house a collection of 60 booths to include 35 food booths, a food court, art and craft, food and nutrition, counselling sessions and A Sagicor kiddies village amoung others.

In the afternoon, the young ambassadors will take centrestage and the main concert will unfold with the word being brought by International Evangelist Andrew Palou supported by Pastor Che Cowan. Praise and worship via song will come from Rev Carlene Davis, Prodigal Son, Papa San, and gospel music great Tye Tribette to name a few.

In keeping with the event’s 2011 mandate to make the festival more than a one day concert, Glory Music has added to the programme a series of smaller event activities. On March 16, Red Bones will host a Gospel Jazz show featuring the likes of Dennis Rushton, Jon Williams, Desi Jones, Fitzroy Bennett, Ian Hinds, Miley Kennedy amoung others. A Jiggy Praise Party for the young and young at heart will be staged at the Barbican Field on Friday, March 18, under the theme Metaphoric – You Never Be the Same, featuring musical selections from gospel maestros Marlon Young, Marshy Redz and DJ Alfy from Dominica.