The 25th Annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival – June 6 and 7, 2009

For Immediate Release: March 18, 2009

The 25th Annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival
June 6 & 7 In Millennium Park

The 25th Annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival returns to Millennium Park June 6 and 7for a celebration packed with gospel music stars.

This milestone event kicks off the 2009 lakefront music season with Grammy®, Stellar and Dove winners Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin as two of the top artists headlining the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

Celebrating 25 years of Gospel Music at its best, the festival offers national, international and local Gospel Performances beginning at 11:00 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. each day and admission is FREE. The full line-up will be announced soon.

“The Gospel Music Festival is one of many free festivals sponsored annually by the City of Chicago to showcase and celebrate Chicago’s diverse musical heritage”, said Megan McDonald, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Special Events. “This year’s festival line-up will be an example of the many genres within gospel music drawing from classical to R&B to traditional gospel that will be presented by the many award winning performers.”

On Saturday, June 6 Donnie McClurkin brings his heartfelt lyrics from his recently released new album We All Are One (Live in Detroit) to the Jay Pritzker Pavillion Stage. Past award-winning hits such as “Speak to My Heart”, which garnered two Stellar awards and a Dove award nomination, have given McClurkin a strong following in the gospel music community. McClurkin has performed at the White House and on The Oprah Winfrey Show, spreading his gift to uplifting spirits through his music.

Sunday, June 7 five-time Grammy® winning and multi-plantinum gospel artist, Kirk Franklin, will close the festival on the Jay Priztker Pavillion Stage. Franklin’s latest release The Fight of My Life is one of his most dynamic and stylistically varied of his career. The first single, “Declaration (This is it)”, is a burst of affirmative energy and gospel soul sound. His jazz kissed pieces with hip-hop grooves are why Kirk Franklin is one of the most successful gospel music artists of his time.

The Chicago Gospel Music Festival attracts visitors from around the country seeking to appreciate the music in the city where traditional gospel music was born more than 75 years ago. With its deep roots in the city’s African-American community, the Festival celebrates the creative, historical, communal, and social significance of this musical art form, and its impact on American culture.

The Gospel Music Festival is one of many festivals sponsored annually by the City of Chicago to showcase and celebrate Chicago’s diverse musical heritage. (The City of Chicago does not endorse or promote any religious messages expressed by the performers.)

For a full day of inspirational sounds, gospel music enthusiasts are invited to enjoy uplifting entertainment on Saturday and Sunday at the Walgreens Day Stage and the Gospel Youth Stage. Performances feature local choirs, quartets and more with gospel music sounds sure to make this weekend one to remember.

Admission is FREE and performances begin on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 at 11:00 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. Entertainment at the Pritzker Pavilion begins at 5:00 p.m. both days.

The Chicago Gospel Music festival is presented by the Mayor’s Office of Special Events with the help of many generous sponsors including: Walgreens, Pepsi-Cola, Hinckley Springs, Clairol, Chicago Tribune, chicagotribune.com, WGN-TV, CLTV, La Grou Distribution System, Inspiration 1390, Communications Direct, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Defender and WJYS-TV 62.

The Mayor’s Office of Special Events encourages taking public transportation to all lakefront festivals. Call (312) 836-7000, TTY (312) 836-4949 for information on RTA, CTA, PACE and Metra.

For more information and updates on the Gospel Music Festival call the Mayor’s Office of Special Events (312) 744-3315 or visit www.chicagogospelmusicfestival.us. For great hotel rates, call 1 (877) CHICAGO or visit www.explorechicago.com.