Source: Dr. Bobby Jones and The Belle co-hosting “Gospel Music Fest with The Belle / The Belle Report
TBR (July 12, 2016)– Richmond, VA –Following a week of violence in our country from Baton Rouge, Minnesota to Dallas, this was truly the weekend to come together for a time of healing. Helping to make that happen in Richmond, VA were two events, the East Coast Gospel Music Summer Fest and the city of Richmond’s 7th Annual Gospel Music Fest with “The Belle.
Now labeled as one of the biggest Gospel event’s on the East Coast, the weekend event was filled with panel discussions, music, and healing for the community. “I simply couldn’t believe the timing of our event which was placed in the middle of a week of violence. From the North, South and Midwestern portion of our country the police brutality and violence has become a non-stop conversation with little solutions. My prayer is that our event will spark more love, words of encouragement and ideas to help heal so many wounded hearts in our country that continues to display its racist head!,” says Sheilah Belle, organizer of the weekend event and CEO of The Belle Report and Mid-Day Personality for Radio One Richmond, Praise 104.7FM.
Source: Dr. Bobby Jones and The Belle / The Belle Report
(In photo: from left to right: Minister Earl Bynum, Cora Harvey Armstrong, Pastor Marlon Lock, Dr. Bobby Jones, Melvin Williams and Kenney Taylor)
Kicking off on Saturday July 9th, the 4th Annual East Coast Gospel Music Summer Fest, returned to 5th Baptist Church, 1415 West Cary Street, Richmond, VA. The event created a blessed networking opportunity for newcomers in the Gospel community as well as established and industry executives.
This year East Coast Gospel Music Summer Fest 2016 included a special session for “New Gospel Artist…Is their Message and Music Reaching Your Generation” with guest facilitator Reggie B and guest panelists, Van Boyd, Tamika Patton, Terrence Bell and Earl Bynum.
Goss with No Celings “Live” lit the room up next with his millennial biblical conversation and how to use the Word to fight injustice.
Closing out the morning session was our panel discussion on Traditional Music- Where is it headed? Dr. Bobby Jones served as the guest facilitator along with guest panelists Cora Harvey Armstrong, Pastor Marlon Locke, Minister Earl Bynum, Kenny Taylor and Melvin Williams.
Weekend guests traveled from as far away as Houston, TX, Memphis, TN, Atlanta, GA and Durham, North Carolina to be apart of this fun filled, uplifting, educational and powerful music weekend, along with vendors that offered something for everyone.
At 4:00PM the crowd began to swell for our Inaugural OLD SCHOOL Gospel Concert with special guest host Doc Christian and featured guests Faithful Connection, Lee Walker & The Spirit, Melvin Williams, Cora Harvey Armstrong and Pastor Marlon Locke.
At 6:00p.m. the praises continued with the East Coast Gospel Music Summer Fest Praise Party with special guests Donte’ McCutchen, Zion’s Voice, Pastor Marlon Locke, Tamika Patton, Earl Bynum & The Mount Unity Choir, The Goochland Virginia & Vicinity Chapter of the GMWA, Terrance Bell, Trisha Alicia, C. Goss, Lindsay Slayton, Lucinda Moore, Eric Wydell and Pastor Larry Miles.
On Sunday, July 10, 2016, the city of Richmond 60th Festival of the Arts returned to host “The 7th Annual Gospel Music Fest with The Belle” at Dogwood Dell in Richmond, VA.
Kicking off at 5:00pm with a Community Prayer led by Bishop Joel Brown, this moment became interactive, as many repeated the pastors prayer as he called out communities that had been affected by recent gun violence and were in need of healing.
The outdoor concert was co-emceed by Dr. Bobby Jones and Sheilah Belle “The Belle” and offered a mixture of Contemporary, Traditional and Quartet sounds with special guests Resound, Earnest Pugh, James Johnson, the Virginia Aires, Monica Lisa Stevenson, Patrick Lundy & the Ministers of Music, GI and John Foxx & New Fellowship.
Source: Dr. Bobby Jones and The Belle / The Belle Report
Putting a praise on it from left to right: Joyce Harding, Tasha Wilkins, Dr. Bobby Jones and Trina Berry
Source: Dr. Bobby Jones and The Belle / The Belle Report
Backstage with Pastor Mike Jones, The Belle, Earnest Pugh and Bishop Joel Brown
A special thank you is also extended to one of the most trust volunteer crews in the county “B Kore Crew.” Birthed from its visionary Sheilah Belle, this small group of volunteers are truly a powerful force to be reckon with including Cheryl Robinson, Joyce Harding, Anita Pouncy Young, Shonda Monique Barnes, Trina Berry, Tasha Wilkins, Laymetha Reed Guy, Linwood, Stephanie, Carrie Warwick, Yolanda, Marion and all of the volunteers.
This year’s event was sponsored in part by Walmart, the City of Richmond, The Belle Report, Gene Quarles, Radio One Praise 104.7FM, Four Deep Multimedia, Bishop Joel Brown, Lee Walker and the Virginia Aires.
The Big Gospel Weekend is an extension of Sheilah Belle’s growing empire, The Belle Report, LaBelle & Associates, Digital Social Media Connect, and www.TheBelleReport.com .
The Big Gospel Weekend was FREE to the Public!
Courtesy of http://www.thebellereport.com
