Fun In The Son to include the young

The rich sounds of gospel music and family activities will grace the venue of the ninth staging of the Best Dressed Fun in the Son Gospel Festival.

Hosted under the theme 'Kingdom Come', the highly anticipated calendar celebration will take place on the grounds of the University of the West Indies, Mona Bowl on Saturday. The event begins at 10:00 a.m.

The 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.

The festival, which was first staged in March 2002, is produced by Glory Music Inc., headed by Tommy Cowan, who has toured worldwide with world reknown stars, including Maxi Priest, Freddie McGregor and the late Bob Marley. Since its inception, the festival has grown from strength to strength, with each year witnessing an increase in attendance and a more diverse, wider cross-section of patrons attending.

To cater to the growing number of younger attendees, Glory Music will introduce a host of young ministers. The new generation of international and locally acclaimed gospel ambassadors are Que out of Trinidad, James Douglas, Sharon Wiles and Tamara Cushnie from Florida and the Papine High 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.

More interactive

The 2011 concert is expected to be bigger and better and more interactive than its previous years. The festival will have something for everybody including a Reggae Jammin Sporting Zone where several sporting activities will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The zone will facilitate 3-on-3 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 among others.

At 3 p.m., the young ambassadors will take centre stage, and thereafter 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 Reverend 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 activities.

On March 16, Red Bones Blues Café will host a Gospel Jazz show featuring the likes of Dennis Rushton, Jon Williams, Desi Jones, Fitzroy Bennett, Ian Hinds, Miley Kennedy among 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 'You Will Never Be the Same', featuring musical selections from gospel maestros Marlon Young, Marshy Redz and DJ Alfy from Dominica.

The 2011 Best Dressed Fun in the Son, which is classified as an inspiring time-sharing event, is free to the public.