TICKETS GO ON SALE NOVEMBER 1ST AT 10 a.m.

SATURDAY 2:00 PM (Doors open at 1:30)
The Inspirations
The Kramers
Poet Voices

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The Inspirations

Every July for over five decades, the Southern gospel group The Inspirations hosted Singing in the Smokies, a festival that drew tens of thousands to their native Bryson City. The quartet itself formed two years before the first gathering, in 1964, when Swain County High School chemistry teacher Martin Cook and three of his students began to meet weekly to sing gospel songs.

Today, The Inspirations are considered one of the most important groups ever to sing and record Southern gospel music. Southern gospel is a form that, despite its generic-sounding name, actually refers to a very specific quartet-based style, featuring carefully orchestrated harmonies. It originated in 1910 with the popularity of quartets who made records and toured the South, sponsored by the Stamps Music Company and Tennessee hymn-writer James D. Vaughn.

A seven-member “quartet,” the Inspirations were led by Martin Cook until his retirement in 2017. Cook was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2003, and was awarded the Marvin Norcross Award in 2002—the two highest honors in the Southern gospel industry. Tenor Archie Watkins is the other singer who was one of the original Inspirations. Newer members include Roland Kesterson (lead), Luke Vaught, and Wyatt Austin (bass vocals and bass guitar).

The Inspirations describe themselves as “an enthusiastic, sincere, clean-cut group of fundamental conservative Christian gentlemen with a desire and an objective to witness to a needful and sinful world through the medium of Gospel Music.” They have sold more than one million copies of their sixty albums. Their sound is now known in the world of Christian music as the Smoky Mountain style of Southern gospel quartet singing.

The Kramers

When God’s gifting, God’s anointing and God’s calling come together in one family, exciting things are going to happen. Since their beginning in gospel music ministry, The Kramers have maintained a high quality of musical excellence with an unquenchable passion to see people come to know Jesus Christ as Savior. Matched with the seriousness of their calling, The Kramers shine with an undeniable love for The LORD. The beauty of this relationship is clearly evident not only through the anointing of their music, but also their godly love for everyone they meet. One cannot attend a Kramers concert without being touched. With Rachel’s beautiful, soaring soprano voice, Maria’s tender, heartfelt delivery of beautiful lyrics and smooth family harmonies, many doors of opportunity have now opened nationally.

The Kramers maintain a full schedule sharing at events across the United States and beyond in churches, auditoriums and major concert venues. This increased demand has also led to increased recognition and The Kramers were nominated for “2020 New Artist of The Year” as part of The Singing News Fan Awards. As things have continued to progress for The Kramers, they teamed up with StowTown Records and multi-award winning producer, Wayne Haun for their latest album release entitled, “The Hope of All Tomorrows”. The new project is indicative of The Kramers wide range of musical styles as it offers touching ballads, up-tempo songs with catchy melodies, powerful songs of worship and songs featuring awe-inspiring orchestrations.

At an event with The Kramers, audiences can expect a variety of musical styles featuring beautiful family harmonies and the skilled accompanying instrumentation brought forth by Scott, Ben and Maria. Audiences are greatly moved, oftentimes to tears, by the sweet, yet powerful gospel message within each of the musical selections. Top all of this off with a time of hearing personal testimony, along with an opportunity to accept Christ as Savior, and many walk away greatly impacted by the gospel. That’s the hope of The Kramers – to share this gospel Truth with everyone they meet that Jesus is The Living Hope for All Tomorrows!

Poet Voices

In 1991, Gospel Music songwriter, Phil Cross formed Poet Voices. Gospel Music fans quickly fell in love with the music and message presented by this unique new voice. Over the years the group became a staple in Gospel Music and garnered many of the top honors in the field. Most importantly, they were recognized by both fans and peers as on of the most respected ministry teams in Gospel Music.

With ten acclaimed recordings to their credit, as well as numerous popular releases, including five Number One hits, Poet Voices has firmly established a place at the forefront of Christian Music. Since its formation in 1991, this popular group has gained the respect of its peers and Gospel Music supporters alike and continues to be one of Gospel Music’s most beloved and impactful groups.