Credit veteran St. Louis gospel artist Cedric Shannon Rives with wanting to shake up local gospel music.
He says his Super Bowl XLVI Gospel Fest tonight at the Gateway Area Bible Fellowship Apostolic Church in Cahokia is blazing a new trail by "bringing some diversity to the gospel scene here."
"American Idol" finalist George Huff, who released gospel albums such as "Miracles" in 2005 and a more recent self-titled effort, headlines the event.
In addition to a long list of St. Louis artists, Rives is featuring performers from Denver, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Birmingham, Ala., and elsewhere.
"I want to do something different — bring in some artists from other parts of the country to bring a melting pot here," he says. "I want to expose some of the artists I met as I traveled the country."
Rives says that's especially important because gospel music in St. Louis isn't as progressive as he'd like.
"It's not like Atlanta or LA or New York," he says. "They're very progressive. They can have concerts on a Monday or Tuesday and pack it out. Here you have to do something on a Friday and plan it three months in advance to get somebody to show up."
Local gospel music tends to be repetitive, Rives says.
"Every church has the same people, and you know how it's going to play out before you get there," he says. "I want to give people something fresh, something new, something alternative — reach for another level."
He decided to make the event free in his effort to build a brand, "to continue to water this area and do something." When he did a similar event a year ago, tickets were up to $50 and the event was packed. Still, he says, there were some who stayed away because of the ticket price.
The list of artists at Gospel Fest is long, but Rives says the evening will flow. In a preshow event, eight acts will perform for three to five minutes each. Rives says they're the artists who perhaps "don't have a record yet, but I wanted to give the opportunity for people to hear them. They're up and coming."
At 7:30 p.m.,there's an opening number with Rives and some of the featured artists, and from there each artist will come on for five-minute sets.
Huff and singers from out of town will get more time on stage. Huff was a late addition to Gospel Fest. Rives knew him from when they lived in Dallas, and they recently ran into each other at a concert in Florida. During a talk with Rives, Huff told him he was coming to check out Gospel Fest. Rives told him he couldn't come without singing.
Singing has come naturally for Rives, 33, since his first concert at the age of 11. He had his first album out by 19, and last year locally released "Sing You Out the 4 Walls" featuring the single "Please Hear Me." The album will see a national release via New Day Distribution in May.
He describes his music as "Kingdom Music" and says he ministers and sings to many denominations rather than being 'stuck on the traditional church. I do a little bit of everything, and my current release is reflective of that. The Kingdom is not black or white or a certain genre or style. When I write, it's whatever I hear in my heart."
Super Bowl XLVI Gospel Fest presented by Cedric Shannon Rives with George Huff, Jewel & Converted, Yolonda Marant, Ann Rogers and more
When 7 p.m. Friday • Where Gateway Area BFAC, 85 Water Street, Cahokia • How much Free but call 314-252-8864 for tickets (donations accepted)
