Get Ready for the WORLD Gospel Jam

By Em Fergusson

There’s nothing like gospel music. And this week, Canada’s capital will feature some of the industry’s most electrifying Gospel performers. On July 18 and 19th, gospel music will take center stage at this year’s Ottawa Bluesfest. For close to two decades, attendees have been enjoying a myriad of musical performers, from secular rock stars to blues artists. When the festival opened at Majors Hill Park in 1994, five thousand people enjoyed one of Canada’s fastest growing blues and rock festivals. Today, over a million people have enjoyed music from around the world.

“You would never have known that something so wonderful, so dynamic would come out of one of Canada’s mid-sized cities,” says Mark Gordon, the Gospel Programming Coordinator and Community Consultant for the Ottawa Bluefest. “It’s not as large as Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver, but you know what? There’s something to be said about being the nation’s capital. And one of these days, if the Lord will have it, we’ll become one of those gospel music hubs where artists can come and tour worldwide.”

Gordon’s dream of Ottawa playing a part on the gospel stage for artists to tour worldwide is becoming a living reality with the impressive line-up of gospel artists for the Bluesfest. Gordon’s love for gospel music was born out of an inner desire to see the choir from The Cornerstone House of Refuge, a church he attends and serves as the youth pastor, perform on a large stage. “All I wanted to do was get my church choir into one of the local festivals,” says Gordon. He decided to approach the Ottawa Bluesfest, after seeing their 1998 poster. He spoke with Mark Monahan, the executive and artistic director, who challenged Gordon to assemble more than one Gospel act. In no time at all, Gordon was invited on the team. “It’s not because I was persuasive; I had to believe it was because of the anointing of God,” says Gordon, of joining the team.

Throughout the years, gospel performing artists including Shirley Ceasar, Ricky Dillard, Canton Jones, and many others, have performed at the Ottawa Bluesfest. This year, the public will enjoy another dynamic and inspirational festival with great gospel music. “Israel [Houghton and New Breed] will be there, Papa San, NEWWORLDSON, local artists, Voices of Praise, All Nations Full Gospel choir, and Reggie Young and his praise team will be there,” says Gordon. This year’s line-up includes some of the industry’s top performers.