“GOTTA HAVE GOSPEL”

A who’s who of urban gospel greats and worship leaders will descend upon Baptist World Center in Nashville on Aug. 9, marking the inaugural “Gotta Have Gospel” jam. The bill will be split between Columbia Records crossovers Mary Mary and Tye Tribbett & G.A., along with Integrity acts Alvin Slaughter, Jonathan Nelson and Stephen Hurd. Aside from being the first time these lauded music ministers have ever shared the stage together, the collaborative evening will highlight a wide array of artistic diversity and styles of worship leadership.

ALTERNATIVE POWER AT PURPLE DOOR

Though every year of the Purple Door Arts and Music Festival in Lewisberry, Penn., has hosted the highest caliber of alternative talent, the annual excursion’s 13th year could be its luckiest (or, in musical terms, its most ambitious). From Aug. 15-16 at Ski Roundtop, the Main Stage will be dominated by Skillet, Emery, Sherwood, Disciple and Red, the latter of whom is taking time off a busy summer stretch with mainstream act Seether to play this home-state show. The HM Stage focuses on the even heavier sounds of August Burns Red, Haste The Day, The Showdown and Oh Sleeper; while The Gallery Stage features up and comers Seabird, plus 10-year Purple Door veteran Denison Witmer.

INDIE ICONS BRAND WITH BRASH

Between time leading praise all across America to performing at this year’s mammoth Hillsong Conference in Sydney, Australia, indie mainstay The Michael Gungor Band is becoming an increasingly more familiar name. The modern worship group’s reach is about to expand even further thanks to a new deal with Brash Music (also the home of Aaron Shust and “American Idol” alum Chris Sligh) with its label debut Ancient Skies slated for a Sept. 9 release.

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