“Festival Of Praise 2016 Tour” coming back to JAX, FL for one night

For the third consecutive year, Grammy, Stellar, Dove, BET and NAACP Image Award-winning Gospel mega-star Fred Hammond returns to the road with the Festival of Praise 2016 Tour – the star-studded national event he founded several years ago.  And Jacksonville, Florida will be one of the stops the tour will make, for one night only on Thurs., Dec. 1, 2016.  Tickets are available below.  You may recall the JAX venue from last year (2015 Veterans Memorial Arena), well, if you don’t get your tickets fast; you may not get a seat for the event at the Times Union Center.

The National “Game of Life” Tour hits major cities including, LA, Denver, Detroit, Atlanta, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Newark, Jacksonville and many more.  The kick off date is October 1st, at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Washington, and will reach over 50 major cities across the country, running through December, 2016. (See the list of confirmed dates, cities and venues HERE with more to follow).  There will be shows in over 50 cities that are planned for the 2016 tour which coincides with new Hammond RCA Fall 2016 release date.

Multi-Award Winning Gospel icon Fred Hammond brings soul-stirring music and top artists for a third year, to cities around the US.  One of the most revered singer/songwriter/producers in Christian music today, Fred Hammond is the triple threat that has gone on to sell over 10 million albums worldwide. Hammond is considered the architect behind the “Urban Praise & Worship” phenomenon in Gospel music today.  The Detroit native is now based in Dallas, where tour production originated.

The Festival of Praise Tour 2016 will feature performances by the biggest names in the industry including Hezekiah Walker, the singer/composer/choir leader/radio host, and visionary founder and Senior Pastor of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle Churches in Brooklyn, and Bensalem, PA.; the electrifying Israel Houghton & New Breed, bringing the voices and sounds of music with African, Middle Eastern and South American slants; and Karen Clark Sheard, the multi-Grammy® winner and former member of the legendary female group, The Clark Sisters.  The lineup also features: Casey Janice Hobbs (“Casey J”) best known for her Number 1 hit song, “Fill Me Up,” and Regina Belle, who recorded the Grammy® winning song, “A Whole New World,” for the film, Aladdin.  Comedian “Earthquake” will serve as show host.

Fred Hammond has been quoted to say, “FOP 2016 is going to be off the chain!  The thing I love about this tour is that no matter who you are or where you’ve come from, you’re guaranteed to have a great time, something is surely going to inspire you, and you’re going to want to come back again and again!  You definitely don’t want to miss this, so don’t be late, because we’ve got an incredible show planned from beginning to end!”

“Festival of Praise Tour 2016”
    The Game of Life
DATE: Thursday December 1, 2016
TIME: 7 p.m.

LOCATION: Times Union Center Performing Arts
      Moran Theater
      300 West Water St.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202

TICKETS: are NOW on sale from $30 – $60, and may be purchased online at Ticketmaster.  Everyone age 2 & up must have a ticket (Under 2 years, a separate ticket is required for your child if they are going to occupy a seat).

2015 Gospel ‘Festival of Praise Tour’ conquers JAX praise crowd

Get ready for 2016 TOUR

Original post on Examier.com - October 13, 2015

The tickets may have been printed, “Festival of Praise staring, Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah & Many More,” yet a team of praise and worshippers showed up and showed out at the Jacksonville’s Veteran’s Memorial Arena when the “Festival of Praise Tour” came to town.  There were no big I’s or little U’s on Sunday October 11, 2015, but the TEAM came on stage together to minister to those in attendance.

2015 was the bomb!

Comedian Marcus Wiley started the show (on time) and got the people laughing in their seats with some good clean humor.  Instead of holding the headliners off until last, ‘Festival of Praise’ brought the praisers to the front-lines.  Talk about getting your monies worth, when the “Festival of Praise Tour” comes to a city near you – Go!

The first singer to hit the stage was Maestro Fred Hammond graced the stage with renditions of, “Are You Ready for a Miracle,” and then Professor Donnie McClurkin joined him singing, “Hail Jesus, You’re My King.”  You might not expect that a Gospel group would start crooning “Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself Again” – made famous by Sly & the Family Stone, but that’s just what they did, to the glory of God.

Hezekiah Walker and Kim Burrell joined the first two singers while everyone stayed out on the stage and continued to sing their songs and other artists’ songs.  Isaac Carree, Jessica Reedy and Zacardi Cortez joined the other four virtuosos and the entire group sang into the night.  This continued for about three hours with a brief intermission.

2015 at JAX Vet. Arena

What a delightful mix of Gospel talent on one stage ushering in the presence of God.  Unlike other theater and concert venues, you can take all the still shots & videos that your heart could desire.  Take a little time and see what you’re going to enjoy when they come to your town.  For a list of locations where the team will be appearing near you, check the link HERE.