Fall Gospel Fest marks 22 years of bringing comfort, community through gospel music

For 22 years, Fall Gospel Fest has brought gospel music to Madison, drawing nationally recognized performers and audiences who come for more than just a night of music.

For some, it’s an opportunity to reconnect with friends they’ve known for decades. For others, it’s a chance to find comfort through music and faith. And for younger audiences, it’s an introduction to a genre that has shaped generations.

“It’s a very good opportunity to hear some of the best gospel artists in the world,” says Clyde Gaines, founder of PeBoGa Productions, which produces the annual festival.

Gaines tells Madison365 that the annual event, which will take place this year on Saturday, Nov. 21, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, has grown into something that connects people across generations and beyond the Madison area.

“We are really looking forward to this 22nd annual event at Mt. Zion Church. It’s been generational,” Gaines says. “We’ve had adults who have brought their younger kids, and the kids are still coming. It’s been very family-oriented. It’s a positive event to bring the whole family to.”

The festival has also become a source of encouragement for people going through difficult times.

“People struggle with all kinds of issues. They’re in all kinds of situations. A lot of times, you need to hear a comforting word, a word of assurance,” Gaines says. “I think Fall Gospel Fest has had an impact by providing opportunities for people to hear an encouraging word.”

Gaines says music can help people through periods of doubt and difficult times in their lives, giving audiences an opportunity to hear messages of hope and encouragement.

“Sometimes you have a favorite song, and that song can get you through periods of doubt, periods of disbelief,” he says.

Gaines recalls attendees traveling from outside Wisconsin, including people from as far away as Kansas City, who told him they needed to be at the event.

“‘I needed to be here today. I needed to witness this,’” he recalls Fall Gospel Fest attendees telling him.

Over the years, Fall Gospel Fest has welcomed a long list of nationally recognized gospel performers, including Marvin Sapp, Karen Clark Sheard, Jonathan McReynolds, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Ricky Dillard, Jekalyn Carr and Tamela Mann.

“There’s quite a number of talented artists, inspirational artists, who have been through here over the years,” Gaines says. “We’re proud to be able to host the event.”

This year’s 22nd annual Fall Gospel Fest will feature Grammy Award-winning gospel artists Brent Jones and Dominique Jones, aka DOE, along with Jazz Flux, a Milwaukee-based ensemble blending soulful gospel roots with jazz, R&B, funk, and pop.

Gaines says Brent Jones has been performing for years and has produced numerous hits. DOE, whose full name is DOE Jones, was formerly the lead singer of the gospel group Forever Jones before launching a solo career several years ago. Both performers have won Grammy Awards.

“So people will be keeping up with the Joneses,” Gaines jokes.

Gaines adds that bringing in artists like DOE also gives younger generations a chance to discover gospel music.

Jazz Flux, which features some of the region’s most seasoned musicians, consists of Jamill Shaw (saxophone), John Zaffiro (guitar), Victor Campbell (drums), Ken Kosut (piano), Bailey Strasser (trombone), and bassists James Yorgan and Aden Stier.

“The group brings decades of uplifting, spirit-filled live performance experience to every stage,” Gaines says.

Members of Jazz Flux have performed at premier festivals and venues across the Midwest and beyond, including Milwaukee Summerfest, the Eau Claire and Middleton Jazz Festivals, Blu at the Pfister Hotel, Caroline’s Jazz Club, and Pittsburgh’s Con Alma Jazz Club.

PeBoGa (People Building Opportunity through Grace and Action) Productions, which Gaines founded in 2004, hosts Fall Gospel Fest. Beyond gospel music, the organization also creates community opportunities through mentoring, athletics and music, producing events in Madison such as the Park Street Music Festival and Capital Land Music Fest.

The Fall Gospel Fest first started in 2004 as the Fall Inspirational Music Fest, with its first concert held at Middleton High School’s Performing Arts Center. Gaines says he initially expected to host just one event, with no plans for a long-running annual tradition.

“I was thinking that I would just host an event that year, and that would be it,” Gaines says with a laugh. “Little did I know that 22 years later it would be this great annual event.”

The first concert drew an enthusiastic response, with attendees encouraging Gaines to continue the festival.

“We had an amazing turnout, and people had an amazing time,” he says. “We got some very positive comments from people who wanted to see it continue. I had a great time, too, and I got joy from doing it.”

Gaines says he also wanted to address the lack of opportunities for Madison audiences to see nationally recognized gospel performers, who often focus on larger markets.

“When you think of national gospel artists, they gravitate toward the big cities. I wanted to fill that niche and close that gap of Madison not being able to have those national artists come to Madison,” he says.

The festival continued virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 before returning to an in-person setting at the Overture Center in 2022.

As Fall Gospel Fest enters its 22nd year, Gaines says community support remains essential to keeping the tradition alive.

“We’re very appreciative of the community coming out to support us at past events. We want them to come out and support us once again. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to sustain this event,” Gaines says.

The 22nd annual Fall Gospel Fest begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 2019 Fisher St. Tickets and additional information are available through the Fall Gospel Fest website.

Madison365 is a news outlet covering communities of color in Wisconsin.