Day of Worship - Silver Dollar City Southern Gospel Picnic - August 30,2015

So when you're missing out on being at Silver Dollar City during the Gospel Festival, what do you do? Blog about how much fun the day before was.

We started Sunday at the worship service with the Hosea Bilyeu Family. It was a great time of worship and a fantastic message. Really enjoy seeing this family and them leading in worship!

We saw four more groups during the day. Here are the highlights -

The Craguns

• This was my first time to see this group live, and I certainly hope it's not the last. 
• "Pass Me Not" - They sang this song a cappella! It was absolutely amazing!!
• "I Want to Be a Servant"
• "I Believe" - They ended with this song. Their bass has one of the smoothest voices I've ever heard. 

The Browns

• "Sinners Come to the River" - Vocals and violins on this song were fantastic!
• "Didn't It Rain" - Andrew Brown has to be the most energetic singer in Southern Gospel. He knocked it out of the park.
• "Great Is Thy Faithfulness/ Majesty"

Karen Peck and New River

• "Pray Now"
• "Four Days Late" - Always a highlight, but it was really special. Karen went over time in order to sing this song in the last show. It was immediately after leading the audience in "The Old Rugged Cross."
• "We Shall Wear a Robe and Crown"
• Ricky Braddy was filling in for the weekend. He did a great job. He sang the song "Were You There" a cappella, a definite highlight!

Booth Brothers

• This was my first chance to see Paul Lancaster with the group. I was definitely impressed with him. Great fit for the group!
• It was a great night like they all have been, but probably one of the more worshipful concerts I've experienced in Echo Hollow.
• "Touch of the Master's Hand"
• "Jesus Saves" - They ended the first half with this song! Wow, powerful moment!
• "Through It All"
• "Feeling Fine" and "Still Feeling Fine" - Both fun songs, and they ended the night with "Still Feeling Fine."
• "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" - Ronnie said during intermission and product pitch that Paul sang this song better than anyone he had ever heard. After hearing him live, I have to agree! Just incredible!!
• "I Am the Word" - Great song and probably the moment of the night!

Silver Dollar City Southern Gospel Picnic - August 29

Rain is an inevitable part of Silver Dollar City's Southern Gospel Picnic. And this year it happened during Triumphant Quartet's concert. About four songs in, there can a downpour. But more on that a little later. First, here are the highlights of the other shows we saw today.

LeFevre Quartet

• "Come and See" 
• "I Love to Call His Name" - This has always been a favorite song of mine! They did this song with just the piano and voices.
• This group has helped make two more contemporary songs popular in Southern Gospel. They sang both "Jesus Saves" and "Days of Elijah" during the set both by request. Loved them both!

The Browns

• We saw the Browns during their patriotic set. They sang a few patriotic songs but my favorite was definitely "Because of the Brave."
• The Browns' playing their violins is amazing!
• "Peace on Earth" 

New Road

• They had a live band, so no tracks at all!
• "With These Hands" - This is a new song written by one of their members. Outstanding!
• This is a newer group so they sang a number of popular gospel songs including ""I'm Rich," "The Lighthouse" and "Meet Me at the Table."

Southern Raised

• "Glorious Day" - They put their own spin on this song, loved it!
• They talked about having been raised and trained more on classical music. They created an arrangement of "Four Seasons" with "Holy, Holy, Holy." Amazing!!

Triumphant Quartet

• Honestly four songs into the night, the rain started. Triumphant capitalized on this and sang "I Wish It Would Rain." The rain started coming down even harder. 
• "Old White Flag" - Clayton stepped out into the rain with the audience to sing this one! He got soaked but put everything he had into it!
• Thankfully the rain didn't last all night but unfortunately for them a lot of the audience left. But they are the ones who missed out! 

• "Saved by Grace" - This was the last song before the sky opened up. The crowd was on its feet, everyone loved it!!

• "This Blood" -- I love this song!!!!
• "He Is" - Great song to end the night on!!

Silver Dollar City Southern Gospel Picnic - Aug. 28, 2015

Yesterday morning I headed north to Branson, Missouri for Silver Dollar City's Southern Gospel Picnic. It was the second day of the festival, but my first day to attend. 

The lineup for the day included 2nd Generation, the Ball Brothers, the Perrys, Mark Bishop and The Old Paths. It's really almost impossible to see everyone while you're here. And there are some groups you want to see more than once. The park does a great job of scheduling so many different shows each day.

I'm just going to hit the highlights from each group I got to see today -

2nd Generation

• "What a Day That Will Be"  - Loved hearing Brenda sing this song! Such a sweet moment where they had the audience join in too!
• "Sheltered in the Arms of God" - Elaine sang this one. Beautiful song!!
• "Soul Searching" - Good hearing this one from their newest project!!

Ball Brothers

• "I Shall Know Him" - They started the set with this one a cappella. Amazing!!
• "Wedding Music" - Jon Epley went to the keyboard for this one. Good hearing them sing this Cathedral classic.
• "Just As I Am" - Probably my favorite Ball Brothers song!!

The Perrys

• "I Can Trust Him" - Great getting to see Libbi sing this song live! 
• "He Will Hide Me" - Always a favorite!
• "If You Knew Him" 
• "Damascus Road" 
• They sang a couple of the older Happy Goodman songs. I like hearing them do some of these older songs.
• Troy talked about all they had been through in the past couple of years. He also gave part of his testimony and set up "Calvary Conquers It All." Great hearing them stage this one again!!

Mark Bishop

• "Pray on the Little Days" - Love the message of this song!!
• "My Name Is Jesus" - I'm used to the version where he has guest singers but it's fun hearing him sing all the different roles.

The Old Paths

• "I Bowed on my Knees" - I know Michael English is known for this song but Tim's version is right there with his! Amazing!!
• Daniel Ashmore, bass singer, was featured a lot tonight! It's hard to pick one highlight from what he sang. And as impressive as his bass singing is, his saxophone playing is equally as impressive!!
• "Until Then" - Doug sang this and then had the audience join in on the chorus. Such a sweet worshipful moment.
• "If That Isn't Love" - It was good to hear them sing this featuring both Daniel and Chuck Pettyjohn.
• "Love Them to Jesus" 
• Doug gave his testimony to set up "Ordinary People." Love hearing him tell his story of how God moved. He also talked about how they are coming off the road and this being their farewell tour. 

Fun Clip Friday - Southern Gospel Picnic - Jeff and Sheri Easter - Hinson

In honor of the start of Silver Dollar City's Southern Gospel picnic, here's a clip that goes back a few years. Jeff and Sheri Easter called Eric Hinson to join them on stage one night. He came just to be in the audience, but Jeff put him on the spot to sing "Call Me Gone." Enjoy for today's Fun Clip Friday post!

Silver Dollar City's Southern Gospel Picnic

Today the Southern Gospel Picnic at Silver Dollar City begins. This is the one Southern Gospel event I attend each year. I may not be there for the full time, but I haven't missed a year since its inception. This year is no exception!

I will be Branson bound tomorrow, but I won't get to stay the full time because of previous commitments. However, I will be there for nine of the 12 days. Needless to say, I'm a little excited. I have to miss today and Monday and Tuesday of next week. And yes, I plan on blogging as much of it as I am there for. I'll also try to do some Periscopes live, so be sure to follow me there!

There are a few groups I'm looking forward to seeing live for the first time - Ernie Haase and Signature Sound is at the top of that list! The Craguns and the Williamsons are two other groups that I've never seen live.

If you're in the Branson area or even in Arkansas like I am, make the trip up to Branson in the next 12 days! You won't regret it! Here's a full schedule below.