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VI gets its praises on for Festival!

The atmosphere was one of humility, praise and worship and of course much dancing at the Ira Oliver Skelton Festiville when the annual Gospel Fest was held last evening, July 25, 2013. Photo: VINO
Introduced as the queen of Gospel music in the Virgin Islands, Deanna Wattley upped the tempo as she came on stage with her opening song ‘I command my hands to praise the Lord’ and also commanded the crowd to come alive. Photo: VINO
Introduced as the queen of Gospel music in the Virgin Islands, Deanna Wattley upped the tempo as she came on stage with her opening song ‘I command my hands to praise the Lord’ and also commanded the crowd to come alive. Photo: VINO
Ashaala Shanae blessed the crowd with her strong but melodious voice and inspiring messages in between songs. Photo: VINO
Ashaala Shanae blessed the crowd with her strong but melodious voice and inspiring messages in between songs. Photo: VINO
Ashaala Shanae during her inspiring performance at Gospel Fest last evening, July 25, 2013. Photo: VINO
Ashaala Shanae during her inspiring performance at Gospel Fest last evening, July 25, 2013. Photo: VINO
The Majestic Band from St Kitts proved to be the perfect act to wrap up the night’s proceedings as the band members continued to keep the crowd shaking and waving with their many songs that included “Fugitive from God’, Hallelujah, For the Lord God Almighty Reigns’ and ‘Lift up my hands’. Photo: VINO
The Majestic Band from St Kitts proved to be the perfect act to wrap up the night’s proceedings as the band members continued to keep the crowd shaking and waving with their many songs that included “Fugitive from God’, Hallelujah, For the Lord God Almighty Reigns’ and ‘Lift up my hands’. Photo: VINO
M.O.S.I.C. (Men of Standard in Christ) during their performance at Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
M.O.S.I.C. (Men of Standard in Christ) during their performance at Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
The handsome turnout of persons were certainly blessed with a variety of gospel music and even some messages and instructions of obedience and trust based on the personal experience of some of the artistes. Photo: VINO
The handsome turnout of persons were certainly blessed with a variety of gospel music and even some messages and instructions of obedience and trust based on the personal experience of some of the artistes. Photo: VINO
Persons getting their CDs of some of the Gospel artistes. Photo: VINO
Persons getting their CDs of some of the Gospel artistes. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
Gospel Fest 2013. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The atmosphere was one of humility, praise and worship and of course much dancing at the Ira Oliver Skelton Festiville when the annual Gospel Fest was held last evening, July 25, 2013.

The handsome turnout of persons were certainly blessed with a variety of gospel music and even some messages and instructions of obedience and trust based on the personal experience of some of the artistes.

The usual rain clouds were hovering and even let down a few intermittent drizzles but once the show was in full swing it seemed they just had to move on as some persons seemed prepared to stand their ground while many others simply whipped out their umbrellas.

Introduced as the queen of Gospel music in the Virgin Islands, Deanna Wattley upped the tempo as she came on stage with her opening song ‘I command my hands to praise the Lord’ and also commanded the crowd to come alive.

She followed up with ‘Wave’ and then  ‘Lord You are awesome’ that seemed to have injected much energy  into the many persons who made their way to the Festiville despite the following day being a working day.

Virgin Islander Wattley has produced several albums including Poised for Greatness and Now is the Time.

Following Wattley’s well received performance, Ashaala Shanae further blessed the crowd with her strong but melodious voice and inspiring messages in between songs.

Shanae was born in the United States but came to the Virgin Islands at the age of four where she attended the Althea Scatliffe Primary School and the then BVI High School before moving to Florida.

She spoke of her hardships growing up and the non-christian life that’s he lived but was pleased to announce that she was now living for Christ and it was the best decision she ever made.

Shanae also said she had been approached many times by labels offering contracts to sing secular music but turned them down because she is contented with signing Gospel music and serving the lord. She said her Gospel singing has taken her all over the world before breaking into singing with the words “In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus…”

She also spoke of disobedience and how it could be costly. Speaking on her own experience, Shanae said while living here in the Virgin Islands her grandmother had told her one day to not leave the house but she did and got involved in a vehicular accident. The car she was in ran off the road and toppled some 20ft down a hill but she lived to tell the tale because, according to her, God already knew she was going to be performing on July 25, 2013 in the Virgin Islands.

Shanae had the crowd singing along with her soulful music that included ‘No More’ and ‘If God is for us’.

The Majestic Band from St Kitts proved to be the perfect act to wrap up the night’s proceedings as the band members continued to keep the crowd shaking and waving with their many songs that included “Fugitive from God’, Hallelujah, For the Lord God Almighty Reigns’ and ‘Lift up my hands’.

There were also performances by Joy Praise of the Cane Garden Bay Baptist Church and M.O.S.I.C. (Men of Standard in Christ). M.O.S.I.C. is said to be made up of youth across the Virgin Islands.

Chairman of the Virgin Islands Heritage Committee and Event Coordinator, Pastor Melvin A. Turnbull said this year’s show was one of the best ever in the 16 years it was held. He said planning has already started for next year’s Gospel show for the 60th anniversary of Virgin Islands Festival.

11 Responses to “VI gets its praises on for Festival!”

  • qq (26/07/2013, 15:52) Like (5) Dislike (34) Reply
    why should the church be part of this
    • xxxxxxx (27/07/2013, 07:06) Like (0) Dislike (11) Reply
      yea why????????? that is to show you where these church stand any place money making them want to be in the midst!!!!!!!!!!!!
      • Tictactoe (27/07/2013, 07:50) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
        It was free in case you were not aware.
      • psss (27/07/2013, 08:55) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
        to xxxxxxx....you yourself need JESUS!!!! Gospel fest was FREE! You the one that want to make money and aint getting any it sound like!...... Nonsense!
      • Spread the Gospel (30/07/2013, 09:18) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        To XXXXX. We are taking the gospel to the streets where we can draw individuals closer to God so that people can understand how important God is. If we stayed in a church alone and didn't spread the word then it would be a whole other story. In addition, we are suppose to be a RELIGIOUS community so what is wrong with bringing the gospel to our festival?
  • water man (26/07/2013, 16:02) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I believe Gospel Fest was awesome and turn out was not to bad....
  • everything (26/07/2013, 16:12) Like (2) Dislike (16) Reply
    church and state should not mix
  • Let's Get Back on Track (26/07/2013, 17:43) Like (29) Dislike (1) Reply
    Don't get it twisted. Festival is about our emancipation from slavery. We the people are the one's that turned it into a bacchanal. The church has every place in the celebration of our emancipation.
  • foyosoul (31/07/2013, 21:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    all other goverments created by man shall fail, so said the bible, Tortola is not a state, don't try to adapt to big cities ignorance - god has been the center of this universe from the beginning and will be here when we are all gone, he is the Alpha and the Omega, Omnipotent. That is why Tortola is wracked with voilence, loss of morals, guns, death and mayhem. the crime ratio is now very unequal to the population of the island. God has been at the center of this earthly existense for all mankind, we cannot even begin to fathom the magnaminous creations of this majestic wonders of Gods mighty hands and its a crying shame that his own image (us) have come to disrespect his omnipotent presence in our waking up/laying down, birth and deaths as we are all certain to face.....remember he has our destiny already mapped out - so shame on those of you who have disown his majestic reign over this earthly hell.......


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