VALDOSTA — Gospel Fest 2018 is coming and the praise-and-worship show guarantees new faces and voices.

The first event is set to be held in Valdosta High School’s Performing Arts Center 6 p.m., Feb. 25, and tickets are currently on sale for $10-$20.

It is a show that will “take gospel concerts in Valdosta to the next level,” said David Berrian, owner of DB Promotions.

“It’s going to be something different for Valdosta, and it’s going to change the atmosphere of gospel singing in Valdosta,” he said. 

On the roster are local performers The Gospel Starlights, Unified, The Jackson Brothers of Valdosta, and Little Bro and the Boys.

Also featured are three groups from outside of Valdosta: the Rev. Matthew Mickens and the Highway Travelers, Resurrection and The New Silver Stars of Macon.

Co-owner Gary Sharper agreed with his business partner that the singers will be a great addition to the gospel scene in town.

“We’ve been having the same singers for the past 20 or 30 years,” he said. “(We want) to try to bring more fresh faces in gospel and to the quartet singing here in Valdosta, get things a little more livelier in that area and give the people more of an outlet and experience a lot of other singers that are out there.”

Berrian said he believes the crowd will especially enjoy one specific set of performers.

“Rev. Matthew and the Highway Travelers, they have an awesome band in particular with their guitar playing that stands out the most,” he said. “They do all kinds of moves while playing their guitars.”

Sharper said Gospel Fest will be a good opportunity for guests to experience quartet singers if they’ve never really “gotten into” that style of singing.

“They can expect a great time,” he said. “It’s a good package that we’ve put together. They can expect ministry, just expect a good time.”

Concessions will be available, as well as various vendors that will be selling costume jewelry, customized shirts and more.

To purchase tickets, call Berrian at (229) 834-4346 or find them at Mitchell Home Improvement, 508 N. Forrest St. 

Amanda Usher is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1274.