Fall Concert Artists Bring Award Nominations

Nominations for the 50th annual Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards were announced Aug. 14 in Nashville. And numerous of the honorees are on their way to West Michigan for concerts this fall.

For King & Country, the pop-rock band anchored by the musical brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone, takes five Dove nominations to its Oct. 3 concert at L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon. The group has nods for top song of the year ("Joy"), pop/contemporary song ("God Only Knows"), songwriter of the year, pop/contemporary album ("Burn the Ships"), and overall artist of the year.

The band performed last year at the Unity Christian Music Festival, and already is signed to return there in 2020. Tickets for their Oct. 3 concert begin at $20, available online.

Singer-songwriter Zach Williams performs Oct. 18 at Central Wesleyan Church in Holland. The Arkansas native has a nomination as contemporary Christian artist of the year. His concert DVD "Survivor- Live From Harding Prison" is a finalist for the year's top long form video.William's fall tour carries the title of his new album "Rescue Story" releasing October 4.  Opening act Josh Baldwin (of Bethel Music) is nominated for a Dove as new artist of the year.

Advance general admission tickets are $18 with gold circle options available. For tickets visit online.

Dove Award winners will be announced at Oct. 15 ceremonies in Nashville.

AND OTHERS

MercyMe, David Crowder and Micah Tyler visit Van Andel Arena Oct. 13. And two of the three artists are in the running for 2019 Doves.

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MercyMe is a finalist for overall artist of the year, and lead singer Bart Millard is on the list as the year's top songwriter. David Crowder's song "Red Letters" is nominated for song of the year and short form video.

Tickets for this "Imagine Nation" tour start at around $30 and are available online.

Singer Danny Gokey has a concert date Oct. 24 at Fair Haven Church in Hudsonville. The music video for his current hit song "Haven't Seen It Yet," is Dove-nominated. Tickets for his local concert start at $15 and are available online

Veteran singer-songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman has a Christmas concert Dec. 14 at L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon. Chapman's recent bluegrass album features a bluegrass version of his 1990s hit song "Dive," with guest artist Ricky Skaggs, which is nominated for a Dove. Tickets for Chapman's concert are $25 and are available online

The Gaither Vocal Band and part of the "Homecoming" crew have a Christmas show Dec. 5 at Grand Rapids First in Wyoming. The GVB is nominated as Southern gospel artist of the year, and their song "We Are All God's Children" also has a Dove nod. General admission tickets are $28.50 (seniors 60+ $24.50) available online

Southern gospel's The Collingsworth Family performs Oct.11 at Jenison Center for the Arts in Jenison. Their album "Mercy & Love" is up for a Dove. Concert tickets begin at $20 and are available online .

LOCAL CONNECTIONS

Congratulations to West Michigan's own pastor-gospel artist Marvin Sapp, whose song "Kind God," (from his album "Close") is nominated for traditional gospel song of the year. Sapp is outgoing pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center in Grand Rapids. He is leaving in September for a new assignment as Senior Pastor at Chosen Vessel Cathedral in Fort Worth, Texas.

Meanwhile, Steven Malcolm has two nominations in the rap/hip-hop categories.

"The Second City" is up for the year's top album, and the song "Even Louder" (featuring Natalie Grant), is a finalist for rap/hip-hop song of the year.

KALAMAZOO SHOWS OF NOTE:

Greater Vision anchors a "Gospel Music Fall Fest" bill Oct. 10 in Kalamazoo's historic Chenery Auditorium. Greater Vision is Dove-nominated for the "Life Is A Song" album. The bill includes fellow Southern gospel artists Mark Trammell Quartet and The Guardians. Reserved seats are $27 and $33 and available online.

The worship-based singer-songwriters Keith and Krystin Getty lead a "Sing: An Irish Christmas" presentation backed by a large local chorus on Dec. 21 at Miller Auditorium in Kalamazoo. The Getty's are nominated in the inspirational category for their album "North Coast Sessions." Tickets begin at $20, available online.

TRACKING THE DOVES

For a complete list of nominees in all 42 categories, visit www.doveawards.com . The ceremonies are set for Oct. 15 at Lipscomb University in Nashville. They will be broadcast on a tape-delayed basis at 8pm (ET) Sun. Oct. 20 on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).

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