Pictou County Old Time Gospel Concert scheduled for Saturday

It seems that every year Kenny Rockey holds the Pictou County Old Time Gospel Concert, it gets bigger.

This year will mark the 13th anniversary for the concert which was first held at what was then Munroe Avenue Baptist.

Rockey remembers the first time it was held, hoping that maybe 40 people would show up. Instead, more than 100 came and filled the auditorium. The concert, which includes dozens of participants from various area churches, quickly outgrew that space and has been in more recent years held at the theatre room of North Nova Education Centre.

This year’s concert will be held Saturday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. at NNEC. Admission is free although freewill donations will be accepted to cover the costs associated with holding the concert such as cleaning and insurance. Any above that will be given to the music program at the high school to use as they see fit. A storm date has been set for Jan. 19 at the same time.

Rockey hopes it will be as successful as the past couple years when they had standing room only audiences show up. He said the turnout amazes him every time.

“You can’t get anyone out to church, but you have a gospel music concert and the whole community comes,” he said.

He said a lot of people enjoy singing and listening to the old hymns which aren’t as frequently sung in many churches as in the past.

“Everyone loves music and Gospel music just hits you right in the heart,” he said.

There’s a wide range of performers this year including soloists, instrumentalists such as pianist Nicole Green as well as a performance by the Pictou County Brass and Reed.