The Festival of Praise Tour 2014, featuring multiple GRAMMY®, Stellar and Dove Award-winning recording artists Fred Hammond and Donnie McClurkin, now kicks off on September 17 at Fallbrook Church in Houston. New dates have also been added and you can read them below.
Fred Hammond took a moment from his busy schedule to chat about the upcoming tour.
E8: This tour is a pretty big undertaking. Why tour now with Donnie? What was the inspiration?
Fred Hammond: We try to tour every year. We want to keep the promotion of gospel tours alive and give the audience something to embrace and look to. Tye Tribett was out on the road for the first half of the year and we are going to be on for this half. We are really looking forward to it. We are going to be onstage together for the show. We’ll do songs together. Both of us will have a chance to sing our songs.
E8: How has the gospel industry changed?
Fred Hammond: Things are really different from when I started years ago. The whole business model has changed? I think first how labels view gospel music has changed. When a label picked you up it was special. What label you were on determined a bit of what happened. Now, there are just not enough outlets for people to showcase their art. We are really in a tough place.
E8: What do you mean?
Fred Hammond: We have some radio. We can have some label attention, but labels need to think commerce business minded. There’s a sort of disconnect. That’s why putting together a tour like this one with Donnie is great.
E8: It’s a great guess you guys have a great synergy.
Fred Hammond: He’s a great guy. It’s going to be a really good show. (Laughs) We added more dates! We want to give our best. We want to show our gift. It’s such an honor to be able to do what we do.
E8: What are you looking forward to?
Fred Hammond: I’m Looking forward to seeing everyone. ( Laughs) No, really. I looking forward to getting out there and seeing people. I am looking forward to going home to my home town of Detroit. I think both me and Donnie are looking forward to that. We’re going to start together and we are going to end together!
Listen to Fred’s new song:
Make sure that you read these great stories:
- Donnie McClurkin On Signing Nancey Jackson Johnson And Andrea McClurkin-Mellini [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]
- Donnie McClurkin Donates $60m In Medical Supplies To Jamaica
- Taffi Dollar: ‘God’s Love Is The Key To Helping Relationships Stand’ [EXCLUSIVE]
- Inspirational Song Of The Day: Danetra Moore – Only God Can
The national tour will be presented during Gospel Music Heritage Month and will be held at performing arts venues and mega churches across the country.
For additional information on the Festival of Praise Tour, please visit: www.festivalofpraisetour.com
Festival of Praise 2014 Tour
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Fallbrook Church
Houston, TX
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Verizon Theater
Dallas, TX
Friday, September 19, 2014
Music Hall
Kansas City, MO
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church
St. Louis, MO
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Minneapolis Convention Center
Minneapolis, MN
Monday, September 22, 2014
Cornerstone Family Church
Des Moines, IA
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Palace Theater
Columbus, OH
Friday, September 26, 2014
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Detroit Opera House
Detroit, MI
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Horseshoe Chicago Casino
Chicago, IL
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Palace Theater
Albany, NY
Friday, October 3, 2014
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Newark, NJ
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Westchester County Center
White Plains, NY
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric
Baltimore, MD
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
North Charleston Performing Arts Center
Charleston, SC
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Evangel Cathedral Church
Upper Marlboro MD
Friday, October 10, 2014
Hampton Coliseum
Hampton, VA
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Ovens Auditorium
Charlotte, NC
Sunday, October 12, 2014
South Carolina State Fair Grandstand
Columbia, SC
Monday, October 13, 2014
Cathedral of the Cross AOH Church of God
Birmingham, AL
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Harborside Event Center
Fort Myers, FL
Thursday, October 16, 2014
USF Sun Dome
Tampa, FL
Friday, October 17, 2014
CFE Arena
Orlando, FL
Saturday, October 18, 2014
James L. Knight Center
Miami, FL
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Beulahland Bible Church
Macon, GA
Friday, October 24, 2014
James Brown Arena
Augusta, GA
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center
Atlanta, GA
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Corbett Sports Center A&T University
Greensboro, NC
