Alive on the Island is the second annual Cape Breton-based music festival of Christian Unity. It will be held at the Canada Games Complex at Cape Breton University from July 2 to 4. In showcasing a unique dimension of East Coast talent, the festival will feature both established performers and upcoming new talents.
One of the highly anticipated acts is the Friday reunion performance of Four For the Lord, a Cape Breton-based four-part contemporary Christian music group The local ensemble of Pat Moore, Alan Gale, Jamus Dorey and Ronnie Martin identify their main purpose as spreading the message of their faith to audiences of all ages. Among their awards and nominations, they have a 2002 Covenant Award for Canadian Gospel Music. Their popular album Making Waves features a number of their original compositions.
As part of last year’s organizing committee, 4/4 the Lord member Pat Moore said they received emails suggesting that the band get back together for a performance at the next Alive festival. Moore was happy to perform with his fellow band mates, saying “We all come from backgrounds where we’re soloists. One of us might sound good, but the harmonies, and working together–we all like each other so much and enjoy getting together and doing this. It’s all very special to me.”
The Friday night audience will also be treated to recent teen songwriting contest winner Taylor Burton, Sydney-based youth choir Godsent, Mercy Award-winning artist Martine Kelsey, and solo violinist Amanda Mozvik.
The ever-beloved Rita MacNeil will the be headline act for the Saturday night East Coast Inspiration concert. She will share the stage with the ECMA winning Burke Family Singers, and the North Preston gospel ensemble The Sanctified Brothers. The school choir from Robin Foote and Coxheath elementary schools will open the show at 7:30pm. A Songwriters Circle on Sunday at 2:30pm will round out the weekend’s festivities including Elizabeth Deveau, Chelsea Nisbett, Aaron Lewis from the Carlton Showband, Allan O’Donnell and Fred Lavery.
For more information on the festival and to purchase tickets, visit aliveontheisland.com.
