Gospel Tent
Friday-Sunday, Tito's Handmade Vodka stage
By Kahron Spearman, Fri., Sept. 30, 2016
ACL understands and offers a chance for healing. Backsliders should look for spiritual cleansing at Tito's Handmade Vodka stage – the "gospel tent" – before each day (and night) of debauchery. The soulful Gospel Silvertones kick off Friday with R&B inflections of legendary Motown and Philadelphia sounds. Houston's six-time Stellar Award-nominated trad quartet Endurance intone a scripture-faithful message of deliverance through God's love. Austin's Stapletones, which feature the young Peterson Brothers, recall the collective pinnacles of Staple Singers, Ray Charles, and the Carter Family. Bryan "church girls" the Spiritualettes have served the Lord together through song for nearly 30 years. Following a period of downtime, San Antonio's River City Christianettes are newly rebuilt, crossing time-aged and newer gospel outfits from the Truthettes and Caravans with contemporary twopiece Rizen. Wesley Bray & the Disciples of Joy return to ACL providing perhaps the most contemporary sound, blending trad gospel with hip-hop and R&B. Finally, one can still get their gospel brunch fix on at Stubb's with local gospel jewel, the Original Bells of Joy.
