By amy.smelser
The Gas City Performing Arts Center hosted the Hometown Homecoming concerts for Bill and Gloria Gaither, as well as numerous additional artists, this past Saturday and Sunday.
Originally from Alexandria, IN, the Gaithers have long been seen as big names in southern gospel music. While the Gaithers have performed Hometown Homecoming concerts in the past, this is the first time it’s ever been in Gas City, which came about by a unique set of circumstances.
“Bill and Gloria and I were on our way to Payne’s for a meeting, and it was torrential rain. So, we pulled off, and Bill was driving, and he whipped in here and just walked right in the door,” Gina Briscoe, the president of Gaither Management Indiana, said. “They showed us the facility, sheltered us through the torrential rain, and it pretty much sold him on us coming here and doing an event here.”
The Gaithers proceeded to rent the Gas City PAC for the event, which benefited both the Gaithers and the PAC.
Kelly Miller, the co-owner of Her Cue Productions– the organization that runs the PAC– said that hosting the event will hopefully increase visibility for the venue. She said the event will host many new fans and artists that could return later on, and the event sold out back-to-back shows which doesn’t often happen at the PAC.
Judy Martin Hess, a singer with a group called the Martins, performed over the weekend as well. She said that the Martins have been around the country with the Gaithers for over 30 years, and she loves these events with all the different artists.
“It’s like a family reunion for us… we all admire and appreciate each other,” Hess said.
Davy Chinn, the chair of the Division of Music and Theater at Indiana Wesleyan University, attended both concerts and has been attending Gaither concerts for 25 years.
Chinn said attending the concert at the Gas City PAC felt much more intimate than the larger arenas. He also said the Gaithers’ concerts feel much more flexible and spontaneous than other concerts, something Hess can confirm.
“We never really know exactly what we’re going to be doing, and that mind of makes it fun too,” Hess said.
Chinn said that while Bill Gaither is 90 years old, he appears to be valuing each moment on stage in an even greater way than before.
Briscoe said that hosting the event near the Gaithers’ home in Alexandria is a major bonus for them.
“Any time he can host an event like this… and then he can go home tonight and sleep in his own bed, that’s a victory,” Briscoe said.
Alexis Podgers