Last month, Joel Rash of Flint Local 432 shared with My City Magazine how Flint became the privileged home to several music genres. He credited an influx of people from across the United States, which was itself due to the automotive industry, as the foundation for the numerous musical styles that have come out of Flint and remain in Flint to this day. Residents have the unique opportunity to enjoy the diverse sounds of this diverse city, and in late July, they were privileged to be able to do so Downtown in the same hour.
Saturday, July 27 fortuitously became a day of music across Flint as Riverbank Park was blessed to be the venue for the third annual Gospel Fest just as Kearsley Park was host to the 14th Annual Flint Folk Music Festival. Gospel Fest 2013 was birthed by Quintin Marshall of Flint, who was moved to promote the Gospel through local musicians. He imparted to My City Magazine his desire “to bring the Word outside the church doors.” Marshall has been involved in gospel music for 44 years, and the genre has a longstanding tradition in Flint; several area churches have produced noteworthy recordings and recording artists. One prominent example is Jeffrey LaValley who wrote a song that was performed for Pope John Paul II at the Pontiac Silverdome in 1987. LaValley was honored at the festival on Sunday July 28 by Marshall and other church leaders.
Exactly two miles down the road from Gospel Fest 2013, the Flint Folk Music Festival wowed crowds with this genre’s uniqueness. Seven acts sat under the pavilion with an attentive gathering who took in great stories and well-played bluegrass and folk tunes. Above all, the president of the Flint Folk Music Society, Jim McTiernan, was most excited about the addition of The Flint Contra Dancers to this year’s lineup. McTiernan explained that contra dance in Flint is “something that grew out of the Folk Music Society.” The audience couldn’t remain seated once the opportunity to dance arose.
Both events had to manage performing music through a momentary yet heavy midday downpour, which halted the programs for a while, but the two happenings soldiered on through the weather. In all, the weekend of July 27 served as yet another example of the many free events open to the public in Flint. Indeed, several hundred people turned out for the two musical gatherings, but word to God that several thousand might turn out in time, so long as the heavens cooperate and retain the rain.
PHOTOS BY TRACI TURNER AND NAARAH MYERS
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