Heavenlies release CD, hold concert
Gospel: it’s one of the fastest growing types of music in the Caribbean…and Belize is no exception. Whether it’s reggae, dancehall or more traditional melodies, this music with a message is big and getting bigger. News 5’s Patrick Jones finds that one durable Belizean group is happy to ride the wave of popularity.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
Eleven years after they burst unto the local scene, the Heavenlies Gospel Band is unleashing their latest weapon in the war against sin: a new CD entitled: Next Level. The release is timed to coincide with their annual concert. The album features fourteen songs, which public relations officer Ian Mariano says touches many of the issues facing the nation today.
Ian Mariano, P.R. Officer, Heavenlies
?We want people to look at it and understand and could relate you know and let them know that no matter what you are going through, Christ can help you in your situation. This is not something from over there or in Jamaica or wherever. We are talking about stuff that happens right here in Belize.?
One example of that ?stuff? is the breakdown of the family. A four-minute music video accompanying the song ?Teach Them? sets out the Heavenlies? belief that family breakdown is at the root of many of the problems facing the community today.
Ian Mariano
?Teach Them? actually is an example of two ways in which we could raise a child. It all talks about the importance of the influence of a stable family unit for a child to come up in. And what it does it actually depicts two different roles, one, one young boy not having the luxury of having a mother and father so he was eventually raised by his grand mother, who has already done her part and now has to do over time actually and doesn?t really do a good job. Not because she doesn?t want to but like I said she is tired and everything. And we have the other one where this child, it?s a nuclear family, mother father there, and the child is actually raised in the home as prescribed by God.?
Mariano says that this year?s concert will be different from previous ones in that for the first time, the spotlight will be squarely on in-country talents.
Ian Mariano
?This year we will not be bringing in international artists. Actually the concert is dubbed spiritual dancehall revolution Chapter Four, Local Inspiration. We want to look from our own society. We have groups coming from Corozal right down to P.G., you know each district is represented and these groups they will have an opportunity because some of them have been in existence for quite a number of years and nobody knows about them, right from within their own district. So this is going to be an opportunity for people from the length and breath of Belize to come and actually witness the quality, the type of production that the church has to offer from within Belize.?
Coming out of the concert, the group hopes to formalize the country?s first Gospel Music Association which the group says will be charged with promoting local Christian artists.
Patrick Jones, for News Five.
The Heavenlies’ concert takes place on Saturday night, October second, at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts. Advance tickets are fifteen dollars adults, five dollars children. At the door, entrance fee will be twenty-five dollars adults and ten dollars for children. The CD’s are available at Creations gift shop and from band members.
