Soul&Gospel Festival

ON THE ROOF GARDEN OF WESTEND CITY CENTER 19-22 September, from Wednesday to Friday from 18.00-20.00, on Saturday from 13.30 with Children’s Programmes

Only the Very Best >> Hungarian and International Performers >> Special Guests >> Music+Good+News!

19th September, Wednesday:

6 pm: Morgenfunk (H)
Quality, freshness and energy: these 12 musicians in their twenties play everything from acid jazz to funky so that the so called spiritual ’Guten Morgen’ will awake in the heart of their audience. The lead and backing vocals, the strings, the saxophone, the keyboard, the guitar, the bass, the drums and the percussions all create a unique harmony on stage. This band formed by young jazz musicians has met with success at several international festivals – if you have any doubts, check them out on WESTEND roof garden on Wednesday evening!

7.15 pm: Fr. Stan Fortuna (USA)
A Franciscan friar from Bronx, NY – a type of performer who can get a whole stadium moving within just a few seconds. His spirit-filled, super-dynamic personality comes through in every musical style he tries his hand at, be it rap, house, rock, jazz – or rather the blend of all these. Stan Fortuna was a successful jazz musician when his life took a new direction after meeting the living Jesus. His lyrics are also overpowering: this man is full of life and he proclaims in every possible way: there is LIFE on Earth!

8.30 pm: YFriday (UK)
Why Friday? – the question posed by the name of this young, witnessing English rock band gets to the core right away. What did really happen on the Friday called “Good”? Why and for whom did Jesus suffer on the cross – and what do we have to do with all this? This is what the songs of these Newcastle guys are all about, yet not in a “goodfriday” style, but played with dynamic power in a new-wave rock style established by U2 taken further by Delirious and Hillsong.

20th September, Thursday:

6.00 pm: Pintér Béla (H)
This young songwriter / performer is already a Hungarian gospel classic with dozens of successful disks released. The sophisticated lyricism of his songs and his sensitive performance style provides a unique experience for his audience. His songs are full of hope for a spiritual revival of Hungary. Let us believe him!

7.30 pm: Bolyki Brothers (H)
Hungary’s best known a capella group is well versed in various styles. Still, the four Bolyki brothers’ musical mother tongue is the Gospel, which they perform with spiritual dedication and amazing virtuosity. By their own admission the power to sing comes from their Christian faith.

8.20 pm: Miracle City Singers (NL)
Even by looking at their complexion, a really colourful band is coming to us from Amsterdam: they range from chocolate brown to Scandinavian blond. And what’s more, they are a first class soul group: the six singers create such a soothing and velvety harmony that all the wrinkles of our soul will disappear. But before we get too relaxed, the instruments will fill the atmosphere with funky and rock rhythms. They come to us straight from the Amsterdam International Gospel Festival. Music and lyrics will be heavenly!

21st September, Friday:

6.00 pm: Mc Tonó és Nóri (H)
The good thing about rap is that you can let it flow ... Of course; it doesn’t do any bad if there is a point to it. The songs of Mc Tonó, alias Antal Bernáth are worth listening to, because they really say something about life and its meaning in this jibber-jabber language. The choruses are catchy and high-flying thanks to the soaring voice of Nóri, Rády Nóra. This two disc duo speaks the language of today’s youth.

7.15 pm: Golgota Gospel Band (H-USA)
Real classic Gospel music with soloists from Hungary and the New World backed by a one hundred member choir – guarantee for an exuberant atmosphere! This year’s full-house Easter concert in the theatre of the MOM Cultural Centre is vivid proof of the group’s mounting popularity. This Budapest-based group has been conveying the joys and depths of faith for years in a way even outsiders can open their hearts to.

8.30 pm: Cardiac Move (A)
This young English-singing Austrian band has just released their fourth album called ’To be Free’. They really seem to know the secret and try to convey it to their audience. The melodic rock they play is at times enriched by a touch of symphonic, synthetic or alternative air – providing an enjoyable and mature sound. The band is ranked higher and higher on the European charts: it’s time to get to know them!

22nd September Saturday:

Closing day: the festival of the Festival!

Family afternoon:

1.30 pm: Programme for children by Péter Levente and Vilmos Gryllus (H)
Generations have been raised on Péter Levente’s and Vilmos Gryllus’ shows of music, tales and poems. Their games which move both the young and the old, teach our children in an imperceptible way to live a life open to beauty, wonder and values.

3.30 pm: Makám concert for children (H)
This long-established band of quality world music will lead adults and children alike into the world of tales on the wings of their poetic songs and poems set to music.

4.15 pm: Béla Pintér and the Kids (H)
Fun and sweet children’s voices: Béla Pintér’s songs address kids and teens with the message of the gospel that even adults should keep in mind. These songs have been hits in Hungarian Christian families for over a decade.

Closing Gala:

5.00 pm: Glorious (F)
This band from Paris is really special thanks to the vibrant - radiant stage presence of its versatile frontman, Thomas Pouzin. This guy is a real talent; his songs are teeming with musicality and creativity. The music of Glorious, which reflects all the possible shades of current quality rock, attracts audiences in their early twenties. The band is a steady performer at the annual Paris festival, Holiyvins which keeps attracting 30 000 young people every year.

6.30 pm: László Csiszér (H)
This guitarist-singer of Transylvanian origin is one of the best known Christian performers in the Hungarian language areas, with 5 independent discs released so far. On his mission concerts in Seklerland (Romania), Vojvodina (Serbia) and in Hungarian cities, hundreds and thousands look for (and find) spiritual refreshment. Laci is an itinerant troubadour singing out his love for his Saviour in a simple and free manner, caring little about popularity and current trends. His concert is offering a real spiritual experience once again.

7.50 pm: David Ruis (USA)
A leading figure of the worship music world. His ministry reaches to the furthest corners of the world where David works together with different missionary movements. He is known as the “Voice of Revival,” and his songs like “The mercy is falling” are sung throughout the world and Hungary. Only the best know what he knows: after more than a 20 year career and dozens of discs released, he can still produce fresh sounds in a musical language that captures the hearts of the young for the love of God. He is coming to us from his Californian home with three of his musician friends to take part in the awakening of Budapest.

9.00 pm: Gável Testvérek / Gável Brothers (H)
If there is a fertile Catholic group in Hungary whose members “run and not grow weary” on the otherwise tiring and thorny path, they are the Testvérek (Brothers) band. With 10 discs released, they have built up a sizable group of fans. Their poetically inspired lyrics are a genuine expression of the soul’s desire for God so that dynamic songs of joy may follow. This concert, which is also their 10th anniversary thanksgiving, will be a classic rock concert with all the greatest hits of the past years.