MusicScribe BLOG

The first public draft of the National Quartet Convention’s 2008 evening concert lineup has been posted at the NQC website. Daniel Mount has made a few observations regarding the initial list. He sez:

* The big news, of course, is that the Gaither Vocal Band and Signature Sound are back, in the Friday night lineup.

I agree. Daniel continues:

* It seems like there are fewer groups on Monday night. If every group got an equal amount of time, they would have 24 minutes. Since there will be a few that likely won’t get that, it makes me wonder if they’re going to permit some of the biggest draws to have a half hour or more.

In years past, they’ve added more groups after announcing the initial schedule, but I really hope they keep the number down this year. Right now, they have 15 or 16 each night for Monday-Friday which is a good number. There’s 11 groups scheduled in addition to the 2-3 hours worth of Fan Awards on Saturday. In 2007, there were 14 groups after the Fan Awards, which was insane. On non-Fan Awards nights in 2007, there were 16-19. (I’m counting the Kings Heralds, who sang just one song between set changes when up, but I’m not counting the opening or finale segments.)

As Daniel pointed out, 15 groups equals an average of 24 minutes (really about 22, if you allow for set changes). The big names really ought to be singing about 30 minutes each, which would be possible if the overall number is kept down to 15.

* Also speaking of Monday, it looks like they’ve re-instituted quartet night. Granted, three other groups also appear–the Booth Brothers, the Perrys, and the Mark Trammell Trio–but they are three of the four top non-quartet draws in the business (Greater Vision retaining their usual Tuesday night slot).

The last time I checked, the Perrys were still a quartet. I’m very GLAD to see a return to mostly quartets on Monday night.

* Names missing: No Palmetto State, no Mercy’s Mark, no Anchormen and no Driven, and no trace yet of the Browns or Jimmy Blackwood’s Blackwood Brothers Quartet. No Ball Brothers, though they did have and staff a booth this past year. And, almost unbelievably, still no Collingsworth Family.

Driven should be there. I’m not so sure about the Anchormen. It would depend largely on who they get to sing bass and whether or not they can retain a consistent level of quality. Based on last year’s performance, I’d dock them to a showcase appearance rather than scheduling them on the main stage again for 2008. Since PSQ and Mercy’s Mark are in limbo at this point in time, it would be premature to include either group. I’m less crazy about the Browns, Ball Brothers, or the Blackwood Brothers. Have the Ball Brothers been on a showcase yet? (And by that, I don’t mean the Regional Artists Showcase where the talent pool is sometimes murky. I’m saying I don’t think I’ve seen them on an Artist Spotlight Showcase on Monday or Tuesday yet.)

The Collingsworth Family should definitely be considered. How many other Southern Gospel groups do you know that have a full 2008 schedule already in their book? The Collingsworth Family is currently setting up 2009 dates. In fact, they already have dates schedule for September and October of 2009.

* I guess being a part-owner of NQC (not sure if Stewart Varnado’s a full-fledged board member or not) doesn’t come with an absolute guarantee of three slots, since the Dixie Echoes only have two slots, Monday and Thursday.

The Mark Trammell Trio is also limited to two nights.

In a comment on Daniel’s site, Chris Unthank lists the Kings Heralds, Imperials, Mike & Kelly Bowling, Crabb Revival, and Crossway as potential additions. I wouldn’t be opposed to any of those. If I was only going to choose one act out of the several that splintered from the Crabb Family following their 2007 retirement, my first choice would be Jason Crabb in a solo set rather than one of the trios Chris mentioned. That’s not to say they wouldn’t add drawing power, but Jason would be the obvious first choice, I would think.

Overall, the clear contender for consideration out of Chris’ list is the Imperials.

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That’s enough about the artists that may be added to the schedule…what about the artists that have already made the cut?

! – Exclamation points below indicate artists I consider to be “must sees.” If I’m out roaming around in the Exhibit Hall when one of these groups takes the stage, I will make an extra effort to get back to Freedom Hall when their time slot rolls around.
* – Asterisks denote artists that will keep me in my Freedom Hall seat if I’m not roaming the Exhibit Hall, but these artists may lack the sufficient magnetic force required to force me back into Freedom Hall should I not be in my seat when they take the stage.
? – Question marks indicate groups I would like to hear, but may or may not stick around to see depending on whether or not I’ve had my fill of the Exhibit Hall for the day.
X – Finally, the groups I’ve marked with an X are those that usually send me running for the Exhibit Hall…or at least to a break of some variety (bathroom/Erhler’s Ice Cream/etc.)

Monday, September 8
!Booth Brothers, *Dixie Echoes, ?Dixie Melody Boys, !Dove Brothers, !Gold City, XInspirations, *Kingsmen, *Legacy Five, *Mark Trammell Trio, *Perrys, XPrimitives, ?Soul’d Out, ?Southern Sound, ?Torchmen, !Triumphant
Summary: ! 4/15 26.7% | * 5/15 33.3% | ? 4/15 26.7 | X 2/15 13.3 %

Tuesday, September 9
?Beene Family, !Brian Free & Assurance, ?Down East, *Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, !Greater Vision, ?Hayes Family, !Hoppers, *Jeff & Sheri Easter, *Karen Peck & New River, ?Lesters, XMcKameys, ?Paid in Full, XPfeifers, ?Reggie Saddler Family, !Talley Trio, *Whisnants
Summary: ! 4/16 25% | * 4/16 25% | ? 6/16 37.5% | X 2/16 12.5%

Wednesday, September 10
!Brian Free & Assurance, !Dove Brothers, *Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, *Freemans, *Greenes, XInspirations, !Kingdom Heirs, ?Lesters, ?Mike LeFevre Quartet, ?Naomi & the Segos, *Perrys, XPfeifers, XSpecks, *Toney Brothers, *Tribute
Summary: ! 3/15 20% | * 6/15 40% | ? 3/15 20% | X 3/15 20%

Thursday, September 11
!Booth Brothers, *Dixie Echoes, !Dove Brothers, *Everyday Driven, !Gold City, !Greater Vision, *Greenes, !Kingdom Heirs, *Legacy Five, *Mark Trammell Trio, XMcKameys, XPrimitives, ?Reggie Saddler Family, !*Talley Trio, !*Triumphant, *Whisnants
Summary: ! 7/16 43.8% | * 6/16 37.5% | ? 1/16 6.2% | X 2/16 12.5%

Friday, September 12
!Booth Brothers, !Brian Free & Assurance, ?Dixie Melody Boys, !Gaither Vocal Band, !Greater Vision, !Hoppers, XInspirations, *Isaacs, *Janet Paschal, *Jeff & Sheri Easter, !Kingdom Heirs, *Legacy Five, *Mark Bishop, *Perrys, ?Poet Voices, *Signature Sound
Summary: ! 6/16 37.5% | * 7/16 43.8% | ? 2/16 12.5% | X 1/16 6.2%

Saturday, September 13
XSinging News Fan Awards, !Gold City, !Hoppers, *Ivan Parker, *Karen Peck & New River, *Kingsmen, !Mark Lowry & LordSong, XMcKameys, XPfeifers, *Skyline Boys, !Talley Trio, !Triumphant
Summary: ! 5/12 41.7% | * 4/12 33.3% | ? None | X 3/12 25%

After running the figures, Tuesday really looks blah to me. On a numerical basis, it looks like the best nights for me to attend are Thursday and Friday. On a percentage basis, Thursday and Friday win again. I may have to change my routine of attending only Monday through Wednesday. I’m not going to hang around for the Saturday evening stuff, though. The combined draw of Lowry and the Fan Awards may be good for NQC, hopefully improving attendance on Saturday night, but I’m not particularly crazy about awards shows.