Press Release Gospel Fest Miami Weekend - The Arsht celebrates gospel music with a weekend of activities starring Michelle Williams and featuring Dr. Bobby Jones, Tye Tribbett and South Florida's best gospel acts - June 20-22

GOSPEL FEST MIAMI WEEKEND
The Arsht inaugural gospel festival concludes with a weekend of activities headlined by a ticketed concert starring
Grammy winner Michelle Williams!

Plus, a film screening featuring gospel pioneer Dr. Bobby Jones, gospel conversations and a free performance by Grammy winner Tye Tribbett alongside South Florida’s best gospel acts

June 20-22, 2025
Tickets: Free-$65*
Knight Concert Hall

Miami, FL – April 15, 2025 – The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter) is proud to present Gospel Fest Miami Weekend, the exciting culmination of the Arsht’s inaugural Gospel Fest Miami. The weekend will include a free film screening featuring Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Dr. Bobby Jones, gospel conversations and concerts by Grammy winners Michelle Williams (@michellewilliams) and Tye Tribbett (@tyetribbett), alongside local gospel acts Gamaliel Fleurantin & Community Sounds (@communitysounds), the winner of the first-ever Arsht Gospel Choir Invitational in January, Gia Wyre (@iamgiawyre), Danielle Davis and the Revolution Choir (@danielledavis_revolution) and Sensere (@officialsensere).

PHOTOS AND BROLL AVAILABLE HERE.

Tickets to Gospel Fest Miami: Michelle Williams on June 21 are $30-$65*; all other Gospel Fest Miami weekend events are free with First Access Passes. Exclusive add-ons are available here.

Tickets and First Access Passes are available at arshtcenter.org or at the Arsht box office by calling (305) 949-6722. 

For guests with accessibility needs, the Arsht provides accessible seating and complimentary assistive listening devices for all performances, along with sign language interpretation, open captioning, and audio description at select shows to ensure an inclusive experience for all guests.

Gospel Fest Miami is made possible with support from the community, including longtime Arsht supporters Michelle and Rodney C. Adkins along with Melanie and Martin Kirshner, Brenda & Sean Battle, Baptist Health and Effie & Nelson Adams.

The inaugural Gospel Fest Miami Weekend consists of the following events:

GOSPEL FEST MIAMI: GOSPEL: THE GOSPEL TRAIN FILM SCREENING
Friday, June 20 at 7 p.m.
Free – First Access Passes available here
Carnival Studio Theater

To kick off the weekend, audiences are invited to a free screening of the opening installment of the captivating Henry Louis Gates, Jr. docuseries "Gospel," which delves deep into the origin story of gospel music and its profound connections to spirituality, sermon, and song. This enlightening journey traces the roots of this powerful genre, showcasing the rich cultural history and the voices that have shaped its evolution.

After the screening, engage in an insightful conversation with gospel pioneer and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Dr. Bobby Jones, who will share his perspective on the impact of gospel music on popular culture. As the host and executive producer of Bobby Jones Gospel, which premiered on BET in 1980, he revolutionized the presentation of gospel music to a national audience. Over its impressive 35-year run, the show introduced a new generation of artists, including CeCe Winans and Kirk Franklin, and broadcasted globally, reaching millions beyond the U.S. in countries such as England and Nigeria. An accomplished gospel artist himself, Dr. Jones has a Grammy Award for his duet, “I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today,” with Barbara Mandrell.

PRE-SHOW CONVERSATION: GOSPEL AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Saturday, June 21 at 5 p.m.
Free – RSVP here
Knight Concert Hall - Peacock Education Center

This thought-provoking pre-show conversation will explore the vital role of gospel music in the civil rights movement. The engaging discussion with local experts will illuminate how gospel served as a powerful tool for freedom, empowerment and resilience during a pivotal time in American history. Through historical insights, attendees will uncover how music inspired hope and mobilized change in the quest for justice and equality.

GOSPEL FEST MIAMI: MICHELLE WILLIAMS FEATURING GAMALIEL FLEURANTIN AND COMMUNITY SOUNDS
Saturday, June 21 at 7 p.m
Tickets: $30-$65*
Knight Concert Hall

Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, actress and mental health advocate Michelle Williams brings her soulful energy to Gospel Fest Miami for one night only, alongside Gamaliel Fleurantin and Community Sounds, the winners of the 2025 Arsht Gospel Choir Invitational, and a group of South Florida gospel artists to be announced soon.

PRE-SHOW CONVERSATION: THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF GOSPEL
Sunday, June 22 at 5 p.m.
Free – RSVP here
Knight Concert Hall – Peacock Education Center

This enlightening pre-show conversation explores the cultural impact of gospel music as the foundation and influence for many mainstream and popular genres today. Our expert panel will discuss how the emotional depth and spiritual fervor of gospel have shaped everything from rock and roll, soul to R&B and hip-hop. Attendees will gain insights into the ways in which gospel's rich sounds and themes have crossed boundaries and resonated with audiences worldwide. This dialogue promises to reveal the rich legacy of gospel music and its lasting footprint on secular music.

GOSPEL FEST MIAMI: TYE TRIBBETT FEATURING DANIELLE DAVIS AND REVOLUTION CHOIR, GIA WYRE AND SENSERE
Sunday, June 22 at 7 p.m.
Free - First Access Passes available here
Knight Concert Hall

Three-time Grammy Award winner and gospel superstar Tye Tribbett headlines the grand finale of Gospel Fest Miami, alongside South Florida’s brightest gospel stars including Gia Wyre, Danielle Davis and the Revolution Choir and Sensere.

ABOUT ARSHT IMPACT PROGRAMS
Gospel Fest Miami is one of the 12 ongoing Arsht Impact programs that create magical experiences and enrich the lives of more than 120,000 people of all ages in Miami, for free. Programs include: Family Fest, a season of performances featuring the world's leading family-friendly artists; The Heritage Project, which celebrates Black artists in our community through our annual Heritage Fest and Juneteenth Juke Joint festivities; AileyCamp Miami, a full-scholarship, six-week summer camp which uses dance as a vehicle for the personal development of young people; CommuniTea Dance, an annual celebration honoring Miami's LGBTQ+ community; Arsht on the Road, a series of pop-up performances that bring the arts into Miami-Dade County's diverse neighborhoods; Broadway on Biscayne, interactive pre- and post-show experiences connecting audiences more deeply with each Broadway show; Knight Masterworks Classical Conversations, lectures which give the audience insight into the music presented in our Knight Masterworks Classical Music series; and programs that marry arts and wellness, such as Accessing the Arts Residencies, performance workshops for children and adults with disabilities; Brushes with Cancer, a program that matches artists with patients, survivors and caregivers touched by cancer to create art reflective of their journeys, and Art + Mind Day, a daylong event which celebrates the connection between art and physical wellbeing. 

*All programs, artists, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Additional fees may apply. Visit arshtcenter.org for up-to-date information.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council and the City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from individuals, corporations and local, state and national foundations.

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About the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County
The Arsht proudly serves as the cultural pulse of Miami – the heart of magical live arts experiences that spark the imagination and connect people to one another. Whether on our stages or in your neighborhood, the Arsht is alive year-round with international artists, innovative programming from resident companies and local arts partners, free community events that reflect Miami’s unique identity and more than 100 culturally diverse and impactful learning experiences for 80,000 children every year.

Since opening in 2006 in the heart of downtown, the Arsht, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has been recognized as a leader in the city’s cultural transformation, a catalyst for billions of dollars in new development and a host venue for historic events. The 300+ annual Arsht events include a robust series of touring Broadway musicals direct from New York, star-studded jazz and classical music concerts curated for South Florida, a major annual Flamenco Festival and an award-winning Miami-based theater program. In addition, Family Fest, Gospel Fest Miami, Art + Mind Day, Heritage Fest and our LGBTQ+ Pride celebration are among dozens of free events that bring people from all corners of our community together. For more information, visit arshtcenter.org.