Band Details

From the Promoter

JIREH Gospel Choir, based in Montreal and directed by Carol Bernard, has carved out quite a name for itself in the gospel music industry in Canada and Europe. Composed of about a dozen singers plus musicians, JIREH members have travelled throughout the province of Quebec, to the rest of Canada, to the United States, and all the way to France and Italy to share their love for gospel music and spread its contagious energy. Whether performing outdoors or in an intimate setting, the choir delivers a powerful punch that leaves no one unmoved. From timeless classics to original compositions, JIREH perfectly combines traditional and contemporary gospel sounds. It should be noted that the JIREH Gospel Choir performed on the main stage at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal this past July with much acclaim. For more info, visit: jirehgospelchoir.com/en

For nearly five years, Franklin had wrapped himself in a blanket of his fears, which blocked him from creating new music. Instead, he focused on entrepreneurial efforts—building his label Fo Yo Soul Recordings and nurturing his artists; executive producing and hosting BET’s top-rated musical competition series Sunday Best, while also re-branding Sirius XM’s Praise channel into Kirk Franklin’s Praise; and curating the House of Blues Gospel brunch. In 2013, Franklin headlined The King’s Men Tour alongside Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp and Israel Houghton. All were worthy endeavors that kept the Grammy-award-winning artist connected to his audience. But not writing for himself was masking a bigger issue. “It was pride manifesting itself through fear,” says Franklin, reflecting over that period. “Fear is deeply rooted in a lot of self—The fear of failing, the fear of not being relevant, the fear of not being accepted. All of those things really consumed me, and I got a little lost in it.”

It’s hard to believe that an artist who sold over 10.5 million albums and who has won 9 Grammys, over 40 Stellar, and 16 Dove awards would have doubts. However, when God sent Franklin the song “Miracles,” he says writing it helped put aside his fear and opened the floodgates for his most comprehensive album yet. “I think that my job is to be the conduit [for] what God's calling me to do and then get out the way and let Him do His work.”

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