News & Updates

15 Jun 2015 WIDU Anniversary Presents: Festival Of Praise

2015 WIDU ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION TO BRING THE LARGEST TOURING GOSPEL SHOW, FESTIVAL OF PRAISE, FEATURING FRED HAMMOND AND DONNIE MCCLURKIN TO THE CROWN COLISEUM SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 AT 4:30 PM

Fayetteville, NC – For decades, WIDU has brought quality, faith-based programming to Cumberland County and the surrounding area culminating each year in a week-long anniversary celebration. This year’s main event is headlined by multiple GRAMMY®, Dove and Stellar Award-winning recording artists Fred Hammond and Donnie McClurkin and features gospel superstars Kim Burrell, Hezekiah Walker as well as special guests Isaac Carree, Jessica Reedy and Zacardi Cortez in the Crown Coliseum, Saturday, October 10^th at 4:30pm.

Ticket prices start at $20 and will go on sale to the public Monday, June 15 online at CrownComplexNC.com and at the Crown Complex Box Office. A limited number of discounted group tickets will be available by calling 910.438.4123. Military discounts will be available at the box office with an active duty military ID.

The family style tour, a phrase coined by Hammond and McClurkin,is a platform to uplift, motivate, encourage, inspire and entertain. The tour will feature some of Gospel’s biggest and brightest on the same stage with ensemble performances and music by each artist highlighting their classic hits and most memorable anthems.

In conjunction with this year’s theme, Hammond produced “Trying to Make It Home,” a song which features vocal performances by Hammond, McClurkin, Burrell, Walker, Carree, Reedy and Cortez. The single is co-written by Hammond, Burrell, Carree, Reedy, Calvin Rodgers, and Phillip Feaster. “The concept of ‘Trying to Make it Home,”

is a collaborative effort by the artists on this tour and ties in perfectly with our purpose,” says Hammond, the co-creator of Festival of Praise. “With all the discourse, upheaval and negativity happening around the world, we all agreed that there’s one common thread that people are searching to find. People are trying to reach a safe place and home represents that for many people. Many of us are trying to make it home to family, trying to make it home from college, trying to make it home to a better marriage, trying to make it home from sickness and disease, and ultimately, all of us are trying to make it home to heaven.”

The Festival of Praise Tour 2014 was overwhelmingly successful, “We were blessed,” continues Hammond. “But we are back bigger and better. It will be an awesome evening of inspiration filled with a message of hope and restoration.”

The Festival of Praise Tour is created by Fred and Ray Hammond and produced by Face To Face, Inc. Adam Zagor of Universal Attractions Agency is the booking agent and Al Wash of ALW Entertainment is the entertainment consultant.

About WIDU
WIDU 1600 AM, widuradio.com and the WIDU Radio Network is owned & operated by Wes and Sandy Cookman, based in Fayetteville, North Carolina.  WIDU has been serving Fayetteville NC as a community based radio station since 1958.  Today’s WIDU programming focuses on Local, State & National News, Local Talk Radio, Local church services on weekends, and Inspirational Gospel Music.  Their company WE-DO Productions has presented and produced faith based, family friendly events for 25 years.

About Spectra
Spectra by Comcast Spectacor is the expert in hosting and entertainment, partnering with over 300 clients at 400 global properties to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s expertise is embodied within three divisions: Venue Management (formerly Global Spectrum), Food Services & Hospitality (formerly Ovations Food Services) and Ticketing & Fan Engagement (formerly Paciolan). Learn more at SpectraExperiences.com.

Comcast Spectacor is part of Comcast Corporation, a Fortune 50 media and technology company that operates Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., In addition to Spectra, Comcast Spectacor owns and operates the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers and the Wells Fargo Center venue. Visit us at ComcastSpectacor.com, PhiladelphiaFlyers.com and WellsFargoCenterPhilly.com for more information.