NEWS NUGGETS
The National Quartet Convention sent a survey to 2023 attendees this week seeking input on whether the stage should return to the center of the main room. An “in the round” configuration was used for many years in Louisville and continued in Pigeon Forge through 2019. The current end stage setup was tested in 2020 at the downsized NQC Fall Festival and implemented when the full event returned in 2021.
Scotty Inman and Daywind Music Publishing announced their exclusive songwriting agreement. The announcement comes on the heels of Daywind signing Inman as a recording artist.
The Troy Burns Family & The Inspirations announced the return of the popular Singing In The Smokies to Bryson City, North Carolina on July 4-6 in 2024. The event will include the Inspirations all three nights with a 60th Anniversary Reunion on July 6th. Other groups slated to appear include the Kingsmen, Griffith Family, Greater Vision, Chuck Wagon Gang, Karen Peck & New River, Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road, and Mark Trammell Quartet.
NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
October 6 – The Oak Ridge Boys – Christmas Collection (CD/streaming)
October 6 – Tribute Quartet – Quartet Tribute: Volume Three (CD/streaming)
October 6 – Vestal Goodman – Vestal & Friends II (streaming re-issue – originally released in 2000)
October 6 – Michael W. Smith – Every Christmas (streaming)
Listen to new September releases HERE on YouTube Music.
UPCOMING RELEASES
The dates listed here are distribution dates when music will officially be available through retail and online outlets. Some titles may be available sooner direct from the artists.
October 16 – The Apostolic Boys – Breakthrough (CD/USB/streaming)
October 20 – Jeff & Sheri Easter – Christmas Is (CD/streaming)
October 20 – The Browns – Christmas In Prague (CD/streaming)
November 1 – Greater Vision – Christmas In London (CD/LP/USB)
November 3 – Anthem Edition – Here Comes Christmas (CD/streaming)
November 3 – Brothers Of The Heart – Will The Circle Be Unbroken (CD/streaming)
November 17 – Michael W. Smith – Every Christmas (CD)
November 17 – Kyle Boreing – Sanctified (Streaming)
November 17 – 3 Heath Brothers – Not So Silent Night (CD/streaming)
TBA – LeFevre Quartet – Never Walk Alone (CD)
I’m glad to see them rethink this. I was a season ticket holder in Louisville for many years, so I was used to the center stage setup. I have up my tickets after 2013 and didn’t attend NQC again until 2021, despite Pigeon Forge being over 2-1/2 hours closer to my home, so I didn’t experience the original center stage arrangement at the LeConte Center. I knew about the current arrangement when I purchased my 2021 tickets. After arriving, I couldn’t believe how poor the sightlines were from my seats on the far right section. I would have had a better view staying home and watching it on pay-per-view (which was an option in 2021).
I realize the artists have to “work harder” for the center stage setup, and that the audience will see the side or back of the artist for part of the the performance, but they will be much closer than what they are now for those that sit more than halfway back in the front center section of the current configuration. This will help the audience feel more connected to the performance, in my opinion, and is a better option than the end stage arrangement.