After seven consecutive years in Huntsville, the eighth annual Keep Christmas Alive (KCA) concert will take place for the first time in Birmingham this November.
KCA features world-class gospel music with a mission of “reclaiming Christmas, proclaiming the birth of Christ and proving that old-fashioned traditional sacred Christmas music can be joyful, festive and fun … for the entire family.”
Founder and producer Brice Marsh noted KCA is much more than a concert — it’s a concept.
He attributes his initial inspiration for the event to a trip he took to Branson, Mo., in 2004, where he attended several Christmas programs that emphasized the idea of keeping Christ in Christmas.
Convicted to rekindle the same community Christmas spirit back home in Alabama, Marsh and several friends prayed and brainstormed for a vision. Through those prayers a KCA committee was formed and the first KCA program was held at Huntsville’s Von Braun Concert Hall in December 2005.
“We want to show our children and our grandchildren it’s not against the law to celebrate Christmas in America,” Marsh said of the concert. “Maybe we can at least encourage more people to have the courage to boldly proclaim ‘Merry Christmas’ rather than ‘Happy Holidays.’”
Marsh said since KCA began it has grown and improved each year, and he added this year’s concert promises to be the best yet.
The event will take place Nov. 22 at Samford University’s Wright Center at 2 p.m., with doors opening at 1 p.m.
“Our featured group is The Booth Brothers, a southern gospel trio that’s won Absolutely Gospel Music awards for Trio of the Year, Male Group of the Year, Best Live Performer of the Year, Song of the Year and many other awards,” Marsh said.
Also returning by popular demand are The Voices of Lee, a 13-member a cappella group from Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn.
In addition, other performers include Bob Smith, vocalist and emcee; Frank Jones, pianist and accompanist for the Alabama Singing Men; Edie Hand, TV personality and storyteller; Austin Foster, singer; and the Redemption Road Quartet.
Inspiring music
Marsh noted people travel to KCA from “considerable distances” and come knowing they will hear inspiring music. They are challenged to leave the program with a renewed determination to reclaim Christmas.
“Since (the concert is) just before Thanksgiving … it’s a great way to get the Christmas spirit started for the family,” he said.
For more details about Keep Christmas Alive, visit www.KeepChristmasAlive.org. For tickets, visit tickets.samford.edu.
Proceeds from the event will benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and Children’s of Alabama.
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