Americana Gospel Revival
A pop-up band of Americana and bluegrass musicians, that play once a year.
In a town filled with bands that overlap members, the Americana Gospel Revival breaks new ground in melding and mingling every year.
Nominally led by Bert Hodge of the Thick n Thin String Band and fiddler Tom Wilson, the Americana Gospel Revival consists of a group of musicians, mostly of the Americana genre, coming together for one gig each year: Sunday morning at the St. Benedict the Moor Blues Festival.
The annual October Blues Festival, on the grounds of the St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church, offers outstanding music and excellent southern fare. The festival starts on Friday night with dinner and music, continues on Saturday all day and into the evening with lunch, dinner, and music, and then follows through on Sunday with brunch and more music.
The food ranges from a fried fish sandwich, ribs, gumbo, and bacon and eggs — plus lovingly prepared baked goods. The music brings the Blues to St. Augustine with local and visiting musicians offering up the groove that only comes with a flattened third, fifth, and seventh and a shuffle beat. Now you might think that this profile of a band hasn't talked that much about the band. There's a reason for that.
Americana Gospel Revival is an aural gospel quilt, with pieces added on every year. In August or September, Bert and Tom start gathering willing musicians who are strong on harmony and full of energy. They practice a few times to produce a full one-hour set of gospel music that's heavy on harmonies, has a strong beat, and spreads messages of hope, solace, and joy.
In 2024, those musicians are:
- Don Cooper on guitar
- Lynn Healey on guitar
- Tom Wilson on fiddle
- Alex Richman on keyboards
- Leslie Lacika on bass
- Steve Mullen on drums
- Dave Partridge on banjo
- Bert Hodge (mandolin)
They will switch lead vocal duties while sharing harmony along the way.
