Grand Ole Gospel Reunion Says Goodbye to K-town

Bad news for Knoxville Southern Gospel fans. It was announced this week that the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion is packing up it's bags and heading back to Greenville, SC.

According to Charlie Waller: "By popular demand, the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion 2009 will be August 13 - 15, at the newly renovated Greenville Hyatt Regency. All events will be held in the Grand Ballroom. Higher staging so everyone can see and new wider comfortable seats. Everything under one roof - no shuttle, no driving - it's going to be GREAT!"

I began to wonder last year when I attended, if the GOGR would be able to sustain, as attendance was suffering. I honestly believe it was due to poor advertising for the event. I know that it was announced on Praise 96.3 a few times but there wasn't much fanfair in the months leading up to the event. Honestly, except for my close band of family and friends, I never heard any mention of it. We thoroughly enjoyed each night that we attended last year and the year before. We noticed a pretty significant drop in attendance though.

In all fairness, the economic conditions were really bad last year. Gasoline was right around 5 bucks a gallon, making it difficult for folks living outside of Knoxville to attend. Waller also had just reinvented the Florida Boys and was trying to work up some excitement there, but it just didn't happen. Add the fact that the theatre that the new Florida Boys had rented out to perform in, suddenly shut it's doors and locked the group out. All of that had to leave a bitter taste in Waller's mouth. I don't blame him for heading back to friendly grounds.

While my family will miss being able to attend the GOGR, we are excited about the SGM FanFair that has moved to Pigeon Forge. We have decided that we will attend there instead.

So long GOGR, it was fun while it lasted.