"going To The Army!" - Marc Harry's Podcast

Every year for decades The salvation Army has held a big music festival at this time of year. For many years this was held at the Royal Albert Hall and called either The Bandmasters' (or Songster Leaders') Councils Festival.The concert was then followed by a series of three more devotional/instructional meetings held the next day at a different venue - making this a very special annual weekend for hundreds of Army music leaders but also bandsmen and songsters from the entire Territory - as Corps Bands and Songster Brigades were often invited to be 'solo' guest bands/choirs for the evening alongside The International Staff band and Songsters.There was usually also a 'visiting' band from elsewhere in the world plus vocal and instrumental soloists of the highest calibre.Around 2000 these festivals became known as 'Gospel Arts' festivals as the SA tried to incorporate more modern ensembles and groups. Dance, drama and even rock groups were added to the evening and the popularity of the events continued.The even