NQC announces first mainstage solo set…ever?
Yesterday, the National Quartet Convention posted an update to their mainstage performances schedule. The Freemans and the Skyline Boys were each given mainstage slots. But beyond doubt (as, with a hat tip, I see Chuck Peters notes), the change that will attract the most attention is the fact that the NQC Board of Directors has decided to put a soloist on the main stage for the first time…ever?
It will come as no surprise that this soloist is Ivan Parker, arguably Southern Gospel’s most popular soloist (though Mark Bishop is, also arguably, a close second).
Since Parker has his own strong fan base, this will probably draw fans to NQC–both Parker fans and fans who want to see history in the making as a soloist walks on stage for the first NQC solo concert in years.
Granted, other people will probably use the set as an excuse to go to the product hall or food court, but that takes place with every group. Some skip the Inspirations, some skip the Crabbs, and some probably even skip the Kingdom Heirs. (I tried to think of a group whose style would offend just about nobody, and they were the first to come to mind.)
Is this experiment a good one for NQC to try? I do not know. It will probably change the dynamics a little, at least until the novelty wears off. That’s as far as I will go until I devote further thought to the idea…and until I read what you have to say about it.
EDIT: Thanks to John, who posted some interesting information in his comment below, I edited this post slightly. I added one or two question marks and tweaked a phrase. Where the original post stated that this was the first time a soloist has appeared on main stage, I tweaked the post a bit to reflect his thoughts below.
