FolkLIVE: Gospel Music Festival Returns for the Third Annual Presentation in New Brunswick
What do Katy Perry, Sam Cooke, and Whitney Houston have in common? This isn’t a lame “three people walk into a bar” joke, although I wouldn’t blame you if that’s where your mind went. This is a genuine question to which, if not for my latest interview, I might not have recognized the answer.
Gospel. The answer is that they all began their careers in church, singing gospel music. While they may not have remained in the gospel realm for the duration of their illustrious careers, they have all paid tribute to their roots. In preparing for this article about the upcoming FolkLIVE: Gospel Music Festival, I learned just how popular the genre is. You’ll have to forgive me for living under a rock, it seems.
According to Chartlex.com, the genre is experiencing a streaming surge with Spotify reporting a 60% rise in Contemporary Christian Music listenership globally over five years. Playlist followership on the platform has multiplied by three since the 2023 benchmarks. Additionally, there has been an 18.5% increase in year-over-year streaming of Christian/Gospel music in 2025.
When speaking to Group Fire, one of the bands set to perform at the third annual presentation of FolkLIVE, all of these stats began to make sense. The demographic enjoying gospel music is diversifying and expanding. Band member Tajohn Hill jokes that Group Fire is like the gumbo of gospel music.
Group Fire Brings a Fresh Voice to Gospel Music
“Many of these hymns initially came from Africans in the field. They would sing these songs so that others couldn’t understand. Just being able to hit the stage and sing those same songs that they once sang back in the day means a lot to us. Being able to broadcast this genre across different ages and nationalities - we like to call our music the 'gumbo' of gospel because we get all different influences in our music, but it’s all the same message of Jesus Christ.”
Tajohn’s words are reflective of the mission of the festival, to “bring the sounds of gospel music to Monument Square Park in New Brunswick, celebrating African American heritage through an afternoon of gospel music featuring Grammy® Award-winning artists and local talent.” The free event has a lot to offer this year, including headliners Erica Campbell and Jonathan McReynolds, who have previously shared the stage with Group Fire.
Lead singer, Terelle Cooper, explains the excitement that comes from being able to perform for the first time at this festival. “We are super excited to be with our Jersey family. There’s no place like home, and to see our peers, Jonathan McReynolds and Erica Campbell who we love. We love their music and their ministry. They’re great people, and it’s so good to reunite with them.
The Group Fire is made up of two sets of brothers: Terelle, Juwan, and Justin Cooper, whose father Steve Cooper happens to be the group’s songwriter and producer, and brothers Tajohn and Al Hill. Despite not being blood-related, after twenty-plus years of friendship, they consider themselves family.
“There’s no other genre like gospel. Gospel music is the only genre that is good music but means the world because we are talking about Jesus Christ and when you’re talking about Jesus Christ, it makes a difference. We love gospel because spirits will change, hearts will change, lives will change. It does great things” adds Terelle.
This event is not only a celebration of a music genre but of a like-minded community, one which is always open to accepting new fans. If you are like me and unfamiliar with the depth of gospel music, this may be your opportunity to explore it at NO COST to yourself! The Group Fire understands their responsibility as pillars of the community and they encourage those who are willing to experience their music and ministry to open their minds and hearts to the medium.
Juwan Cooper elucidates, “There is a huge responsibility that comes with gospel music. You can’t sing on stage about Christ and then live a double life of sin when you step off stage. Singing gospel has made us better men. We have to be an example, not just through song but through actions.”
The gentlemen of Group Fire were nothing less than inspiring upon speaking to them. It is easy to imagine that the other talented acts will be equally as impressive. The festival lineup includes DJ RuntheFade, Tangie Cobb, Myles Cherette, Valarie Adams, Bishop Searight and Royal Priesthood alongside the aforementioned headliners, Erica Campbell and Jonathan McReynolds.
The festival is prepared to accommodate for any future heat waves we may experience with a cooling area at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) where a livestream of the concert will be available in the Arthur Laurents Theatre. NBPAC will open their restrooms to festival guests in addition to the porta-potties located throughout the area, outside of the venue.
There will be FREE parking options available at Roosevelt Elementary School, New Brunswick High School, and New Brunswick Middle School. Additionally, this venue is within walking distance of the New Brunswick train station on the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor Line.
Organizers encourage attendees to bring their own lawn chairs to comfortably enjoy the music and food available. Food Vendors include McGriff’s Fish and Chips, Progressive Catering - Fish Fry, Just Pies by Lisa, Jamaican Taste, Jamaican Patty Wagon, Devvon’s Lemonade, NiCa Soul, Costa Chica, Ropers Way Farm, and Crazy Corn.
The event will be hosted by Commissioner Scott McCullum, Toya Beasley, and Deonté Griffin-Quick.
