<\/a>Brown Sugar, a vocal group consisting of Ericka Lee, Jocelyn Miles and Salissa Thole, will part of the first Gospel Explosion, which is hoped to become an annual event. (Courtesy Photo | Brian Wallace) <\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t
“There’s a lot of spirit and experience right here, and we just kind of never galvanized it until Jocelyn had this idea,” Call said. “She’s been kind of the power behind this.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Luke Weld will provide accompaniment on the piano, Brian Messing will play bass, Darren Jaeckel will play drums and Doug Bridges will play sax. Jess Skiba, Zoe Grueskin, Renèe Daniels and Susan Lummis will be backup singers. Abby O’Brien will host.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
[What’s<\/a> in a name? Juneauites explain their odd musical <\/a>monikers<\/a>]<\/ins><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Putting together a lineup of locals was one of the points of the project, Miles said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t The Rev. Bobby Lewis and “Maestro” Eustace Johnson of Harlem, New York, visit Juneau every year for gospel workshops and concerts<\/a> in February, but Miles envisions Gospel Explosion as a possible annual showcase for Juneau singers with a love of gospel.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t “Honestly, I just want to sing,” Miles said. “I feel like we do it once a year for the other faction. They’re great, and I love them, and I do it every year, but I wanted more.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t There will also be a Sunday’s best contest during the show with the winner receiving a $100 gift card to Salt.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t “Bring your hats, bring your dapper shoes, your suits, your gloves,” Miles said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t That aspect of the show can be traced back to last year’s production of “Here’s Looking at You, Casablanca,”<\/a> a cabaret-dinner theater-movie screening event that encourage attendees to dress up before walking into the Rockwell Ballroom, which was transformed into Rick’s Cafe.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t