Fermanagh performers are joining the line-up of Omagh and Fintona Methodist Circuit’s Christmas Gospel Concert on Saturday, December 3 at 7.30pm, in the Strule Arts Centre, Omagh.

The concert will be an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate Christmas as well as supporting the essential work of the Cardiac Assessment Unit (CAU) in Omagh.

The CAU is a special unit to assess and treat patients with life-threatening heart conditions based in Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex. This unit treats patients with chest pain, heart attacks, palpitations (fast heart rate), faints and shortness of breath.

Lynda Lyndsay – a well-known Gospel singer from Lisbellaw – will perform on the night. She is gifted with a beautiful, rich soprano voice and has been singing at many concerts and church events over the past 20 years.

She has a put out a number of CDs which include a wide selection of modern and traditional hymns. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she posted many Facebook videos of her singing her favourite hymns from her home and Lisbellaw Parish Church. Her music reached many thousands of people worldwide.

Lynda’s ministry is based on singing hymns and she particularily enjoys singing traditional hymns.

The band Live Issue, featuring Enniskillen’s Roy Dreaning, will return to Omagh to perform at the Christmas Gospel Concert after previously entertaining at Gospel Fest Goes West.

Alongside Roy, Live Issue comprises Colin Elliott, Sam Armstrong, Carl Sands and Ivan McLernon.

Since they reformed back in 2006, the band has become one of the most popular Country/Gospel bands in the British Isles.

In that time, Live Issue has released four albums, produced a television series for Revelation TV in London, undertaken several very successful tours of the United States – including appearances on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville – and had the opportunity to record with many of the top American artists of Country and Gospel music.

The group was also invited to perform at the International Festival of Country Music held in the SSE Arena in Belfast.

Live Issue made history in Nashville by becoming the first Country band from Ireland, and only the second group from the British Isles, to perform on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.

The LaGrange Daily News in Georgia commented, “The members of Live Issue have become ambassadors not only for Country Gospel Music, but also for their Christian faith and everything that is good about Northern Ireland”.

Also performing on the night are Kingdom Bound, Lorraine Vance and Paul Silcock.

To purchase tickets, contact the Strule Arts Centre.