MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — As part of the Kulkarni Cultural Series, Penn State Harrisburg will welcome the Campbell Brothers for an evening of “Sacred Steel” and gospel music, with a special guest performance by Spiritual Messengers, Warriors for God at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, in the Mukund S. Kulkarni Theatre.
The Campbell Brothers present Sacred Steel: African American gospel music with electric pedal steel guitar and vocals. The Sacred Steel tradition emerged from the House of God Keith Dominion Church, where for more than 60 years it has been an integral part of worship and a vital American tradition.
The Campbell Brothers features 2004 National Heritage Award winner Chuck Campbell and composer/songwriter Phil Campbell. They, along with their deceased brother, Darick Campbell (May 2020), formed the Campbell Brothers in the 1990s and took their Pentecostal Church heritage to world stages by incorporating what is identified by many fans as blues, country, soul and rock styles, and more into their music.
Their performance will feature Denise Brown on vocals along with other band members, Phil’s son, Carlton Campbell, on drums and Daric Bennett on bass. The band will be performing music from their upcoming new album release, “INNOVA.”
The Spiritual Messengers, Warriors for God is a contemporary gospel music group based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. While they are described as a contemporary gospel group, the group defies categorization. The group is deeply rooted in traditional African American gospel with its harmonies, call-and-response, group singing and complex rhythms. However, their repertoire spans the whole range of contemporary gospel, from early spirituals through R&B and soul music, even pulling in reggae beats and pop sounds.
Tickets for The Campbell Brothers are on sale now at the Penn State Harrisburg box office.