Brackenridge church hosts concert series for people to 'relax and refresh'

The sanctuary at Trinity United Methodist Church in Brackenridge will double as an intimate concert venue this weekend.

Veteran blues singer Miss Freddye will be belting out her chart-topping, soulful tunes to kick off a concert series aimed at faith and fellowship.

Dubbed the “Leading Lady of the Blues,” Miss Freddye headlines the show at 7 p.m. Saturday.

“We’ve got some excellent music lined up,” said Greg Spencer, pastor. “There’s all sorts of different styles in an effort to create enjoyable evenings for a range of people.”

The concert is free but donations are accepted.

Spencer said he aims to enhance the options for fine arts in the Alle-Kiski Valley.

That, and he hopes to bring people together after so many months in pandemic-related isolation.

“At this stage, people have been apart — and for a good reason — but we have to come together and learn to start living again in the midst of covid.”

Miss Freddye and her blues band were nominated for two Blues Foundation Awards for the 2017 album, “Lady Of The Blues.”

Her most recent gospel single is “Wade In The Water.”

Spencer said part of the church mission is to bring the community together. The concerts are a simple way to achieve that, he said.

“We need to appreciate being together, especially in hard times,” he said. “Not everyone is going to like all the music, but you might hear something that you wouldn’t necessarily have listened to. Plus, the acoustics here are so good.”

Upcoming shows include “The Rust Project” at 7 p.m. Nov. 20, “Miss Freddye and Glory Be” at 3 p.m. Dec. 11 and a classical trio at 10:15 p.m. Dec. 24.

The Christmas Eve concert is “wondrous,” Spencer said, with musicians on cello, flute and piano playing an extended version of Silent Night with a candle-lighting ceremony on the altar.

“The goal I have is to keep the church offering high-quality events in spite of our limitations,” Spencer said. “Everyone’s been caught up in conflict and emotion, and this is a way to get along together.”