Tag Shaping Clay Jubilee

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‘I owe it all to God’

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Candon Stevens sings at the Shaping Clay Jubilee in her hometown of Manchester, Ky., Oct. 2, 2026.

Manchester’s Candon Stevens is overwhelmed by response to debut album

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

MANCHESTER, Ky. – When Candon Stevens belts out “This God of Mine,” she delivers with a voice bigger than the mountains around her Manchester home.

She just believes her God is even bigger. And she’s seeing that – again – as her debut album, Praisin’ Him, has been drawing rave reviews and her first two singles have been charting on multiple gospel music charts nationwide.

The response has been so overwhelming that Stevens, a small-town pastor’s wife, can’t hold back the tears as she tells about Praisin’ Him being considered for a Grammy Award in the Best Roots Gospel Album category.

Continue reading “‘I owe it all to God’” →
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Shaping Clay continues Stevens’ tradition of bringing power-packed gospel to Manchester

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The Stevens Family Tradition, based in Manchester, Ky., serves as the host for the Shaping Glay Jubilee in their hometown. The band is pictured playing during 40 Days of Christian Music at the Ark Encounter, Williamstown, Ky., Sept. 1, 2026.

Southern Gospel and Bluegrass greats, The Voice winner headline festival; No admission charge

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

One of the most unique events in Kentucky—and in gospel music—gets underway Friday, Oct. 2, with the Shaping Clay Jubilee at Rawlings Stinson Park in Manchester.

(Editor’s note: Since this article was published, the threat of rain and storms has prompted the organizers to move the Jubilee indoors to the Clay County High School gymnasium. The school is located at 415 Clay County High Road, Manchester, Ky.)

Southern gospel veteran Gerald Crabb takes the stage at 5 p.m., with Angie Primm, Chris Blue, Candon Stevens, and Adam Crabb each following with 45-minute sets.

The Jubilee continues on Saturday, Oct. 3, with local Bluegrass group The Dean Osborne Band going onstage at 12:30 p.m. The Shepherds follow at 1:30 p.m., with Kevin Spencer singing at 2:15 p.m.

The Old Time Preachers’ Quartet, The Kingsmen, Gordon Mote, Stevens Family Tradition, Jeff Tolbert and Primitive Road and The Kevin Rice Band each follow with their own 45-minute sets.

Continue reading “Shaping Clay continues Stevens’ tradition of bringing power-packed gospel to Manchester” →

Shaping Clay Jubilee brings monumental event to eastern Kentucky mountains

John Herndon

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The Old Time Preachers Quartet, shown in a recent concert at Sand Spring Baptist Church in Lawrenceburg, will be singing at Shaping Clay Jubilee on Saturday, Oct. 5.

By John Herndon, KentuckySings.com

A little tug at Donnie Stevens’ heart has grown into a monumental weekend in the mountains of eastern Kentucky.

The inaugural Shaping Clay Jubilee gets underway at 5 p.m. on Friday evening, Oct. 4, with Heaven’s Mountain Band, The Shepherds and the host group, the Stevens Family Tradition. At noon the following day, Steve Gulley opens, followed by the Old Time Preachers Quartet, Jeff and Sheri Easter, The Hoppers and The Isaacs.

Wow. Make that WOW!

And it’s FREE admission!! Continue reading “Shaping Clay Jubilee brings monumental event to eastern Kentucky mountains” →