Music Maker 25: The Glorifying Vines Sisters

The Glorifying Vines Sisters close out Music Maker 25 by taking folks to Sunday evening church, carrying on five decades of family tradition rooted in the music and ministry of gospel quartets that flourished nearly a century ago. Based out of Believe in Jesus Ministries, a small church in Farmville, N.C. where vocalist and leader Alice Vines serves as pastor, the group performs regularly to congregations but is no stranger to the festivals and bars of the secular world. Along with Audrey Vines on vocals, the veteran outfit finds an array of extended family and friends joining in to sing or add instrumentation on familiar hymns and gospel standards. Though its tough to rival the power and spirit of the Vines’ moving a capella renditions, the regular additions of guitar, keys, bass, and drums lend a bit of a funky feel reminiscent of The Staple Singers. —Spencer Griffith