The Night Before Easter features a musical buffet of both traditional and contemporary gospel songs along with show tunes and music made popular by Bebe and Cece Winans, The Isley Brothers, Josh Groban, Kevin Levar, Carrie Underwood, The Clark Sisters, Mahalia Jackson, James Taylor, Whitney Houston, Bill Withers, Jennifer Hudson, Anita Baker, The Temptations and many others. Join us to celebrate the Easter season and grab a little piece of heaven with Gwen Matthews and friends in The Night Before Easter. You’re guaranteed to have a great time!

Bio from the Star Tribune’s 2021 listing of the “30 Essential Black Minnesota Musicians” by Jon Bream & Chris Riemenschneider

Gwen Matthews

In the 1970s, the Chicago native rocked Twin Cities clubs with the group Passage and recorded jingles for major clients such as Northwest Airlines and General Mills. Ever versatile, Matthews did a stint in Rupert’s Orchestra, performed in a jazz-soul trio with Debbie Duncan and Bruce Henry, and spent 11 years in Los Angeles working with Stevie Wonder, Philip Bailey and Kenny Rogers. Her résumé includes performing at jazz festivals in Europe and teaching voice lessons. She currently sings in the ever-versatile group Synergy.

“Her voice is rich and funky. Her music is full of lilting melodies, soulful rhythms and often interjected with jovial scatting. She moves your spirit. And at some point in her set, you’re bound to hear someone in the crowd shout out, ‘You’d better sing, Gwen!’”

– Ginger Commodore