The 17th November was a great day as after long expectation and organization Kirk Franklin finally visited Budapest. The musician, who is 7 Grammy award prize-winner and sold more than 15 million albums and he feels himself at home not only in R&B, in hip-hop but in soul and gospel music genre as well, held a fantastic concert in the Sportmax Centre, Budapest.

About the Kirk’s informal behaviour, humour and not least deeply lived faith in God, the representatives of the press and the invited guests were shortly convinced during the afternoon press conference. Among other things Kirk informed the press that during his European tour he expected his Budapest concert supremely and he mentioned that he liked the city so much that it is likely that he will visit our city with his wife later. The black singer was answering willingly to all the questions and he also happily undertook the long photography.

Photo: Füle Tamás

After this the concert hall was nearly filled with people and firstly Balázs BOLYKI and his newly founded soul band entered to the stage. In the performance of nicknamed Bali and his band the lightness and improvisation was also be found not to mention its exactness and sensitivity. It was an additional surprise that Balazs who usually only sings got a guitar and with his solo for two accords caused general laugh among the audience.

After a half an hour concert of the pre-band, the main star of the evening shortly appeared on the stage, namely, Kirk Franklin. Kirk arrived to Budapest as the stop of his European tour with a full orchestra and literally with a ‘colourful’, unique and exceptional show. During the concert not only the life did stop for any moment on the stage but the audience was also unable to stand in one place. In a moment, Kirk encouraged his fans for dancing or jumping and once he also ran around in the hall, which warmed up those as well, who were until then just sitting quietly in their seats.

Photo: Kelemen Gábor, Leica Point

During his more than two hours concert Kirk sang songs from his last album and his new hits, too. He did not miss to sing from his repertoire the followings: He Reigns, Stomp, Hosanna, Lean on Me, Brighter Day or Revolution. In some songs the American singers sang the refrain with the audience in Hungarian which was a great success. Furthermore, most part of the audience also sang the known English songs with Kirks’.

Photo: Dudás Ernő

Those who were on this concert took not only part on ‘one’ concert but became to a real show. However, Kirk did not forget it for a moment that the glory does not belong to him but to God which he indicated clearly with his hand stretched towards heaven and that he shared it with his words what was the real purpose and motivation of his production.

Thank you for this fantastic concert, Kirk!

Áron Rencsényi