The Blue Gate Theatre in Shipshewana has several exciting musical acts set to perform in January.

On Jan. 16 Steven Curtis Chapman will return to Indiana. Though his music career got started in Nashville, the Hoosier state holds a special place in Chapman’s heart. He ended up dropping out of Anderson, it was during his brief stint at the university that he met his wife, Mary Beth. Chapman’s music has a Christian undertone and has drawn praise from fans and fellow artists for nearly two decades.

The day after Chapman’s show, on Jan. 17, the unique style of Georgia-born Jamie Grace will be on display. Grace got her start by posting videos of herself singing on Youtube and things took off from there. Grace’s sound is a unique fusion of hip-hop, pop, folk and Christian music sure to keep an audience moving and grooving until the last song.

Guy Penrod will be performing on Jan. 22. Penrod, a Tennessee native, is known for his role as the lead singer for Gaither Vocal Band, but has drawn high praise for his solo performances. A graduate of Liberty University, Penrod’s southern gospel sound has led to a wide following that landed one of his albums, The Best of Guy Penrod, on the Billboard 200 list in 2005.

On Jan. 24, Blue Gate Theatre will welcome Mark Lowry and The Martins to Shipshewana. Siblings Joyce, Jonathon and Judy make up “The Martins.” The siblings have drawn praise for their musical prowess, particularly their recent foray into a cappella. According to Jonathon, “A cappella music is the purest form of vocal music, It keeps you on your toes and makes you sing better. To perform it live you have to be on your ‘A game.’ To attempt it is humbling; to accomplish it is exciting and rewarding.”

Any individual who purchases tickets to see Guy Penrod or Mark Lowry will receive free tickets to see Karen Peck and Brian Free on Jan. 23, the day between the other two shows, at the Blue Gate Theatre. Both Peck and Free are highly respected in the southern gospel music community.

For more information please visit bluegatetheatre.com.