Gardner-Webb Welcomes Dove Award-Winner Aaron Cole to Brinkley Amphitheater on Aug. 24

Christian Rapper and Hip-Hop Artist Recorded and Toured with TobyMac

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Dove Award-Winner Aaron Cole is the third performer in Gardner-Webb University’s inaugural “Summer in the Springs” Concert Series at Brinkley Amphitheater. The Christian rapper and hip-hop artist will be in concert on Aug. 24 to welcome GWU students back to campus.

All seats are general admission. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are free for Gardner-Webb students and $15 for all others and may be purchased in advance or at the door.

Vice President and University Chaplain for Christian Life and Service Dr. Josh Parrott is excited that Cole will be on campus. “He is such a gifted and talented artist, and this will be a great night of worship as the University and local community gather at Brinkley Amphitheater,” Parrott affirmed. 

Cole was 3-years-old when he started to rap verses, and in just a year he made his first recording. Since then, his musical journey has been filled with a coveted Dove Award (2019 New Artist of the Year) and back-to-back-to-back #1 singles on the Billboard Christian Hot Adult Contemporary (AC)/Christian chart.

TobyMac, a multi-Grammy award-winner and Billboard chart-topper, said of Cole, “My dude Aaron Cole is about to take it all somewhere special. This is the tip of the iceberg and it just goes deeper and wider from here on out.”

Cole was born and raised in Bristol, Va., a quintessential small town that rests right across the border of Tennessee. For Cole, hustling was a way of life. He grew up in a home where everyone had to work hard for what they had, and music was his outlet to express how he was feeling about the world around him. Some would say he was born into music—his dad had a recording studio in their apartment and his uncle was a Christian rapper. As a child, he would always sit in on the sessions. It wasn’t long before he began to mimic the verses and rap them back to him. It was clear he had a gift and ambition to go after his dream.

He caught the attention of TobyMac when he was just 15. Soon after Cole was signed to TobyMac’s label, Gotee Records. In 2017, Cole’s debut single, “Right On Time” (featuring TobyMac) hit the music circuit and skyrocketed to #1 on Billboard’s Christian Hot AC while the accompanying music video quickly amassed over 8 million views on YouTube.

Then, Cole had another hit on his hands with “One More Day” which also rose to #1 on Billboard’s Christian Hot AC Chart, sending him to share the stage with the likes of Lecrae, Andy Mineo, KB, Trip Lee, and performing on three massive arena tours with TobyMac, Torian Wells and the late Mandisa.

Reflecting on his success, Cole said “No matter what your story is, we are all called to be something great. So, go after your dreams, no matter how impossible they seem. Work hard, stay true to who you are, don’t compromise your faith, and let God lead. After all, if God can make a poor kid from Bristol wildest dreams come true, He can do it for you too.”

Auxiliary aids will be made available to persons with disabilities upon request 10 working days prior to the event.  Please call 704-406-4270 or email [email protected] with your request.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.