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A benefit concert for Blue Ridge H.O.P.E., featuring nationally-known and honored Southern gospel group Karen Peck and New River is scheduled for Oct. 15 at Pilot Mountain Middle School.

The Bledsoes from Dobson will be opening the concert, which begins at 6:30 p.m.

“This will be an amazing night,” The Rev. Phil Goble Jr., director of the Greater Mount Airy Ministry of Hospitality (GMAMH), said on Tuesday. The ministry oversees Blue Ridge H.O.P.E. “To have two groups of this caliber helping our shelter is just unbelievable. It is poised to be a awesome show.”

Tickets will be $15 for the 250 available floor seats and $10 for the 750 bleacher-style seats.

Karen Peck and New River is a multi-national award winning trio. In 2010 the group took home four Southern Gospel News Music Awards – Fan Favorite Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for “I Want To Thank You,” Progressive Southern Gospel Album of the Year for “No Worries,” and Country Song of the Year for “I Want To Thank You.” The group has been nominated for two Grammy Awards in the past three years.

“We are excited to be able to sing in Pilot Mountain,” Karen Peck Gooch said in a statement. “Blue Ridge H.O.P.E. is a place that brings help to so many domestic violence victims in North Carolina, Virginia and other areas. We just want to be a blessing to them as they seek to be a blessing to so many hurting people.”

Her group has produced 10 No. 1 singles and another dozen top 10 hits.

The Bledsoes began with with brothers Jonathan and Rodney Bledsoe 20 years ago and has grown to include

cousin Robert Freeman and, most recently, Charity Bobbitt.

“This is going to be a powerful 1-2 singing punch,” the ministry’s board of directors Chairman Bob Meinecke said. “The Bledsoes are well-known for their heart, their sincerity and their talent. Karen Peck and New River will be coming back to this area to perform for the first time in many years. We are expecting the show to sellout quickly.”

In April 2011, the Bledsoes found their song “The One” sitting at No. 12 on the national gospel charts. The song was written by Scott Caudill. In addition, the Bledsoes saw three sings off their “The Journey” project reach national ranking.

“We are so blessed to be able to participate in this benefit,” Rodney Bledsoe said. “We love traveling and performing, but being able to help a group right here at home is special. We pray people will come out and help us give Blue Ridge H.O.P.E. a big lift in getting a new

facility built.”

Tickets will be available at The Shepherd’s House, GMAMH’s homeless shelter, at 227 Rockford Street, Mount Airy. The shelter is across from the Andy Griffith Playhouse. Tickets will also be available by calling Goble at (336) 710-2530.

There will be concessions available at the venue and each group will have CDs, T-shirts, hats and other items for sale.

For more information on the GMAMH or Blue Ridge H.O.P.E., call Goble at 7102530. To reach the Domestic Violence Shelter’s hotline, call 786-7766.