Diversity on display at Gospel Jam

The Milk River Gospel Jamboree held last weekend was an experience that entertained several hundred at the Malta High School Auditorium.

There were many different styles of musical talent ranging from Nashville's Vocal Union a full acapella group, to the Sundrops a group a four children no older than 13 that would put many older bands to shame.

One band from the event has toured all fifty states in the last several years of living on the road. That band was The Durocher Family from Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

As soon as they struck the first chord it was clear, The Durocher Family isn't your average family from the Midwest.

The group consists of Paul and Judy Durocher along with nine of their twelve children. This group, whose musical style may still be undefined, should be seen to be believed.

"People have been trying to define us," said Naomi Durocher, a 25 year-old daughter who plays mandolin for the group. "We are indefinable."

At the start of their musical career Naomi noted that they started off as a pure Bluegrass group because they covered many other bands in that genre.

"We're kind of folk. We have all of the bluegrass instruments, so we started copying other bluegrass groups."

She went on to say, as the group wrote their own music they were influenced by contemporary pop bands.

"With the symphonic instruments, it can almost be a folk-pop-acoustic roots sound," Naomi said. "We're just kind of a blend of genres."

The band still does a few covers, but according to Paul, the father of the band, the group does about 85 percent of it's own music, which includes music from the band's latest release "Audience of One."

"The kids have been writing some of their own stuff and some of it's been really, really excellent," Paul said. "Our next cd will have ten original songs on it. And I really think they'll merit some national airplay."

Every family member gets on stage, except the band's mother Judy, who does the behind the scenes things.

"She makes us run," Naomi said.

Naomi is one of three of the oldest Durocher siblings in the band, because she is one of three triplets. The other triplets are her brothers Jesse and Jerry, though if you would see them, you could never pick the triplets out of the bunch.

"We get that all the time because they're tall and I'm not," Naomi said with a smile.

All members sing throughout shows but as far as instruments go Jesse plays fiddle and is the male lead vocalist, Jerry plays guitarand dobro, Lydia (22) is the lead vocalist who also plays banjo and guitar, Abigail (20) plays cello, Gabrielle (17) plays the upright bass, Selathea (14) plays guitar, Melanie (13) plays guitar, banjo and mandolin and Austin-Miles (10) plays guitar and drums.

The band was in Malta four years ago at the Gospel Jamboree and this year's jamboree was the bands final show of their year long tour.

"We've been on the road for almost a year and this is our last stop," Paul said noting they are heading on a 748 mile trek home after the Jamboree.

The band has enjoyed Malta and had nothing but nice things to say about Phillips County.

"It's nice to be here because we've been here before and we know the area," Naomi said.

"It's a pretty town," Paul added.

The Durocher family also releases a quarterly magazine that they are distributing around the country called, A Family Discipleship Journal CALLED Journal, which started last year.

The periodical features articles written by members of the family and many other guest writers that cater to every Christian Family in America.

It focuses on issues from music, movies, missions and theology according to the band's website.

For more information on the Called Journal or to purchasethe band's music visit the band's page at http://www.durocherfamilymusic.com/ or find them on facebook.

To learn more about the Milk River Gospel Jamboree or donate to the cause, visit http://www.mrgjamboree.org.