FARMINGTON — The Don LeBlanc family will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 5, at The North Church, 118 High St. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for a pie social and jam session. Anyone interested in joining the jam session need only bring his or her instrument. Children participating will get free admission to the performance, according to a news release from the LeBlanc family. The event is part of the Farmington Historical Society’s concert series.

For more than 25 years the three generations LeBlanc family, of Livermore Falls, have played Franco-American music at festivals throughout New England and Canada. It all started in around the kitchen table in Acworth, New Hampshire, in 1986. LeBlanc was playing his guitar and the children were singing. He thought this could develop into something so he started to teach everyone how to play an instrument.

The family moved to Maine in 1989 and continued to practice playing and singing. LeBlanc joined the Franco American band, L’Orchestre C’est Si Bon, and was playing festivals. Linda, his wife, loved to sing French songs and started to teach the children to sing in French.

Two years ago, the family decided it might be time to stop because their children, Kevin (vocal and harmonica), Jim (vocals and guitar) have military careers and family obligations and Jeremy’s (guitar) boys are busy with sports. Jackie (percussion and vocal harmony) attends UMA for a nursing career. Well, the family is still being asked to play, so they decided to keep it going. Don and Linda both say, “We will never stop playing and singing. It will be harder to get everyone together, but, we will always have music in our life,” according to the release.

La Famille LeBlanc still has three generations on stage and is joined by friends and musicians.

Don LeBlanc has been playing fiddle and guitar since the age of 14. Jackie Floyd, their daughter, sings, plays percussion and gets the audience involved with dancing. Chris, Jackie’s son, joined the band at 12 years old and plays guitar, bass and sings harmony. He plays multiple instruments. Pat Libby Sr. joined the family band as bass player in 2017. Libbyt has been playing guitar since age 5 and is a singer. He started his own Bluegrass band, Shilo Creek in 2005 and turned to country music in 2012.

Also joining the group this year is Naomi Patrie on drums. She also sings and plays guitar.

Tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for high school and college students, $5 for elementary students. Preschoolers as well as any student participating in the jam session are free.

For reservations or more information,, call 778-2006.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.