BIDDEFORD – When the LeBlanc family of Livermore Falls takes the stage for La Kermesse Festival, taking place today and Saturday, June 23, they will bring together a musical tradition that reaches back more than five generations. Don LeBlanc has roots extending back to the 1930s in Rumford, beginning with his grandfather and father. He taught his wife, Linda, how to play the guitar. She, too, grew up listening to and singing with her parents, speaking French growing up and wanting to pass that heritage on to her children.

In fact, as their children grew up, the couple taught each one how to play an instrument and sing French folk songs, even though none of the children speak the language. As their music style improved, so did the unique identity of their family as a band. This helped set the stage for future performances in Franco-American and bluegrass music festivals in Lewiston, Augusta, Winslow, and most recently, Biddeford.

Jackie plays bass and sings harmony with mom while raising her own family of budding musicians with her husband, Ken Floyd. Her oldest son, 12-year-old Mark, has dabbled in harmonica. Her younger son, Chris, 10, is now playing guitar in a school band, and he occasionally gets invited on stage with the family. Her 8-year-old daughter Jaimee sings.

Kevin plays harmonica and guitar, and sings with a Cajun flair. He has served in the U.S. Air Force for more than a decade, with tours to South Korea, Kuwait and Afghanistan. Now living in Alaska and with a pending move to Germany, he still comes home as often as he can to join the family for music parties and performances.

Jim plays guitar and bass, and sings lead and harmony vocals. He has won a number awards for his music and was invited to perform in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. He has served in the Maine Army National Guard since 1999, after serving three years on active duty in the Army. He has served a tour in Iraq and is currently living in Buxton with his wife of two years, Alice.

The family started playing publicly in 1991. The family is usually accompanied on drums by Jerry Meservier and his uncle Nel Meservier, who plays keyboards. Both were once members of the C’est Si Bon Band.

The family’s unique brand of country, bluegrass gospel and folklore music (in French and English) can be heard on its first album, “La Famille LeBlanc Musique du Coeur (Music of the Heart) “

For more information, e-mail LeBlanc at [email protected].