MT 43 News Articles View a Published Article

Afternoon Delight at the Canton Church
Author: MT 43 News Staff Reporter

Afternoon Delight at the Canton Church

MT 43 News Staff Reporter

It was a cool afternoon on Friday at the Canton Church event where the Simonich Duo, Duane and Laura delighted a crowd with several modern Christian ballads.

Simonichs have helped make the songs, so popular on Christian music stations such as K-Love, have gathered a following among churchgoers in the area. The audience sang and swayed to new renditions of “The Lord’s Prayer” and “Yes He Lives.”

Duane, who has played for nine years, is a self-taught guitarist. He sings and plays at Helena First Church in Helena. During the week he drives to service Coke machines all over Southwest Montana. Lauren is an outgoing, vibrant stay-at-home Mom of two young children. She is the daughter of Townsend residents George and Brigid Jenkins. The duo has performed for Sunday Fall Fest church service in past years.

Their favorite songwriters are Josiah Queen who wrote the well-known song, “The Prodigal” and Brandon Lake, writer of “Greater Still.” Lauren explained these two artists are especially popular on streaming sites such as Pandora Music and Spotify.

Duane will be performing acoustic worship and country and rock music pieces with his friend, Kyle Altman, at the church on July 12 beginning at 5:00 pm. The Canton Church sits on a hill on the east side of Canyon Ferry Lake about ten miles from Townsend on Highway 284. All performances throughout the summer are free.

Article Images

Click on Image Thumbnail(s) to view fullsize image
PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks, MT43News Staff Photographer
Image 1 Caption: The vibrant Lauren Simonich expresses herself during a performance with her husband, Duane, at the Canton Church last week. Nancy Marks, MT43News Staff Photographer
Image 2 Caption: Duane and Lauren Simonich performed well together at their church gospel performance. The duo is self-taught and sing at various church functions in Townsend and Helena. Nancy Marks, MT43News Staff Photographer