Billings' Next Journey Quartet to Sing at 20th Milk River Gospel Jamboree

The Milk River Gospel Jamboree has announced that Next Journey quartet of Billings, Montana, will sing at the 20th anniversary of the event on June 23-25, 2023 in Malta, Montana. The group will join musicians, singers, and groups from Tennessee, New York, Michigan, and Saskatchewan at the three-day, free-admission event held at Malta High School, 8th Street West, in Malta, MT.

Next Journey began as four friends who enjoyed Southern Gospel music and would sing around one member's dining room table. The group, with members changing over the years since its inception in 2001, still practices once a week, now in a member's garage studio.

Next Journey today consists of founders Cam Larson and Michael Jewell with Aaron Roberts who joined the group 16 years ago and Curt McCamish, a two-year member. Larson sings bass; Jewell, tenor; Roberts, lead; and McCamish, baritone.

"At first we sang just because we enjoy the music and in church, but then we were invited to sing at nursing homes and other churches," says Jewell.

The group sings music they like from Bill and Gloria Gaither songs to songs recorded by the Booth Brothers, Legacy Five, Triumphant Quartet, and Tribute Quartet. The group has opened for Legacy Five and sung with Liberty Quartet.

"Our greatest joy is to deliver the Gospel message through the words of the music, and to keep hymns alive as theology set to music but with our more upbeat style," Jewell explains.

The group members credit the Southern Gospel community with encouraging them.

"The Southern Gospel music community has been so friendly, personable, and genuine. For example, the Booth Brothers and Legacy Five have been generous with their time and support and we try to exemplify that," Jewell says.

Soon, wherever the group sang, audience members began asking if Next Journey had CDs.

"We do not consider ourselves professionals. We recorded our first CD in response to the people wanting our music to take home," Jewell explains.

The group now has a third CD in final production and hopes to have it in time for the Milk River Gospel Jamboree, an event for which Next Journey has a special fondness.

"The Milk River Gospel Jamboree is one of our favorite events with so many families, the good people of Malta, the opportunity to enjoy the music and meals with the audience, and sharing prayer with all the musicians," Jewell says.

For more information about Next Journey, visit the website at https://nextjourneyquartet.com or find them on Facebook.

In addition to Next Journey, the 2023 Milk River Gospel Jamboree will feature the music of Chris Golden, Sherry Anne, Double Portion, The Paul Family Bluegrass Band, The Last Mountain Boys, and Bruce Rawlings.

Milk River Gospel Jamboree admission and meals are offered without charge; donations are appreciated; an offering hat is passed once each day. The Jamboree will begin Friday evening, June 23rd, with a meal served from 5:00 to 5:45 p.m .; concert 6:00-9:00 p.m. Activities resume Saturday 1:00-5:00 p.m. and 6:00-9:00 p.m. with a meal in-between, and continue on Sunday with lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and concert 1:00-5:00 p.m

Milk River Gospel Jamboree is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer organization created to bring Gospel music to north-central Montana. The venue is courtesy of Malta High School. Businesses from the local and surrounding area provide contributions to support the artists. For information, see https://www.mrgjamboree.org or Facebook, call 406-301-2887, or write Milk River Gospel Jamboree, PO Box 67, Malta, MT 59538.