Sara Evans Forms the Barker Family Band With Kids Avery and Olivia
Sara Evans is bringing her children into the music business: The country star, her 19-year-old son Avery and her 16-year-old daughter Olivia have formed the Barker Family Band. Together, they're planning an EP, set for release this spring, and a brief acoustic tour.
According to a press release, the Barker Family Band came to fruition as Evans was planning a new solo album for 2019; however, fans' responses to brief clips of Evans, Avery and Olivia performing together, posted to Instagram, inspired the trio to record together instead.
“Family is everything to me, and making a record like this has been a dream for me since my kids were little,” Evans says in the release. “They were literally raised on a tour bus around music, and this is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I’m honored that I get to make this music with them before they embark on their own careers as musicians.”
Indeed, Evans' children (she also has a daughter named Audrey) have grown up being on the road with their mother; late in 2018, video of Evans, Avery and Olivia performing together surfaced on Twitter. Evans herself got her start in the Evans Family Band, a trio with her brother Matt and sister Lesley, who still are part of her live band. Olivia now sings and writes songs, while Avery also plays guitar and other instruments; both are looking to start solo careers.
The Barker Family Band EP, due out on April 12, features six songs: five covers and an original song, "The View," which Olivia and Avery co-wrote. Evans and Olivia share lead vocal duties; Avery plays guitar and co-produced the project with his mother and Ben Fowler.
The Barker Family Band's Bloodline Tour will run from May 7 through May 14. They'll stop at City Winery locations in Washington, DC; New York City; Boston, Mass.; Atlanta, Ga.; Chicago, Ill.; and Nashville, Tenn. Tickets will go on sale on March 14 at SaraEvans.com.
The Barker Family Band, The Barker Family Band EP Track Listing:
1. “Born to Fly Intro” – lead vocals Sara Evans
2. “Dreams” – lead vocals Sara Evans
3. “XO” – lead vocals Olivia Barker
4. “(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman” – lead vocals Sara Evans
5. “The View” – lead vocals Olivia Barker
6. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – lead vocals Olivia Barker
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