Siblings Jill and Matthew Barber — who both have separately successful solo careers — have joined up for their current tour
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Historically, brother and sister acts usually revolve around variety-show kitsch appeal, although fans of the Osmonds and X Factor finalists Same Difference obviously disagree. Yet, the Barbers are no ordinary musical family. Sister Jill has been living in Halifax for years, quietly releasing some of the best female-throated songs in the country while helping to burgeon the success of Halifax’s best indie record label, Dependent Music. Brother Matthew, while living in Toronto, amassed a mainstream hit with his Universal release Sweet Nothing before leaving the major label and signing to Outside/Rounder and touring Europe. Both attended university — Dalhousie for Jill and Queens for Matt — and now both enjoy separate but equally successful music careers.
Now, in the wake of Matt’s new album, Ghost Notes, and Jill’s continued success, the two have joined up to cross the country together on their aptly dubbed Sibling Revelry Tour. This is because, as the play on words intimates, there was little rivalry to speak of in the Barber household growing up; instead the two supported each other, minus the usual sibling quarrel here and there. “The point that we are trying to promote on the tour is that between us, Jill and I, that there is more revelry than rivalry,” explains Matt from his home in Toronto. “Growing up we were just learning our craft and recording indie cassettes for our friends, both together and separate, but there was never any rivalry between us, any need to outdo one another. Plus, Jill and I haven't lived in the same city for about 10 years now since we started doing music more seriously. Still, I think that with each new record we put out we influence one another, consciously and subconsciously. Plus, I'm extremely proud of Jill. She's a natural singer and songwriter, and she's worked really hard to get to where she is.”
The two songwriters will share a band and perform songs of their own on tour, while coming together each night to swap songs, stories and ideas. This is the first time the two have gone out on the road together in such a way, and Matt is excited. “We are promoting our respective albums, but we're just doing it together,” he says. “I wouldn't call it a variety show or anything of the sort, even though the stigma is attached because we are family. Together, the goal is a straightforward show that features good original songwriting from both of us. It just happens to have the added element that we are family.”
Regardless of being family, Jill and Matt Barber are two of this country’s finest songwriters, and catching both performers for the price of one is a steal. Plus, while Jill will be debuting new material with music that’s garnered her Juno, Polaris and ECMA nominations, Matt will be touring a new record — the stripped down Ghost Notes. More folkified and down-home than the glittery Sweet Nothing, Ghost Notes is Barber’s return to acoustic music, one that departs from the mainstream esthetic to move towards a more laid-back, folk tradition — the same one Jill brilliantly straddles in each melody.
