Sara Evans is serving up her country music family style with a heartwarming new side project. She’s teaming with two of her teenaged kids for a six-song EP titled The Barker Family Band.
Arriving April 12, the EP features Evans’ daughter Olivia Barker (16) and son Avery (19). It was inspired after low-key family singalongs of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” and Evans’ hit “Born to Fly” took off on Instagram, and will feature those tracks alongside a few others. Covers of favorites by Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin and Judy Garland are included, plus an original track written by the kids called “The View.”
Evans and Olivia trade vocals duties on The Barker Family Band, while Avery plays guitar and co-produces with Evans and Ben Fowler. And according to Evans, the project is a dream come true.
“Family is everything to me and making a record like this has been a dream for me since my kids were little,” she explains. “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.”
Evans will release a new solo project in 2019, but before that she’ll take the family band on the road. Presented by City Winery and SiriusXM Y2Kountry, her Sara Evans and The Barker Family Band – Bloodline Tour kicks off May 7 and wraps with a stop in Music City.