The members of the James Barker Band earned their status as Canadian country heroes by walking it like they talk it. Their country-rocking snapshots of rural life are drawn from experience—singer-guitarist Barker, guitarist Taylor Abram, bassist Bobby Martin and drummer Connor Stephen all grew up in small towns in Ontario. Barker and Stephen were already playing together as teens before they met Abram at a battle of the bands. When Martin joined, the band’s earthy sound solidified, and they began touring nationally in 2015. The group’s 2017 debut single, “Lawn Chair Lazy”, rocketed up the Canadian Country charts, followed by a series of Top 10 Country hits. When the foursome were joined by U.S. country giant Dierks Bentley on the 2021 No. 1 tune “New Old Trucks”, it was clear The James Barker Band had arrived on an international level.