Matthew And Jill Barber's Sibling Revelry Hits The Road

The Barber shop duet is taking it out on the road again. Between Matthew and Jill Barber, it's hard not to wish you could become part of the Barber family tree.

While big brother Matthew releases his third studio album, Ghost Notes, on March 4, all eyes are on his little sister with her two Juno Award nominations for best new artist and solo roots and traditional album for 2006's For All Time. Her mantelpiece shall soon run out of space, as she took home recording and female album of the year at the 2007 East Coast Music Awards. Unlike most siblings who thrive on rivalry, the Barbers revel in one another.

"I just can't wait to spend some brother and sister time together," says Jill from her Halifax apartment. "I think it's different touring with your brother."

Matthew was scooped up by Warner Music Canada after Paper Bag released Means & Ends in 2003. This relationship resulted in 2004's alternative pop EP, The Story Of Your Life, and 2005's radio-friendly Sweet Nothing. Unfortunately, it wasn't long until the sales figures came in and Warner dropped him from its roster. But he's returned triumphant with no signs of a tail between his legs with Ghost Notes, a pensive 10-track anthology of haunting heroism, released by Outside Music.

"I used to work in the warehouse at Outside, so it's kind of like a homecoming," says Matthew. "A lot of the same people still work there.

"I'm really proud of my work with Warner, but obviously I didn't reach the sales quota they were aiming for. But I personally feel I maintained my integrity throughout the whole process. It's just one of those things you can't turn down."

Ghost Notes was recorded by Ken Friesen at The Tragically Hip's Bathhouse studio just outside of Kingston, Ont., with Matthew steeping up to the producer plate, over the course of a week. Bandmates included Kieran Adams on drums, Dean Drouillard on guitar, Paul Mathew on bass and Jesse O'Brien on piano and organ. His sister dropped into the studio to lay vocals on "You And Me" and "Where The River Bends." The album-closing "Our Voices" features vocals from the band, Alexis Taylor and Sarah Harmer.

Jill just spent most of January in residence at the Banff Arts Centre. With the magic of the mountains surrounding her, inspiration hit hard. She's written enough material to head into the studio at the end of June to record a follow-up to For All Time with producer Les Cooper. This time around she invited a few collaborators to join the songwriting process, including Cooper and Ron Sexsmith.

"Getting out of a routine that didn't involving waking up every morning, checking my email and running around doing daily errands, worked," says Jill. "I devoted all of my time to writing and playing."

The aptly titled Sibling Revelry Tour will take the Barbers everywhere from Tofino, B.C. to Mount Uniacke, N.S. Prior to their departure, Jill has a sold-out performance with the Nova Scotia Symphony on Friday. She'll perform seven songs with the orchestra and eight solo, and she intends to premiere a handful of new tunes.

"It's a different kind of musicianship," Jill says of playing with the symphony. "They're reading charts like a manuscript, but instead of words, it's notes.

"They are speaking in the language of music. Sheet music something I have no handle on."

Here are the Sibling Revelry Tour dates:

Feb. 21 Peterborough, ON @ Red Dog (Matthew Barber only)
Feb. 22 Halifax, NS @ The Rebecca Cohn (Jill Barber only)
Feb. 28 Wakefield, QC @ The Black Sheep
Feb. 29 Kingston, ON @ The Grad Club
March 1 Peterborough, ON @ Market Hall (Jill Barber only)
March 5 Hamilton, ON @ The Casbah
March 6 Toronto, ON @ Sonic Boom (in-store)
March 7 London, ON @ The Music Club
March 8 Guelph, ON @ Dublin United Church
March 20 Vancouver, BC @ Media Club
March 21 Tofino, BC @ Legion Hall
March 22 Victoria, BC @ Hemman's
March 25 Rossland, BC @ Old Fire Hall
March 26 Calgary, AB @ Quincy's
March 27 Edmonton, AB @ Myer Horowitz Theatre
March 28 Saskatoon, SK @ Louis' Pub
March 29 Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Club
April 2 Waterloo, ON @ The Starlight
April 3 Toronto, ON @ The Rivoli
April 11 Indian Harbour, NS @ Oceanside Inn
April 12 Port Hawkesbury, NS @ Shannon Studio
April 18 Halifax, NS @ Ginger's Tavern (Mathew Barber only)
April 19 Mt. Uniacke, NS @ Fire Hall