The C2C Sit Down with James Barker Band
It’s been a long wait since 2019 for Ontario’s James Barker Band to return to Europe, but in just a few weeks’ time, the wait will finally be over. The band are set to make their long-awaited return to the continent as part of this year’s C2C Festival in Berlin. In the years since they last crossed the Atlantic, James Barker Band have been anything but quiet — releasing a steady stream of new music, reaching new career milestones, and stepping onto ever-bigger stages across North America. Now, as they prepare for a five-date European run, we caught up with frontman James Barker to talk about their return to Europe and what fans can expect from the Berlin festival.
Hey, James. It's been a minute.
Yeah, it's been too long. Who would have thought a little thing called COVID kind of got in the way!
You were on such a roll back in 2019 and all of a sudden, it's 2026.
Yeah, I know. It's kind of crazy how fast it's all gone by, but excited to be coming back.
In that time, so much has changed for all four of you. Does it almost feel like a fresh start coming here after all that time?
Yeah, it really does. So much has changed. Holy smokes, different labels; some of us have had kids; we've released so much music; it's been crazy. I feel like getting back over there is going to feel like riding a bike a little bit, as it usually does when you haven't played shows in an area for a while. Just excited to get back into it.
And you’re not messing around, because you've got five shows across Europe this time.
Honestly, we tried to even do more, but everyone was like, hey, logistically, let's try and not go too crazy. You got the jet lag and everything despite being known for trying to get as much in as possible. That's just how we kind of roll. Days on, show days, are the best part. We get paid to travel, and we play for free, is what we've always said. We want to play as much as we can.
Hey, James. It's been a minute.
Yeah, it's been too long. Who would have thought a little thing called COVID kind of got in the way!
You were on such a roll back in 2019 and all of a sudden, it's 2026.
Yeah, I know. It's kind of crazy how fast it's all gone by, but excited to be coming back.
In that time, so much has changed for all four of you. Does it almost feel like a fresh start coming here after all that time?
Yeah, it really does. So much has changed. Holy smokes, different labels; some of us have had kids; we've released so much music; it's been crazy. I feel like getting back over there is going to feel like riding a bike a little bit, as it usually does when you haven't played shows in an area for a while. Just excited to get back into it.
And you’re not messing around, because you've got five shows across Europe this time.
Honestly, we tried to even do more, but everyone was like, hey, logistically, let's try and not go too crazy. You got the jet lag and everything despite being known for trying to get as much in as possible. That's just how we kind of roll. Days on, show days, are the best part. We get paid to travel, and we play for free, is what we've always said. We want to play as much as we can.
Since 2019, there's been a couple of EP and album releases. Is it going to be tough to pick a set list as well? People are going to want the early songs, because that's what fans saw last time and people are going to want new songs if they’ve only discovered you recently.
It is. Man, that's one of the hardest things. We just dealt with this because we did a big Canadian tour, and the sets will have to be even shorter when we're over there. It's tough. Honestly, we generally just prep all the songs and then put together a rough set list and then if somebody messages the band and says, hey, are you guys playing so-and-so? It'll be like, okay, well, maybe people want this over here, especially because it's a different region. In Canada, we've got songs on the radio, so you're like, well, you got to make sure you do all those as that’s what people are listening to, but in Europe, it's like, who knows what songs are in which pockets? I think you kind of have to be ready to pivot from show to show.
You had to Buckle Up Tour at the end of last year with 30 dates. Was that exciting and the start of the next step for you to have that many shows in one run?
Yeah, it was. We were kind of overdue to do a full run like that in Canada. We've done so many shows where you fly in and do it, but to be able to put the machine together with a truck and you've got a bus and you do all of these cities back to back to back, it had been a minute. Honestly, like I said, we like playing. Days off drive me mental and it was a lot of fun to do it. It's just cool doing headline shows. You forget what those feel like. The crowd know the deep cuts. They know the singles. They know everything. It was pretty cool.
That tour kind of came off the back of the One of Us album. Despite releasing music now for nine years, do you see that as your first full length studio album?
Yeah, it was. It's definitely the first time we ever sat down with the intent to create an album. We started making music in a time when singles were the thing, releasing one song at a time. This is the first time where the label was like we want to do it; we want to do all these songs. They might come out at different times, but we want it to end up as a package deal. It was so cool to be able to do it that way. I really liked it because you look at songs differently when you know they're going to be a part of a group. It becomes more about what the album says as a whole, as opposed to what each song says individually. There's a little bit more of a macro perspective on it.
Alongside the album release, you did the One of Us series video series back in your hometown. Did you pretty much get every single resident in that video!
There was definitely a lot. It's funny because I was pretty adamant we had to film that in my hometown, because it's written about those people. The song is as true as any song has ever been. Everyone in that song is a real person that I that I grew up with or that I know. I was like, we can't film this anywhere else. There was talks of, oh, do we do it in Nashville because that weather might be better that time of year and so on and so forth. We were like, no, it's got to be in Woodville. I was like, why don't we try and get some of these people, you know, just like see who wants to do it, because a lot of people don't like doing that stuff. They don't like the idea of having to sit in front of a camera. But people also don't realise how relatable their story is and how important individual stories are. I think that having a camera crew there to capture it was pretty cool. I'm pretty glad we did that.
When you have times where you come over to Europe and play big festivals over here with C2C Berlin, Germany’s biggest country music festival, do you always look back at where it all started for you in that town with a few hundred people?
Absolutely. I mean, there's no way not to. It still kind of blows my mind that we're doing all the things we're doing when it started. From a kid in the basement, to a bunch of guys in a garage. You know what I mean? It's obviously cliche, but kids need to know they can do anything if they put their mind to it. You’ve just got to go and do it. It's more attainable than they think it is. Especially for people from smaller towns where no one's really ever done anything like that.
It is. Man, that's one of the hardest things. We just dealt with this because we did a big Canadian tour, and the sets will have to be even shorter when we're over there. It's tough. Honestly, we generally just prep all the songs and then put together a rough set list and then if somebody messages the band and says, hey, are you guys playing so-and-so? It'll be like, okay, well, maybe people want this over here, especially because it's a different region. In Canada, we've got songs on the radio, so you're like, well, you got to make sure you do all those as that’s what people are listening to, but in Europe, it's like, who knows what songs are in which pockets? I think you kind of have to be ready to pivot from show to show.
You had to Buckle Up Tour at the end of last year with 30 dates. Was that exciting and the start of the next step for you to have that many shows in one run?
Yeah, it was. We were kind of overdue to do a full run like that in Canada. We've done so many shows where you fly in and do it, but to be able to put the machine together with a truck and you've got a bus and you do all of these cities back to back to back, it had been a minute. Honestly, like I said, we like playing. Days off drive me mental and it was a lot of fun to do it. It's just cool doing headline shows. You forget what those feel like. The crowd know the deep cuts. They know the singles. They know everything. It was pretty cool.
That tour kind of came off the back of the One of Us album. Despite releasing music now for nine years, do you see that as your first full length studio album?
Yeah, it was. It's definitely the first time we ever sat down with the intent to create an album. We started making music in a time when singles were the thing, releasing one song at a time. This is the first time where the label was like we want to do it; we want to do all these songs. They might come out at different times, but we want it to end up as a package deal. It was so cool to be able to do it that way. I really liked it because you look at songs differently when you know they're going to be a part of a group. It becomes more about what the album says as a whole, as opposed to what each song says individually. There's a little bit more of a macro perspective on it.
Alongside the album release, you did the One of Us series video series back in your hometown. Did you pretty much get every single resident in that video!
There was definitely a lot. It's funny because I was pretty adamant we had to film that in my hometown, because it's written about those people. The song is as true as any song has ever been. Everyone in that song is a real person that I that I grew up with or that I know. I was like, we can't film this anywhere else. There was talks of, oh, do we do it in Nashville because that weather might be better that time of year and so on and so forth. We were like, no, it's got to be in Woodville. I was like, why don't we try and get some of these people, you know, just like see who wants to do it, because a lot of people don't like doing that stuff. They don't like the idea of having to sit in front of a camera. But people also don't realise how relatable their story is and how important individual stories are. I think that having a camera crew there to capture it was pretty cool. I'm pretty glad we did that.
When you have times where you come over to Europe and play big festivals over here with C2C Berlin, Germany’s biggest country music festival, do you always look back at where it all started for you in that town with a few hundred people?
Absolutely. I mean, there's no way not to. It still kind of blows my mind that we're doing all the things we're doing when it started. From a kid in the basement, to a bunch of guys in a garage. You know what I mean? It's obviously cliche, but kids need to know they can do anything if they put their mind to it. You’ve just got to go and do it. It's more attainable than they think it is. Especially for people from smaller towns where no one's really ever done anything like that.
With your return to Germany, are you looking forward to getting in front of that crowd? Everyone has said the German crowd is so different to England; it's different to Canada; and totally different to Nashville.
It is very different and I like that. You adjust the set for that. I think the cool thing about being a live performer is that it's not the exact same every night. It's a dynamic thing that we do. To go over there, the crowds are often more attentive than they can be at some places in North America where it's like a little bit more just party, party, party. We spend so much time on the lyrics and stuff in our songs, so knowing that people are actually listening is kind of cool at times - we put the set that way. It's so neat to know that there's often at times a language barrier, I know a lot of people know quite a bit of English, but to go over and know there's a language barrier when you go and do the meet and greets before or after and people know the songs and might not even like know the know the language is pretty cool.
Almost straight after you head back to North America, you've got the tour with Tyler Rich as well. Is that going to be quite nice to go from having a headline tour in Canada, to returning to Europe, to then getting to support in potentially some new markets in America?
Yeah, it'll be really cool. We haven't done like a real run of shows in the States in quite a while either. It's been a couple of years and we're fired up to be able to do that. It'll be a different thing because it's more clubs and bars. It'll be kind of the party thing every night. We’re having Tyler up to do some shows in Canada and then coming down to do these ones with him. It's just cool to be able to play off each other's fan bases a little bit and get in front of some new people.
Later in the year, you're returning to Boots and Hearts, which coming from Ontario must be a huge red cross on the calendar you’re counting down.
Yeah, it is. Honestly, if I had to point to our homecoming, to the place that feels like it's the most home for us, it would be Boots. That's where we got our start was at the Emerging Artists Showcase there. We went to Boots and Hearts before we were a band. The year before we got nominated, we snuck into Boots and Hearts in the trunk of a car, so to be back in front of that crowd is I don't know, it always just feels so amazing. It's been a few years since we played there. They did a COVID thing that was of a more subdued version of it, so to be back on the main stage is going to be pretty crazy. Boots and Hearts is like another world, man. It's crazy.
It is very different and I like that. You adjust the set for that. I think the cool thing about being a live performer is that it's not the exact same every night. It's a dynamic thing that we do. To go over there, the crowds are often more attentive than they can be at some places in North America where it's like a little bit more just party, party, party. We spend so much time on the lyrics and stuff in our songs, so knowing that people are actually listening is kind of cool at times - we put the set that way. It's so neat to know that there's often at times a language barrier, I know a lot of people know quite a bit of English, but to go over and know there's a language barrier when you go and do the meet and greets before or after and people know the songs and might not even like know the know the language is pretty cool.
Almost straight after you head back to North America, you've got the tour with Tyler Rich as well. Is that going to be quite nice to go from having a headline tour in Canada, to returning to Europe, to then getting to support in potentially some new markets in America?
Yeah, it'll be really cool. We haven't done like a real run of shows in the States in quite a while either. It's been a couple of years and we're fired up to be able to do that. It'll be a different thing because it's more clubs and bars. It'll be kind of the party thing every night. We’re having Tyler up to do some shows in Canada and then coming down to do these ones with him. It's just cool to be able to play off each other's fan bases a little bit and get in front of some new people.
Later in the year, you're returning to Boots and Hearts, which coming from Ontario must be a huge red cross on the calendar you’re counting down.
Yeah, it is. Honestly, if I had to point to our homecoming, to the place that feels like it's the most home for us, it would be Boots. That's where we got our start was at the Emerging Artists Showcase there. We went to Boots and Hearts before we were a band. The year before we got nominated, we snuck into Boots and Hearts in the trunk of a car, so to be back in front of that crowd is I don't know, it always just feels so amazing. It's been a few years since we played there. They did a COVID thing that was of a more subdued version of it, so to be back on the main stage is going to be pretty crazy. Boots and Hearts is like another world, man. It's crazy.
I've got to mention the Juno Awards as you’ve just received two nominations. What a way to kick off 2026.
Yeah, it's wild. Obviously, you don't get into music because of the awards, but it's always feels good to get them. We were really hopeful we’d get the album nomination for Country Album of the Year, but you never know as it’s a heavy category. There's a lot of really talented people in Canada. Then when we got word that we also got Fan Choice, and it was kind of mind blowing. We're like, how's that even possible to get two of them? Fans Choice is a crazy category. You’re talking The Weeknd and Bieber, as well as having Josh Ross and Cameron Whitcomb who had huge years. Just to be associated with those names is an honour.
Is that when you question was there a mistake in the voting!
I know it was like, how is this even, even possible? But I mean, it's just artists creating art and different folks like different stuff.
It now feels like you're just going to keep pushing on into 2026 having finished 2025 on such a high?
Yeah, absolutely. Last year was a busy year with the touring and everything, but this year's shaping up to be as, as busy, if not busier and that's the pace that we like.
Just to drop the hint, in 2019 you did two trips over here. So I'm expecting the same now this year!
I'm hopeful too. I mean, that's the nice thing about coming over early in the year is that you can sneak back over twice in a year. I don't want to say anything, but I have a really good feeling we'll be coming back and hopefully hitting some more markets soon.
Love it. Well, I look forward to seeing you in Berlin in just a few weeks time.
Yeah. Wow. That's crazy. I better start packing.
Start getting the set list together and get the guys rehearsing again.
Yeah, exactly.
Thanks so much, James.
Really appreciate it and we'll see you in Berlin.
James Barker Band will be performing at this years C2C Berlin on the Uber Eats Arena Mainstage at 17:50 Friday 6th March and you can further details on the festival WEBSITE or on INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK. Tickets for all of James Barker Bands European tour dates are on sale NOW
Yeah, it's wild. Obviously, you don't get into music because of the awards, but it's always feels good to get them. We were really hopeful we’d get the album nomination for Country Album of the Year, but you never know as it’s a heavy category. There's a lot of really talented people in Canada. Then when we got word that we also got Fan Choice, and it was kind of mind blowing. We're like, how's that even possible to get two of them? Fans Choice is a crazy category. You’re talking The Weeknd and Bieber, as well as having Josh Ross and Cameron Whitcomb who had huge years. Just to be associated with those names is an honour.
Is that when you question was there a mistake in the voting!
I know it was like, how is this even, even possible? But I mean, it's just artists creating art and different folks like different stuff.
It now feels like you're just going to keep pushing on into 2026 having finished 2025 on such a high?
Yeah, absolutely. Last year was a busy year with the touring and everything, but this year's shaping up to be as, as busy, if not busier and that's the pace that we like.
Just to drop the hint, in 2019 you did two trips over here. So I'm expecting the same now this year!
I'm hopeful too. I mean, that's the nice thing about coming over early in the year is that you can sneak back over twice in a year. I don't want to say anything, but I have a really good feeling we'll be coming back and hopefully hitting some more markets soon.
Love it. Well, I look forward to seeing you in Berlin in just a few weeks time.
Yeah. Wow. That's crazy. I better start packing.
Start getting the set list together and get the guys rehearsing again.
Yeah, exactly.
Thanks so much, James.
Really appreciate it and we'll see you in Berlin.
James Barker Band will be performing at this years C2C Berlin on the Uber Eats Arena Mainstage at 17:50 Friday 6th March and you can further details on the festival WEBSITE or on INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK. Tickets for all of James Barker Bands European tour dates are on sale NOW
