Over the last 5 years The Barker Band  has evolved from a family bluegrass band featuring twins Jake & Sam Barker, their dad Lenny and oldest friend Laurie Sherman into one of the country’s top country-rock bands.  In 2005 the band expanded to include vocalist Nella Johnson and bass player Tom Wright with drummer, Ru Shreeve, joining the band a year later. By 2007 they were playing regularly at venues like The Borderline & The Boogaloo as well as appearing at festivals including The Camden Crawl and The Innocent Festival in Regent's Park. They also managed to fit in a tour with Jack Penate and Adele. In March 2008 they were invited to play at the South By South West Festival in Austin, Texas and in September they played twice at a very muddy Bestival. 2009 has seen the band make a return to the Camden Crawl and playing at major festivals like Glastonbury and Summertyne 09. They have also recorded  radio  sessions for Bob Harris’s Country Show, Steve Lamacq and the Queens of Noize. In June the band released their 3rd album “Sorry for The Kissing” on their own label earning 4 and 5 star reviews from some of the top music magazines.   JAKE & SAM BARKER Sam and Jake play banjo, mandolin, guitar and share lead vocal duties. Being twins they are completely telepathic and can predict the future up to 8 seconds. Their influences include Ralph Stanley, Iain Matthews, the Everly Brothers and Def Leppard.  NELLA JOHNSON   Nella joined the band in 2005 adding her beautiful, haunting voice to the mix. She takes all lead vocals on the new album "Sorry For The Kissing" and has the strongest punch in the band. LAURIE SHERMAN Plays electric guitar and often writes with Jake & Sam. Laurie can also turn in a slick performance on bass, banjo and mandolin when called upon. Laurie also skateboards at pro-level but so far the band have been unable to find a way to exploit this musically RU SHREEVE Our highly talented and sympathetic skin-basher and owner of the band's heaviest bags. Has been dubbed the "human metronome" by his largely Norwegian fans. TOM WRIGHT Bass player Tom is the tallest member of the band - a role which he takes seriously. Although he comes from the country he is comfortable amongst city dwellers.   DISCOGRAPHY The band released their first album,a demo imaginatively entitled "The Barker Band" in September 2004 and to their surprise, it garnered a bucket-load of excellent reviews. Their second album, "Lonesome Waltz" and first commercial release, came out in March 2006 on the BB records label to even better reviews, including the national press. In early 2007 the band's first single, a 7" limited edition vinyl 45, was released on the Young Turks label (Jack Penate, Kid Harpoon) The third album "The Night Ain't Over" was set loose on the world in September 2007 and has had extensive radio play including Bob Harris and Steve Lamacq. The band released their first downloadable single "I Don't Wanna Remember" on March 16th 2009 shortly followed by the new album "Sorry For The Kissing" on April 20th. The following musicians have been guests at various gigs and recordings.  Hana Loftus. Old-time fiddle practitioner extraordinaire who also plays with the UK's top bluegrass band The Coal Porters JOSEPH CREAN. The hardest working fiddle player in London with a unique talent and a fiercely individual style. RICHARD PHOENIX. Drummer (ex Captain Everything) and all-round decent bloke  made his debut with the band at the 12 Bar in Jan 2006 and then went to live in Brighton  STEVE BRAYNE. A very old mate of Lenny's and occasional guest Blues-harp player of true distinction. Ex-frontman with legendary 70's band The Fox, Steve is still blowing them away with his own blues band - Big Road. TED SHERMAN. First rate drummer & percussionist and Laurie's older brother, Ted has played with many bands around London as well as doing session work including Top Of The Pops. He is now playing with the ultra-fab FastLane Roogalator   TOM SPENCER. Bass player and multi-instrumentalist, Tom is probably best known for his work with the Yo Yo's and his current band FastLane Roogalator. RICKY MCGUIRE. Bass guitarist from one of the country's top folk/rock outfits, The Men They Couldn't Hang