Who needs Beer when you have “On the Water?”
-Latest single duet by the James Barker Band featuring Dalton Dover-
By Amber Otto for Country Music News International Magazine
Like the saying goes, all good things must come to an end much like the summer season. But what if you could extend the warm weather just a little while longer, with your feet in the sand, and sippin’ slow on a nice cold one? One just might believe in those possibilities after listening to “On the Water” by the James Barker Band featuring Dalton Dover.
Though the fun in the sun, floating down a stream of muddy, green or creek water (as referenced in the song) without any cares anthem was released in May of 2023, this vivacious single is still making a big splash well into the tail end of summer and the starts of fall. The four membered Canadian group (James Barker, Taylor Abram, Bobby Martin, and Connor Stephen) and 2015 Boots and Hearts Festival Emerging artist winners paired up with Georgia native Dalton Dover to deliver a for sure keeper and summertime “must have” on your playlist.
Coming from very different backgrounds and musical experiences, the diversity from the group to Dalton showcases how different types of talent can gel together to create one unforgettable sound. For the James Barker Band their career began in 2015 and since them they have had four number one country singles including “Chills,” “Keep it Simple,” “Over All Over Again,” and “New Old Trucks,” (James Barker Band – Wikipedia). Besides their several singles reaching the number one spot on the Canadian Country music charts, their group was awarded “Breakthrough Group” of the Year and “Country Album of the Year” at the 2018 Juno Awards. They also were awarded the SOCAN Songwriting Prize and won “Single of the Year” at the Canadian Country Music Awards. Besides a few of their musical accomplishments (not all named), the group is not new to dynamic collaborations. Their 2021 single “New Old Trucks,” featured Country singer Dierks Bentley, and they also joined forces with singer songwriter Dallas Smith (who ventures into both country and rock genres) on his “Some things never change” tour across Canada ((James Barker Band – Wikipedia).
For Dalton his star is just rising and has only seen the starts of a very promising music career. In 2019 he auditioned and was chosen to be on the famous music show “The Voice,” where he gained more momentum toward his singing career and confidence in who he wanted to be as an artist. Since then Dover has gained a record deal with UMG Nashville and released his first single back in February 2023 entitled “Giving up on That.” Though a new face to the music industry and the country music scene, Dover’s passion for music has followed him from a young age where he started singing in church with his grandfather and soon thereafter picked up the guitar at the age of seventeen. His love for country music poured from his grandfather’s heart to his once hearing Keith Whitley, Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard and many more legendary country trail blazers.
Though Dalton has been heavily influenced by some of the greats within country music, one cannot deny his very soulful, strong vocals that add a perfect powerhouse punch while simultaneously silhouetting the very melodic, upbeat foundation that the James Barker Band lays down throughout the entirety of the song. Listeners will without a doubt get a little bit of it all with these two very talented acts and question why they never gave water a try before.
To keep in the loop of what’s around the corner for both these talents, visit the James Barker Band at their website http://www.jamesbarkerband.com/ and Dalton Dover at http://www.daltondoverofficial.com/ .