The Barr Brothers Drift Away on an “English Harbour” In Beautiful New Single (Feat. Jim James and Arc Iris)

I somehow missed the fact that the Barr Brothers are gearing up for a new release. Let It Hiss, is out on October 17, making the band's first record in eight years.

The early singles have sounded terrific, but it's the recently-released “English Harbour,” that has been buoying around my head lately. It's a lilting tune and includes guest vocals from Visible Voice favorites Jim James and Jocie Adams (Arc Iris, the Low Anthem).

Built around Brad Barr’s patient guitar lines, the song captures a fragile balance between surrender and persistence. James’ falsetto lifts the track’s pre-chorus with tender harmonies, while the chorus opens into something a little darker, evoking memory, loss, and endurance. Adams -- who once worked for NASA --  deepens the song’s spectral atmosphere.

Brad Barr says of the track: "Something cool and interesting that happened while recording English Harbour—we imagined both Jim James and Jocie Adams singing on this one. We had befriended Jim when our band The Slip opened for My Morning Jacket in 2007, and opened for them again with The Barr Brothers around 2015. And we’ve loved Jocie’s singing and arranging instincts since we toured with her old band The Low Anthem. The night we had the idea to invite them, we wrote to them both separately to ask if they’d be interested and available to sing on this song and they randomly happened to be eating dinner together at Jocie’s house in LA. Crazy serendipity! The two of them make this song so magical."

Let It Hiss was recorded in Montreal with Brad and Andrew Barr at the helm, and mixed by Jon Low (The National, Bon Iver). The record draws on years of pause and renewal, with contributions from Elizabeth Powell, Patrick Watson, and Klô Pelgag.

The Barr Brothers open up for Mumford & Sons this fall before beginning a headline tour in November. 

The Barr Brothers / Mumford & Sons 2025 tour

Oct 8 - Chicago, IL - United Center (w/ Mumford & Sons)

Oct 9 - Saint Paul, MN - Grand Casino Arena (w/ Mumford & Sons)

Oct 11 - Milwaukee, WI - Fiserv Forum (w/ Mumford & Sons)

Oct 12 - Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena (w/ Mumford & Sons)

Oct 14 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center (w/ Mumford & Sons)

Oct 16 - Buffalo, NY - KeyBank Arena (w/ Mumford & Sons)

Oct 17 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre (w/ Mumford & Sons)

Oct 19 - Pittsburgh, PA - PPG Paints Arena (w/ Mumford & Sons)

Oct 20 - Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena (w/ Mumford & Sons)

The Barr Brothers / Let It Hiss 2025 tour

Nov 4 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground

Nov 5 - Portsmouth, NH - 3S Artspace

Nov 7 - Vienna VA (DC) - The Barns at Wolf Trap 

Nov 8 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg

Nov 11 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall 

Nov 13 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts 

Nov 15 - Woodstock, NY - Bearsville Theater

Nov 16 - Northampton, MA - Iron Horse

Nov 18 - Boston, MA - Sinclair

Nov 19 - Boston, MA - Sinclair

Nov 21 - Hamilton, ON - Bridgeworks

Nov 22 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall

Nov 27 - Ottawa, ON - Bronson Centre

Nov 28 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial Bell

Nov 29 - Montreal, QC - MTelus