Jane Barnes takes her lockdown super band from the loungeroom to the stage

The Jane Barnes Band became an online sensation as rock’s first couple entertained millions of Australians during lockdown. Now the family band is heading out on tour.

After decades as a backing singer, then guitarist and now bagpiper, Jane Barnes is stepping out of her husband’s shadow for her first acoustic tour.

The Jane Barnes Band formed in the early days of Covid lockdown with Jimmy, the family matriarch and various family and friends performing covers almost daily to entertain people stuck at home.

Jane quickly stole the show from her rock god husband as she studiously rehearsed each song to improve her guitar skills ahead of their “gig” which would be streamed on their social media pages.

Jane Barnes has become wildly popular with her performances with husband Jimmy. Picture: Mark Stewart

They have performed more than 300 songs over the past three years which have scored tens of millions of views, most recently a harmonic rendition of Bread’s Everything I Own from their bedroom.

The loved-up pair are currently sharing their holiday in Japan with fans and announced the Jane Barnes tour from their hotel balcony.

“Excuse me, would you like to audition as a singer,” Jane jokingly asked her husband with a hairbrush “mic”.

Her husband faked shock at the invitation.

“I thought I’d already auditioned; I thought I’d done about 300 auditions already.”

Live and Love from Kyoto 😂 Announcing: #janebarnesband is going to do some fun intimate shows from 12th May until mid June. Checkout ticket details at https://t.co/WrXYVn9kWqpic.twitter.com/Dw1V8nqPuC

— 💧Jane Barnes (@jane13barnes) April 12, 2023

Since the return of live music, Jane has returned to her spot stage right in her husband’s band, playing guitar and busting out the bagpipes.

She is also up for the APRA Award for Most Performed Rock Work, having co-written the nominated song Around In Circles with Jimmy and brother-in-law Mark Lizotte (Diesel).

Jane is yet to confirm whether her husband will make the cut for her band but you safely bet he’ll be on backing vocals alongside their daughter Mahalia and son-in-law Ben Rodgers, who also plays in the rocker’s live ensemble.

“I haven’t got a big band, but my singers are very expensive,” she quipped.

The Jane Barnes Band have announced a series of 10 gigs in NSW so far, kicking off at the Art House in Wyong on May 12 and Tallagandra Hill Winery, Gundaroo.

For all tickets, https://www.jimmybarnes.com/tour-dates/

Originally published as Jane Barnes takes her lockdown super band from the loungeroom to the stage