Most bands use the time before a performance to warm up their vocal chords or tune their guitars, that is, as long as the wardrobe is in order.

Eileen, Kathleen, and John Higgins make up the Delta based band The Higgins, a country music group with four albums beneath them and one brand new one.

Eileen remembers one time when a mismatch in costume caused a family squabble that nearly disrupted a show.

“When we were first starting out like five years ago, we would get in a fight about the shirt John was wearing,” remembers Eileen.

“It wouldn’t match us so we would call up our manager and say, ‘he wont change!’ It was so stupid. And now we don’t even ask what he’s wearing.”

But performing with your siblings does have its advantages. The success of bands like the Dixie Chicks or the Coors, and now, the Higgins, are testament to the musical potential created when the minds and voices of a family come together.

“There is kind of an intensity that happens between the three of us that really makes it work,” said Eileen.

“It’s awesome when we get to look at each other on stage and be living this crazy life with each other.”

The Higgins, who performed in Merritt during last year’s Santa Clause Parade, are returning to the Nicola Valley to promote their new album, Dreamers Like Us, at the seventh annual Merritt Walk of Stars Gala.

Merritt is just one stop of many scheduled for the Higgins during the next few months. Despite a busy schedule, Eileen is looking forward to spending as much time as possible with her one-year-old girl, Lauren.
“It’s really awesome right now. She is learning how to talk and she’s running around and she’s pretty happy, so she’s not a ‘terrible two’ yet,” said Eileen with a laugh.

For the Higgins, being a family is just as important as being a band. Their touring schedule is set up around this principle.

“I’m never gone for more than three nights,” said Eileen.

“We kind of set it up like that so that we’re never too far away from family.”

The Gala event, which will take place during the last weekend of May, will be hosted by Country Music Television’s Casey Clarke.

Among the other artist scheduled to play the event are Ian Tyson, Ridley Bent, Gord Bamford, and Kenny Hess.