Lizzy Hunter Five voices blend in perfect harmony, echoing across the Saskatchewan prairie as the Hunter Brothers rehearse for their next big show. Dusty Hunter, one of the quintets of farm-boy-turned-country-stars, leans against a weathered barn door, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “We’re just a bunch of farm boys from the sticks in Saskatchewan,” he says, the memory of their first number-one hit still fresh in his mind. It’s this humble beginnings-to-stardom narrative, coupled with their signature familial harmonies, that has propelled the Hunter Brothers from their rural roots to the forefront of Canadian country music. As they prepare to unleash their latest single, “Train (Station Edition),” Dusty reflects on the journey that has brought them to this pivotal moment in their career.
The Hunter Brothers’ latest single, “Train (Station Edition),” represents a significant milestone for the band. Dusty explains, “It’s a reimagined version of a previous song we released. The ‘station’ adjective presents the idea that the song has been on the rails, but is taking a pitstop and getting a new makeover. It’s one of our favorite songs we have ever released, and we never got to feature it in the way we wanted to. We felt the timing of the message was right, and for lack of a better term, we were all on board to put it out into the world in a new type of way.”
Family is at the heart of the Hunter Brothers’ music, a theme that resonates strongly throughout their discography. Dusty reflects, “One of the consistent themes you will see in most of our music is an emphasis on family. A lot of our songs center around the priority of relationships, and how much they mean to us. You can’t travel on a bus with each other without having your disputes, but at the end of the day, we really love each other, and our families. The concept of ‘Train’ speaks to the essence of not losing sight of what matters most in the midst of the rat race of life.”
The band’s commitment to family extends beyond their lyrics and into their personal lives. Dusty acknowledges the sacrifices made by their loved ones, stating, “Our spouses and kids have sacrificed a lot for us to do what we get to do, and this song is the public recognition that they matter to us more than any type of success we could achieve in our careers.” This sentiment is further emphasized in their music video, where Luke Hunter and his wife made their acting debut, bringing the song’s message to life visually.
Recognition from the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) holds special significance for the Hunter Brothers. Dusty expresses their gratitude, saying, “It’s always an honor to be recognized by the CCMA. While we ultimately don’t release music for the purpose of pursuing accolades, being recognized on a national level is an honor that we are so grateful for.” The potential of winning an award this year carries even more weight, as Dusty explains, “If we were to win the award this year, it would mean so much because of coming off the road together on our headlining tour across Canada. It’s been a lot of work to get there. Well over thirty years.”
The journey to success has been a long and challenging one for the Hunter Brothers. Dusty reflects on their path, saying, “What people see is the show, but it has been a grind with its ups and downs for many, many years. When you arrive at the point where you get to sell out venues in your own nation, it’s a celebration of the work that’s been accomplished together, and we’re proud of that.” This sense of accomplishment is palpable in their performances, where their energy and harmonies captivate audiences across the country.
The Hunter Brothers’ unique dynamic as a band of siblings brings both challenges and strengths to their music. Dusty explains, “When you have five siblings in a band, you have to always massage the details out because everyone offers a unique perspective and preference. It also provides strength in that there are so many nuances in the DNA of the show that reflect each brother.” This collaborative approach results in a rich, multifaceted sound that has become their trademark.
Their rural upbringing continues to influence their music profoundly. Dusty reflects, “In almost every way, you can hear our upbringing through our music. It influences so much of what we do. We’ve had the opportunity to travel to many places in the world, which we are truly grateful for, but the small-town roots are so heavily embedded in our blood.” This authenticity resonates with fans who appreciate the brothers’ genuine connection to their roots.
The Hunter Brothers’ journey to music was not a straight path, with all five brothers initially pursuing careers in hockey. Dusty recalls, “Interestingly enough, all five of us played high levels of hockey and played it for most of our lives. It was so bizarre that everyone was taken out of the game through injury. For JJ it was a separated shoulder, for Dusty and Luke, eye injuries, and Brock had multiple concussions. It brought everyone back to the farm and then united us in our music career.”
The influence of their parents on their musical journey cannot be overstated. Dusty shares, “Our parents are one of the main reasons we are doing music. They put a premium on time usage. Two boys would play the piano before school, (one upstairs, one downstairs) and then after school two more would go. They drove us to piano lessons an hour away, and our mother taught us harmony and sat with each one of us on the piano to help us learn our notes.”
Their hockey background has continued to intersect with their music career in unexpected ways. Dusty proudly mentions, “Having ‘Born And Raised’ be selected as the in-house theme song for the World Juniors was a tremendous honor. The World Juniors are the biggest stage for Junior hockey in the world, and it has been a family tradition to watch them for years.”
The Hunter Brothers’ album “State of Mind” holds a special place in their hearts. Dusty explains, “We absolutely love this record because it shares so many pieces of who we are, and we got to dig a little deeper into our story. I think it’s safe to say it would be our ‘collective’ favorite album. State Of Mind owns our platinum-selling single, Lost, but also holds songs like ‘When You Love A Girl’ which speaks to four of us having baby girls born into our families.”
Touring with established country artists has been a highlight of their career. Dusty reminisces, “We actually found out about our platinum single when we were on the Journey Tour with Paul Brandt, High Valley and Jess Moskaluke. We were already riding a high from being on the tour, so to hear that announcement in the midst of it made it that much sweeter.”
The Hunter Brothers’ experience at CMA Fest in Nashville was a defining moment for the band. Dusty recalls, “One of the coolest things for us regarding CMA Fest was the fact that they snapped a picture of us jumping in midair on the stage, and then put that photo in the Country Music Hall Of Fame in Nashville. We have so many positive memories from that experience.”
Their album “Been A Minute” came at a crucial time, addressing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dusty reflects, “Been A Minute came in the midst of, and on the heels of covid. While it still had classic HB love songs on it, it also shared a prevalent theme – healing and growing through difficulty. Hard Dirt and Just Wanted You To Know both explored the difficulties of life, while songs like Been A Minute brought forth the idea that we were looking forward to getting back to the way things were when it came to live music and being together again.”
Maintaining their bond as brothers and bandmates is an ongoing process. Dusty shares, “We are continuing to figure this out every day. We know that we love each other, and we also love each other’s families. That holds us together even through the differences and everyone’s changing lives causes many implications. We are continuing to grow in communication with one another and know at the end of the day, that we have each other’s backs.”
Looking to the future, the Hunter Brothers are brimming with excitement. Dusty teases, “We just came off the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show which housed 20,000 people every night at GMC Stadium. So while we are riding that high, we are also in the process of planning our next steps forward. There are a few particular collaborations we are working toward, along with some other exciting developments that we can’t share just yet.” The band’s immediate future includes a highly anticipated performance at the Boots and Hearts Festival, running from August 8-11. Fans can catch the Hunter Brothers on the mainstage on Saturday afternoon, where they’re sure to deliver an electrifying show. Dusty concludes, “Stay tuned! We are so excited for what’s to come and beyond grateful for the continued support of our fans. Let’s go!”
Go to hunterbrothers.com to find out where they’ll be playing next.
