Formed at the end of the 90s by sisters Shaunna Larkin (b. 1982, Church Hill, Tennessee, USA; vocals/fiddle) and Tina Larkin (b. Kristina Larkin, 1984, Church Hill, Tennessee, USA; vocals/mandolin), this country pop duo has attracted an audience of traditionalists and the younger set. The siblings sang together when very young and eventually, they and their older sister, Rachel, became members of the family band. The Larkin Family, formed by Lowell Larkin and his brothers and his wife, Barbara, have played for several years at bluegrass festivals in the USA, including Dolly Parton’s Dollywood. In addition to the family influence, Shaunna and Tina also absorbed the music of artists such as Parton, Alison Krauss, Martina McBride and Faith Hill, as well as Britney Spears and Mandy Moore. The sisters, while rooted in bluegrass, vary their style and repertoire to incorporate elements of contemporary country and pop. In the early 00s, they were juggling a packed engagement book with a desire to continue with their education. On the Larkins’ 2003 debut album, they were joined by an accompanying band that included noted country sidemen Bryan Sutton, Adam Steffey, Aubrey Haynie, Randy Kohrs, Michael Rose and Steve Turner. Also appearing on the album were their parents, Lowell (guitar/vocals), Barbara (piano/banjo), while Parton appeared as a guest on her own composition, ‘Steady As The Rain’. The sisters made their songwriting debut on ‘Head Over Heels’, a collaboration with Kohrs and Bruce Bouton, the latter the producer of the album.