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OUR ARTISTS
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The Bills (The Bill Hilly Band)
Formed in 1996 by a group of already accomplished and successful Canadian musicians, the band quickly realized they had stumbled upon a unique combination of artistry, enthusiasm, and irresistible entertainment. Since then, audiences from Copenhagen to Cortes Island have thrilled to the Bills' blend of choreographed on-stage antics and infectiously danceable music. Whether it's blistering, Brazilian mandolin melodies and the hilarious use of random objects (a mandolin solo with a candelabra?), breathtaking, virtuosic two-fiddle flights, outrageously exotic bowed banjo solos, or soulful vocal renderings of the world's most hummable melodies, The Bills are a musical and visual joy to behold.
Marc Atkinson (Bill Mandolin) hails from the far off land of Quadra Island, B.C., where he was brought up immersed in wonderful sounds by his two piano-playing parents. After falling in love with the guitar as a teen and mastering jazz, rock, and folk styles, Marc helped form Loose Gypsies, and offspring Loose in Victoria. He has toured North America, Europe, and parts of Latin America as a guitarist for years, playing with everyone from members of the Cirque du Soleil to Canada's Mae Moore, and most recently his own swing project, The Marc Atkinson Trio. Now, as a Bill, he has found an additional exciting path: that of the international mandolin virtuoso.
Chris Frye (Bill Guitar) was born and raised in B.C. by his fiddle-playing father and his music lovin' mom. Bathed in world folk and sixties rock as a child, Chris naturally grew into a musician with diverse tastes. After ten years of playing his own tunes in rock/groove/pop bands in Vancouver, he moved to Victoria and rediscovered his musical origins. His soulful lead vocals, rootsy rhythm guitar, and captivating stage presence are pillars of the Bills' exciting live performances. Chris has also played the Canadian jazz festival circuit as the rhythm guitarist for The Marc Atkinson Trio.
Adrian Dolan (Bill Fiddle III) was born in Kingston, Ontario and began devouring musical instruments like candy at the tender age of nine. His family brought him to Victoria, and he quickly became known for his prodigious talents on the piano, violin/fiddle, and accordion. Adrian has shared the stage with such Canadian greats as Natalie MacMaster and April Verch. Today, he's the youngest member of the Bills. You might notice that his hair colour changes with the seasons and he's prone to uttering the word "dude". But when he plays, there is no doubt: Bill Fiddle III is an extraordinary professional musician who is well beyond his years.
Glen Manders (Reverend Bill Bass) is the only Bill raised in Victoria, the birthplace and home of the band. Growing up in well-aged Oak Bay, Glen learned early on to appreciate timeless music and the sounds of days gone by. Of course, he's also a child of the hip-hop generation, which may help explain his phat bass playing. In addition to providing the foundation for the Bills' fiery blend of folk music, Glen studies and regularly gigs in the jazz, Celtic, and classical realms.
Beau Klaibert (Bill Bow) started his days as a violin/fiddle phenomenon in the cowboy town of Calgary, bowing and sawing with his fiddling sisters Dixie and Daisy. With beginnings like that, one might have predicted a lifetime of yee haws and straw hats, but Beau turned out to be an intellectual with a country boy's spirit. His accomplishments as a classical violinist are well-known from his years with the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra and as concertmaster for the Singing Strings. But it's his brilliance as a fiddler and interpreter of international folk styles that dazzles the Bill Hilly Band's audiences.
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