Info. on The Bills

Subject: Info. on The Bills
From: Mudlark
Date: 23 Aug 05 - 11:53 PM

I have to write a press release for an upcoming concert of The Bills (formerly The Billhillys), and their web page doesn't have a lot. Anybody have any good input I could use? This will be their first time in this area and I'm hoping for a great turnout for them.

Subject: RE: Info. on The Bills
From: GUEST,Wherriebob
Date: 24 Aug 05 - 04:42 AM

There is a thread on "Footstompin" which had casued a big response when The Bills performed in Scotland.(I can also attest that the spin-off band "The Marc Atkinson Trio" are tremendous.

Loudon Temple kicked off the "Footstompin thread with
"The Bills, described by UK roots music magazine, Maverick as "the best band in the world" in a recent review, will be heading for Edinburgh to make a rare appearance in July.

The five-piece wowed audiences here last year when they played a string of dates to mark the UK release of the 2004-issued JUNO-nominated CD, "Let 'em Run".

Reviewing one of the shows in The Herald, Rob Adams, called them "special" and told readers to "prepare for Billsmania sweeping the land".

The band was subsequently booked to headline on two of the bigger stages at the prestigious Cambridge Folk Festival this summer and that brought them back to the UK quicker than they imagined might happen.

When Mary Ann Kennedy, presenter of BBC Radio Scotland's Celtic Connections programme, learned they were once again heading this way, she lured them Queen Margaret Drive to record a studio session for the show, to be recorded on Monday, July 25.

And that's how they got the opportunity to appear in Edinburgh.

Bills front man and main songwriter Chris Frye says the Edinburgh date all came about because a fan in Fife, Mary Stewart, urged them to try and organise a date in the capital, and that she set the wheels in motion.

"Mary spoke to the people at The St Bride's Centre and put us in touch with them.

"Before we knew it, we had a booking," he said.

The "Let 'em Run" CD is one of the most-requested on Iain Anderson's late night BBC Radio Scotland programme.

He says: "They are special alright."

For further information on the band, visit the www.thebills.ca website.

Subject: RE: Info. on The Bills
From: BanjoRay
Date: 24 Aug 05 - 08:31 AM

Inoffensive background music, technically perfect and totally lacking in anything worth listening to.
You may, of course, disagree!
Ray

Subject: RE: Info. on The Bills
From: Mudlark
Date: 26 Aug 05 - 03:38 PM

Thanks very much to both respondents! I will be very interested to hear what this group sounds like in person, having heard very little of their recorded music.

They must have something people like, Ray, but I've heard "technically brilliant" guitarists that leave me as cold as the hearts they seem to bring to their music. I'll be volunteering at the concert so can form my own opinion. At least it's not new agey, hearts of space stuff, right?

Nancy

Subject: RE: Info. on The Bills
From: Alice
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 09:42 AM

Mudlark, refreshing this old thread to see what you thought of The Bills. I found them late, just heard their Let 'em Run CD yesterday when a friend from Colorado came to visit. She has seen them in concert in Colorado and raved about their live performance, going out into the audience, really connecting with listeners.

Sound clips on their site here:

http://www.thebills.ca/music_letemrun.html

Alice

Subject: RE: Info. on The Bills
From: Mudlark
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 01:30 AM

Hi Alice...

Bills are great...some very inventive musicians doing creative stuff w/basically bluegrass type rifss. Their guitarist into gypsy guitar. And they are very nice guys, 3 of them stayed with me when they were here last. They've got lots of energy and obviously really love what they are doing. Local music society going to book them again and I'll look forward to seeing how they've changed in a year, and how they've stayed the same.

Thanks for the sound clip address.

Nancy