The Bills began as The Bill 
Hilly Band in 1996, when Canadian jazz and rock musicians Marc Atkinson (guitar) and Scott White (upright and electric bass) took up new acoustic instruments (mandolin and fiddle, respectively) and began exploring folk tunes from around the world. The two had already toured extensively throughout North America and Australia in various groups, playing such prestigious events as the Montreal Jazz Fest. A vocalist and guitarist raised on fiddle music, Chris Frye was a jazz guitar student of Marc’s. Chris and Marc quickly formed musical bonds, sharing a taste for a broad variety of musical styles. Chris’ powerful singing and deep knowledge of North American traditional tunes lent themselves to the music that Marc and Scott were creating, and they quickly welcomed him into their new band.
After a nine-week European tour, The Bill Hilly Band exploded onto Victoria’s live music scene, playing local festivals and packing club dates. All the while, they continued to incorporate more global styles into their music, digging deeply into the traditions of choro music from Brazil and the melodies, rhythms and improvisations of the Romany peoples of Eastern Europe.
Shortly after the band’s quick rise in British Columbia, the young and gifted Glen Manders joined The Bill Hilly Band on bass. Straight out of high school, Glen proved to be the glue that they were seeking, and with him as the foundation, The Bill Hilly Band took the plunge into recording, releasing their first album The Bill Hilly Band. Invitations to major Canadian folk festivals and features on Canada’s national CBC radio quickly followed, and the band realized they were on to something good. In 2000, 17-year old prodigy Adrian Dolan (fiddle, accordion, piano) was asked to join The Bill Hilly Band. The first time they played together, this new lineup realized they had found something undeniably rare.
In 2001, the annual North American Folk Alliance Conference was held in The Bill Hilly Band’s own backyard of Vancouver, an event that proved to be a launching point for the band. There they gained the momentum they needed to release their second album All Day Every Day, which earned them a Juno Award (Canadian Grammy) nomination and won them a Western Canada Music Award for “Outstanding Roots Release.” They were also honored as BC Touring Artists of the Year.
Shortening their name to The Bills, the band released their third album Let Em Run in Canada to much acclaim. The album earned them their second Juno Award nomination, and the video for the title track "Let 'em Run" received consistent play on CMT (Country Music Television) across Canada. Featuring fourteen original compositions, Let Em Run showcases the songwriting of Marc, Chris, and Adrian. Drawing on their vast array of musical influences and their own unique experiences on Canada’s west coast, these three gifted writers stand amongst the finest in today’s ever-growing folk/roots genre.
