biographical info
Coming together for the first time as a band in the fall of 2010 in St. John’s NL, “All the Wiles” draws members and influences together from across Canada--and just South of the border, too. Katie Baggs and Jared Klok, hailing from St. John’s and Southern Alberta respectively, act as principle song contributors on the band’s debut album “Painted”, with Baggs on the fiddle and vocals and Klok singing and plucking the guitar. Ben Rigby adds the flair of his clawhammer banjo and some lead guitar, more than fulfilling what you might hope for from his Upstate New York/Adirondack mountain background. Rounding out the band musically and geographically are Waterloo, Ontario raised twins Jake and Billy Nicoll. Jake keeps the beat, tickles the ivories, and sings along with brother Billy who plays upright bass and cello.
Ostensibly moving to St. John’s for university courses Jake produced and recorded a solo-album, “Wild Machines”, short listed for the Atlantis Music Prize, and toured Europe with the “The Burning Hell.” Billy, a songwriter, MUN philosophy student, and collaborator with Jake in FIMO and The Hunters and Gatherers (alongside another sibling band mate, Ilia) has played in several St. John’s bands. Ben Rigby, an anthropology grad student, recorded two solo banjo EPs and performed as a member of the popular St. John’s band Dead Language alongside Katie Baggs. Baggs, a schoolteacher, has earned a solid solo reputation around St. John’s playing both with All the Wiles and on her own. She has lent her vocal and fiddle skills to several local acts including The Pilot to Bombardier and The Burning Hell. Klok, a farm hand from Alberta, carries with him from the prairies to the sea a well-worn country sensibility and lent his vocals to the recent album by Woodland Telegraph.
“Painted” was recorded and mixed by Jake Nicoll at Trunk Lane Studios over a three day period in December 2010. The band embarked on an East Coast tour in September to celebrate the release. “Painted” was recently awarded the 2011 Atlantis Music Prize by jury selection for the best release from Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 (http://atlantismusicprize.ca/).