biographical info
The Bills had its genesis as a living room workshop for international folk music in 1996. The (formerly named) Bill Hilly Band was soon sawing out tunes at local Victoria clubs, playing an impassioned if somewhat loose mix of old-time, celtic, carribbean, Eastern-European, and mariachi music.
A nine-week busking tour of Europe taught The Bills lessons that only the road can teach. It was a defining period for the group: they tightened up their tunes and their act.
Their first CD came out in June 2000.
Through the next 18 months the band worked extremely hard. Six different 2001 showcase conferences and subsequent non-stop touring earned them the Touring Artists of the Year from the BC Touring Council.
Added to the Borealis Records roster in 2002, The Bill Hilly Band have released All Day Every Day, and after a minor name change to The Bills have released Let 'Em Run in 2004.