How to Tell a Bill Hilly from a Hillbilly (Band, that is...!)

A frequent question to local Folk Music Club members is related to its first concert. "Is this the Hillbilly Band from Medicine Hat?" When people learn that our first performers (The Bill Hilly Band) are based in Calgary, the response is often, "Oh, too bad." There's a loyal local army of supporters for both groups. But, what if you don't know either band?  Here's a quick primer to help you identify each.

I recruited Len Hanft of the Medicine Hat Hillbilly Band and Chris Frye, lead vocalist for the Bill Hilly Band, to assist. The first distinction is origins.

The Hillbilly Band began in 1986 when Kathy Peter, Arlene Ashwick, Len, and their buddies formed the band for a wind-up league bowling bash. Since then the group has played over 2,500 concerts, recorded three tapes and one CD. You can find them playing all all over the city as many as three times a week. And they have played across Western Canada, on a cruise ship, and into the USA.

The Bill Hilly Band has been around since 1996. In their meager six year life span, they have chalked up 150 concerts a year. Three members hale from Victoria, one from Kingston, and Beau Klaibert from Calgary. They have played across North America and Europe with time to record only two CD's: "The Bill Hilly Band" (2000) and "All Day Every Day" (2002). But they are young. Give them another ten years and, who knows?

What about the musicians? What are their instruments? What kinds of music do they play?

The Hillbilly Band has up to 30 members, usually 25. The Bill Hilly Band has 5.  The Hillbilly Band boasts a washboard, tub (Len doesn't like the term "gut bucket"), a garbage can, rhythmic horse, accordion, violin and three or four guitars. As Len explains, mainly they are singers.  The Bill Hilly Band features 2 fiddles, an accordion, mandolin, guitar, upright bass, and piano. All five Bill Hillys sing.

The Hillbilly play list takes me back to childhood radio broadcasts. There's Carolina Moon, You Are My Sunshine, Happy Wanderer, and the Band's original Saskatchewan Song. The list is endless and reads like a hit parade from 1930 to, well, 1960 something. The Bill Hilly Band plays songs that range from western swing to Broadway show tunes, including traditional, jazz, gypsy, klezmer, and all manner of ethnic roots music.

But my favourite distinction is related to ambitions. Chris Frye chuckles that the Bill Hilly Band "...wants to make grown men cry and every woman swoon!" Len Hanft is more philosophical, He simply says, "You have to be over 50 to join our band. Our average age is 77. We just play from week to week."

Play on folks! I want to hear you both real soon.

The Bill Hilly Band plays Medcine Hat on November 22 at the Stampede Grandstand. Tickets are available at JD Color, Java Bytes, or from Customer Service at the Medicine Hat Mall.  For more information on this group, you can contact     bill@thebillhillyband.com