Bruce Coughlan
–
songwriter, vocals, guitar, bodhran, flute and whistles...
Bruce is a true bard (a collector of songs) and the founding member of The Tiller's Folly. He started his career at a young age as a solo performer touring throughout Western Canada. This incited his interest in the little known history of the region while giving him a solid background in performing and music. Bruce's songwriting and musicianship came to the fore in popular BC bands Bare Facts and The High-tops and on his solo CDs, Any Day Soon, The Wild Bird's Nest, and A Minstrel in Moray. In 1996, Bruce was searching for an outlet for his vision of a Folk/Celtic band singing songs about "the other Maritime province" and the Tiller's Folly was born. His love and passion for the characters and tales of the Pacific North West provied fertile ground for his exceptional songwriting and singing skills. Bruce is a multifaceted talent and will undoubtedly be recognized as a great Canadian songwriter in the league of Gordon Lightfoot and Stan Rogers.
Laurance Knight – producer, bass, vocals...
Laurance is a musician with an incredible depth of over 30 years of professional perfoming and recording experience. During this time, he performed with many of the brightest lights of the Vancouver music scene and had the opportunity to produce and session with numerous projects. He first met Bruce as a session musician for Bare Facts and they continued to meet for several years until Bruce asked Laurance to play at a Tiller's Folly gig. That was the beginning and now over 13 years later they share an even stronger partnership that seamlessly combines their strengths - Bruce's songwriting and musicality teamed with Laurence's musical, production and business expertise - making the sum greater than the parts. Laurence has performed, recorded and toured with many artists including Bo Diddley, Jim Byrnes, Long John Baldry, The Sun Rhythm Section (Elvis' first recording band), Susan Gitzi, Roy Forbes, Shari Ulrich, Dixie Lee Innes (One Tin Soldier), Headpins, Faith Nolan, Ferron, Raffi, Foreman Young Band (Wonder What You're Doing Tonight) and members of Prism, Heart, Blue Northern, Loverboy, One Horse Blue, k d lang's band, Byran Adam's band and many others.
Nolan Murray – fiddle, mandolin, banjo, viola, guitar...
Nolan is one of the most in-demand multi-instrumentalists in the Pacific N and has recorded, toured and performed with many top Canadian and American artists. He has won numerous awards and nominations for his stellar musicianship throughout his career. Nolan joined The Tiller's Folly in 2001 and added his dynamic musical talent to the band and the recording of A Ripple in Time, which includes a writing credit. Highlights of his awards and nominations are California Fiddle and Banjo Champion, Top 10 at Grand Masters Fiddle Championship and US National Fiddle Contest, Nomination as CCMA Instrumentalist of the Year, 1991-1992, Nomination as Fiddle Player of the Year at Branson Music Awards, 1995, Western Canadian Bluegrass and Oregon Trail Fiddle Champion, 1996, and International Bluegrass World Championship Band, 1998. Nolan has recorded, toured and performed wiht numerous artists including Loretta Lynn, Ferlin Husky, Ian Tyson, David Frizzell, Rose Maddox, Gary Fjellgaard, Brenda Lee, Irish Rovers, One Horse Blue, Randy Travis, Patricia Conroy, Canadian All-Stars, Ricky Van Shelton, Jess Lee, Johnny Russell, John Fogerty, Valdy and Lisa Brokop.
return to Woodsongs Concert Series - Dalton home page
