Billy Manzik

Billy's journey began where Highway 61, the 'Blues Highway', ends - in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The soundtrack for his childhood was provided by his guitar-slingin', country-singin' mother, and her love of all things sound. He spent his formative years playing guitar and travelling the world, ultimately ending up in Calgary, Alberta. With the guidance of many of Calgary's musical luminaries, Billy went into the studio to record. His self-titled debut album is what he describes as "an honest and hopeful reflection of the human condition, experienced by a musician who has travelled the world embracing different cultures and music."

Recorded in Calgary at Rocky Mountain Recording Studio, produced by Rob Smith and Daniel J Coe (Aerosmith, The Trews), and mastered by Mark Chalecki (Cracker, June Carter Cash) at Capitol Records in Hollywood, this mostly "live off the floor" studio album could be best described as roots music infused with a range of influences as disparate as Wilco, J.S.Bach, Chris Whitley, John Lee Hooker, Bill Frisell and even ABBA. The 13 tracks include guest performances by Canadian greats like country-blues singer/songwriter/guitarist Tim Williams, pedal steel journeyman Charlie Hase, and former Crash Test Dummies violinist, Bill Zulak.

Since it's release, the album has received extensive radio play across the country and abroad, charting well on several Canadian !earshot roots charts, as well as being featured on CBC Radio's "Key Of A". His performance at the 2008 Alberta Songwriter Sessions was recorded and broadcast on CBC Radio Two's "Concerts on Demand". He and his band kicked off the 2008 Juno Awards weekend in Calgary with a spirited performance at their Awards Reception. He has performed on stages, festivals and workshops with the likes of Blue Rodeo, Elliot Brood, Madagascar Slim, Ndidi Onukwulu, Cara Luft, Stephen Fearing, Tim Williams and Ken Hamm, among others. Billy seamlessly melds traditional folk sounds into a rollicking rock show, drawing from such influences as J.J. Cale, Eric Clapton and even Van Halen.

Charlie Hase

Pedal Steel Guitar, Dobro and Lap Slide (Gary Fjellgaard, Valdy, Randy Bachman, Lisa Brokop, Neil Osborne of 54-40) Hailing from Montreal, Charlie is an exceptional and varied musician with a long & colourful career. He has played everything from country, folk, jazz and rock n' roll, and has received two British Columbia Country Music Association awards.

Geoff Hilhorst

Bass, Keyboards (Carol Pope, Urban Divide, The Steve Elmo Murphy Band). Best described as an "aficionado" of the keys, Geoff sounds like he may have more than just two hands cruising across the ebony and ivory. From ragtime to classical, Geoff can master it. His pursuits in the indie music scene are equally as varied as Geoff has enhanced the sounds of several bands in Canada.

Erik Allen

Drums And Percussion (Jenny Whiteley, Brampton Symphony, The Dirty Little Blues Band). A recent Calgary transplant, Erik graduated from the jazz performance program at Humber College in Toronto. He's recorded tracks with Jenny Whiteley for her Juno Award winning album "Hopetown" and lent his skill to countless other bands from Calgary to Dubai!