Canadian Folk Music Award winners Hillsburn (Halifax, NS) are in the middle of an extensive North American tour and are in town for back to back nights at the Ship Pub on March 10th and 11th. The band started in 2014 as a folk rock outfit and have since traded in their banjo and mandolin for synths, an electric guitar, and a drum kit as part of their evolution into a harmony-infused pop rock band. 


Rock Island: 2016 was a big year for you. Your album "In The Battle Years" was very well received and even earned you a Canadian Folk Music Award for "New/Emerging Artist of the Year". You also left your label to become an Independent band again, released a new single, and are working on another new album. How has your approach changed with this upcoming album and what can we expect from the band in 2017?

Hillsburn: We knew we wanted to have more control over this project generally, and to take more time with every stage of the recording process. The key to that approach has been having Paul take on the engineering and mixing, which so far, has really paid off from a creative perspective. We haven't had to make as many compromises. When you're on the clock in the studio there's always pressure to let things pass if they're close. This time, if a take isn't as good as we'd like, we just do it again.

We're not sure when the new album will be released but we're hoping sometime later in 2017. In the meantime, we'll be touring throughout Canada and in parts of the US.

Rock Island: What should someone who hasn't seen you perform expect from a Hillsburn live show? 

Hillsburn: A whole lot of energy, big three-part harmonies, and a lot of layers musically.   

Rock Island: What do you enjoy most about playing Newfoundland?

Hillsburn: Several things actually: how welcoming people are, visiting with friends and family, and getting to see different parts of the island. We saw icebergs in Bonavista and got to spend some time in Gros Mourne on our last trip. This time we've had a few days to kick around St. John's, which has been great. Newfoundland is a beautiful place to visit. 


March 10th: Hillsburn w/ Mary Dear at The Ship Pub
March 11th: Hillsburn w/ Waterfront Fire at The Ship Pub

For ticket info visit: http://hillsburn.com/tour/