Bill and the Belles

Hugely entertaining vintage style country & Americana

We have had to cancel the planned autumn 2020 Bill and the Belles tour due to the ongoing Covid-19 virus crisis. We hope to bring them back in the future

Exceptional Tennessee quartet Bill and the Belles features gloriously smooth vocal harmonies and exquisite musicianship on fiddle, banjo, guitar and double bass. Massively entertaining but hard to categorise, the band is influenced by classic country, bluegrass, hillbilly and old time music, with a charming “vintage” persona rooted in the music of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Bill and the Belles were nominated for four IBMA (International Bluegrass) awards in 2017 and bandleader Kris Truelsen (lead vocals/guitar) also shares his enthusiasm for traditional American music as a producer and presenter for Radio Bristol, housed in the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Tennessee. The full band line-up is completed by superbly talented musicians Kalia Yeagle (fiddle/vocals) – who was recently appointed as a lecturer in Old Time Music at East Tennessee State University –  sensational banjoist and singer Helena Hunt and gifted multi-instrumentalist Andrew Small (upright bass).

As the house band for the historic Radio Bristol programme Farm and Fun Time, Bill and the Belles also regularly perform alongside America’s top bluegrass, old time, country and roots music artists, in a brilliantly engaging variety style format that includes segments highlighting Appalachian culture. The heirloom recipe segment is particularly popular, as are the bespoke jingles that Bill and the Belles write and perform for the show’s sponsors! This fabulous, fun and downright awesome band was a smash hit with promoters and audiences on their debut UK tour in summer 2019 (including performances at The Long Road and Omagh Bluegrass festivals). Bill and the Belles bring to the stage an uplifting live show full of engaging humour, high spirits, and all-around revelry – and we know your audiences will agree!

“One of the best nights ever! Please keep us mind when they return.” – Jonathan Mountford, Leek Blues & Americana
“They’re a joy to watch live, and we bet you can’t make it through their set without smiling!”The Bluegrass Situation