Member Bios 

BRUCE COUGHLAN
vocals, guitar, tenor banjo, bodhran, flute & whistles

Bruce is a true bard (a collector of songs) and the founding member of The Tiller’s Folly. A career performer, touring throughout Western Canada since his teens, Bruce has developed a keen knowledge of the history of the Pacific region, while obtaining a solid background in performing and music. His love and passion for the characters and tales of The Pacific Northwest has proven fertile ground for his exceptional songwriting and singing skills. A multifaceted talent destined for recognition as a great Canadian songwriter/storyteller in a class with Stan Rogers or Gordon Lightfoot. 

LAURENCE KNIGHT
electric bass, vocals

Laurence is a musician with the incredible depth of over 30 years of performing and recording experience, during which time he has performed with many of the brightest lights of the Vancouver music scene. In this time he has performed and recorded with a variety of different artists in many genres (from Raffi to Doucette to Roy Forbes to Ferron to Jim Byrnes.)

Laurence first encounter with Bruce goes back some 20 years when he was hired as a session player on one of Bruce’s early projects. They’ve developed a strong partnership over the past 12 years.   Laurence’s production and business savvy teamed up with Bruce’s songwriting and artistic direction creates a whole much greater than the sum of its parts.

NOLAN MURRAY
fiddle, mandolin, 5-string banjo, viola, guitar and vocals

Nolan has become one of the most in-demand multi-instrumentalists in the Pacific Northwest, having toured, performed and recorded with many top Canadian and American artists. It was with his own band “String ‘Em Up” that won them the International Bluegrass World Championship in 1997.  He has, throughout his career, garnered numerous awards for his stellar musicianship. Nolan brought his dynamic musical talent to Tiller’s Folly in 2001 during the recording of A Ripple In Time.  In 2004, Tiller’s Folly members teamed up to record Nolan’s fourth CD, Off the Beaten Path.