the wilkins

Artist Information

Biography

The Ontario Independent Music Awards nominated Wilkins as one of the best folk artists of 2008. The Wilkins have created a musical style uniting electronic-heavy music with the traditionally “unplugged” folk style. Marks driving acoustic guitar infuse with Julian’s intense piano and synch lines which play off Geoff’s dancing guitar work. Three part harmonies are also a staple of the Wilkins sound featuring lead vocals from both Mark and Julian and Jan, with Jan’s vocals evoking a “Alison Krauss meets Stevie Nicks” style.

Mark Wilkins is known among the rock and roll scene for his past involvement in the Ontario based band, Photograph. Discovered by Tom Cochran of Red Rider, the band signed to Capitol Records, going on to produce such hits as “Last Dance” and “Blow Away.” Photograph toured with numerous national acts including April Wine and Blue Rodeo in addition to working with future legendary U2 producer Daniel Lanois.

In 2003 Mark and Jan, teamed up to release their first album Seasons.

In 2007 their collaboration extended to include Julian, an avid pianist and veteran thespian and performer in his own right. Geoff Hales came on board in late 2008 providing unparallel jazz-rock lead guitar styling and Eric Bogstad anchors the sound with bass guitar.

2010 Highlights
Release of Live CD Live at the Bookstore

2008 / 2009 / Highlights for the Wilkins:
Release of No Expiry Date in Canada

“Couldn’t Do Better” featured on the Compilation CD Sounds Like Café Volume 23 released in Australia, September 2008 by Foghorn Records.

“Love is Gone” featured on the Busta Compilation CD released in Italy by Midfinger Records (October 2008),

“Love is Gone” featured on the GOA Chillout Zone Compilation CD released in India (August 2009) by W.O.A. International Records.

Semi-finalist awarded from the UK Songwriting Contest to Mark Wilkins and Debra Campbell for Apologies Unspoken….6 out of 7

Semi-finalist awarded from the Williamsburg Songwriting Contest to Mark Wilkins for Love is Gone

Management deal with WOA Records.

Instrumentation

Jan Wilkins - Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
Mark Wilkins - Lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, bass
Julian Wilkins - piano, reason synths, lead vocals
Geoff Hales - Electric Guitar
Will - Bass
Duncan Holt - Drums, Percussion

Discography

Jango Radio featuring 3 Wilkins songs, Love is Gone, Don't be a Fool, and Couldn't Do Better.

Live at the Bookstore released 2011

Australia - Sounds Like Cafe series Vol 31: Featured Song: Every Step released Dec 2010

No Expiry Date - released Oct 2008

Australia - Sounds Like Cafe series Vol 23: Featured Song: Couldn't Do Better - released Sept 2008

Italy - Busta Compilation CD, October 2008
Featured Song: Love Is Gone

"Apologies Unspoken" was a Semi-Finalist in the Folk and Country category in the UK Songwriting Contest 2008.

Radio Interview : CUIT Take 5 with Andy Frank

Radio Interview / Performance : CUIT Acoustic Workshop with Heather Fielding

Nominee for Best Folk Artist, 2008 Ontario Independent Music Awards

Love is Gone is featured on compilation WOA Records CD released in India

Official Website

http://www.thewilkins.ca

Links

• Wilkins Web Site

Audio

• Face In The Crowd
  Listen  
• Don't Be A Fool
  Listen  
• U Can't Tell Me
  Listen  
• Every Step
  Listen  
• Tonight
  Listen  
• Love Is Gone
  Listen  
• Couldn't Do Better
  Listen  
• The Change
  Listen  
• Song Of Hope
  Listen  
• The Best That I Can
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Apologies Unspoken
• Love is Gone
• Couldn't Do Better
• Easy
• PEI Song
• Whatever U Want
• Find My Way
• You Can't Tell Me
• Every Step

Video

video-1

Photo Gallery

Press

• Wilkins - No Expiry Date (CD) [+ Show ]
  

  http://neufutur.com/?p=3799 Wilkins – consisting of Mark Wilkins (bass, guitars, and vocals), Jul...http://neufutur.com/?p=3799
  
  Wilkins – consisting of Mark Wilkins (bass, guitars, and vocals), Julian Wilkins (piano/synths), and Jan Wilkins (acoustic guitars, vocals) – are a family that has been creating music together since 2000. “No Expiry Date” is an album that shows that, even with Julian’s hiatus from the act, that Wilkins is a musical tour de force in the folk music sphere. “Easy” is the first track on “No Expiry Date”, and it immediately hits listeners with a ropy bass line, driving drums and synthesizers that fit in well with the bass focus. The Wilkins do a great job during this introductory track in creating a musical style that speaks equally well to the eighties, nineties, and oughts. The biggest contribution that the Wilkins give to music as a whole is the uniting of electronic-heavy music with the traditionally “unplugged” folk style.
  While some listeners may come in to “No Expiry Date” thinking that the styles are mutually exclusive, the Wilkins will undoubtedly make believers out of them. “.79” breaks down thoughts about what is proper in terms of tempo and time signatures in the creation of a piano-heavy track. “Love Is Gone” marks another different approach taken by Wilkins, where a somewhat Latin style to the guitars open up to Jan’s vocals following a more traditional, Alison Krauss meets Stevie Nicks style. “Couldn’t Do Better” is an epic track in the sense that the guitars and vocals unite to make a memorable track in the vein of “Let It Be”, albeit with a more sedate, “natural” sound present.
  “No Expiry Date” is a title that fits well for this collection of tracks, because what the Wilkins do here is mesh together different approaches, influences, and styles into something unique that will stand the test of time – regardless of how far listeners are away in terms of years from when this album was released, the songs will still sound as fresh as possible. The disc finishes as strongly as it opened: tracks like “Whatever You Want” and “Song of Hope” challenge even “Easy” in terms of quality and uniqueness. “Song of Hope” may start slowly, but the arrangements intertwine themselves with the vocals to create a track that would as easily fit on classic rock stations as they would on a NPR or collect radio affiliate. Wilkins, likely owing to the close bond of family, have made an album in “No Expiry Date” that is truly special. If you want to hear different interpretations of what limits music can have, buy this album.
  
  Top Tracks: Apologies Unspoken, Whatever You Want
  Rating: 7.4/10

• FAME Review: Wilkins - No Expiry Date [+ Show ]
  

  A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange by Mark S. Tucker (progdawg@hotmail.com). ...A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
  by Mark S. Tucker
  (progdawg@hotmail.com).
  
  
  
  
  I've always had a soft spot for good M.O.R. (middle of the road) rock but not acts like Anne Murray or Barry Manilow (retch!). Give me Runner, later Rare Bird, the Mamas & Papas, Unicorn—you know, the stuff that neither screams nor falls into itself. The Wilkins band is M.O.R. and is actually a father, a mother, and a 22-year old son, a true family ensemble. Mark Wilkins was discovered by one of my fave musicians, Tom Cochrane (of Red Rider fame), and his band The Elevators later became Photograph, whose sophomore release enjoyed the production of Daniel Lanois. Jan Wilkins had been a nomadic folkie performing in coffee houses in Canada, met Mark, and had Julian, a young gent possessing exquisite sensibilities on the piano and a past lead actor in productions of Les Miserables, Grease, Fame, and such.
  
  No Expiry Date is smooth as silk. Mark and Jan are superb singers and Mark plays guitars in the folk / soft rock tradition. Julian adds in backing vox but truly has a wondrous hand on the keys, playing acoustic piano and electric keyboards. The guy was born with an ability to transpose keys at will, but there's a delicacy and feeling in him beyond that, a trait which defies explanation...when he isn't, that is, playing axe, sledge hammer, anvil, and air gun (seriously!). Add to them Jon Wheel Parker, who displays consummate taste on guitar, slide, and mando, and you have a very formidable combo that, frankly, more than once put me often in mind of Iain Matthews' forgotten but unbelievably good soft rock band Plainsong.
  
  Canada must have something exotic in its waters. The country turns out so many fine musicians: Bruce Cockburn, Murray McLauchlin, Joni Mitchell, the aforementioned Cochrane, Neil Young, and God only knows the limit. The Wilkins stand solidly in that stellar array. Just about every cut on this CD is solid, thoughtful, tuneful to a wistful fault, and drenched in a relaxed, well-crafted, smile-provoking manner. In the pounding, keening, buzzing cacaphony that too oft dominates the airwaves, it's easy to forget that music like this is still being made.
  
  
  

Setlist

[1] Just a memory
[2] Couldn't do better
[3] Love is gone
[4] Find my way
[5] Quietly here comes the dawn
[6] One more call
[7] Why can't I?
[8] Apologes unspoken
[9] Live in the moment (PEI Song)
[10] Holding my heart
[12] Song of hope
[13] What it is
[14] Whatever you want
[15] Easy
[16] You can't tell me
[17] Tonight
[18] Love is gone
[19] Amazing grace
[20] The change
[21] Red Moon Rising
[22] A face in the Crowd
[23] Take a chance

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

the wilkins rider

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