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The Spillionaires are a Vancouver-based five-piece Swampgrass band offering up heartfelt original tunes and surprising covers filled with silky five-part harmonies.
Good friends off stage, they bring a relaxed and jovial energy to their shows blending the sounds of bluegrass, zydeco, and a pinch of swing with guitar, banjo, pedal-steel, mandolin, upright bass, and accordion. The Spillionaires released their first EP in Spring of 2019 and are already planning for the next. They're sure to keep your toes tapping and leave you with a smile on your face. |
Matt Creed
Instrument: Upright Bass, Vocals Started Playing Music: 1984 Joined the Spills: 2013 Other Musical Projects/Interests: Zap the Crook, Ninjas & Stuff Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate Hugs or High Fives: Hi-Fives. Matt grew up in a musical family and started playing guitar at age 10. He formed his first band at 12. Early live performances ranged from singing in choir, jazz band, musicals, and community events. Matt played his first bar gig at the age of 16 and has since toured across Canada multiple times, from Halifax to Iqaluit to Dawson City and every stop in between. He has also played internationally on the West Coast US circuit. Currently, Matt is playing bass in a couple of projects and loves creating, performing, and the joy of building lifelong friendships with his musical peers. |
Melissa Elton
Instrument: Accordion, Vocals Started playing music: in elementary school Joined the Spills: 2014 Other musical projects/interests: Teaches singing, sound healing Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate! High fives or hugs: consensual hugs Melissa has been singing since she was wee. With training in voice, piano and viola, she then decided to teach herself the accordion in her late 20s. Some of her favourite genres to sing are jazz, musical theatre, pop, and of course bluegrass, folk, and a dash of country. She loves weaving harmonies into song arrangements, and playing from the heart. Singing and playing with The Spillionaires is one of the biggest joys in her life! |
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Al Haley
Instrument: Mandolin, Pedal Steel Guitar, Vocals Started playing music: 1981 Joined the Spills: 2013 Other musical interests: subbing in with local bands Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate AND Vanilla High fives or hugs: it’s okay to be a hugger Al grew up on Cape Breton Island, hearing fiddle music, Hank Williams, Marty Robbins, and Sons of the Pioneers on the 8-track. Al started on bass and moved on to Uilleann pipes, mandolin, and pedal steel guitar. He has done lots of musical theatre and children’s theatre and has always played in one band or other- never happier than in The Spillionaires. |
Leah Barley
Instrument: Banjo, Vocals Started playing music: Piano as a child, performing and writing in her early 20’s Joined the Spills: 2017 Other musical projects/interests: solo singer/songwriter, guitar Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate! High fives or hugs: definitely both Saskatchewan-born, Ontario-raised, and now Vancouver-based, self-taught vocalist, banjo, and guitar player Leah Barley started her interest in the stage at a young age. Dancing and acting since grade school, Leah fell in love with Bluegrass and Old Time Country once she moved to Alberta in her early twenties. She bought herself a banjo and was writing and performing within two months. Since then Leah has recorded three EPs, toured throughout parts of Canada, performed at CBC Music Vancouver, JUNOFest, and even at the Whiskey a Go Go and Hotel Café in L.A (with the Wayward Hearts). And now she’s having the best time ever playing with the Spillionaires and is set to record her first full length solo album in early 2020. |
Ryan Cranston
Instrument: Guitar, Vocals
Started Playing Music: Drums at 5 years old
Joined the Spills: 2017
Other Musical Projects/Interests: Saxophone
Chocolate or Vanilla: BOTH
Hugs or High Fives: BOTH
Ryan will always be the guy known as the 'campfire crooner'. Singing and playing guitar has always been a big part of his journey.
Before joining the Spills in 2017, Ryan was involved with various musical projects as a saxophone player, his first love. The Spillionaires has given him a chance to sing and play guitar with some great friends, similar to sitting around a campfire with a couple of brews.
