The Hills and the Rivers

The Hills & the Rivers is a Pittsburgh based diy folk band centered around the Hill siblings and a fluid yet stable collective of musicians. They blend the gritty sounds of the street with sophisticated lyrics and delicate harmonies while finding a balance between indie, folk, punk and pop.

The Hills and the Rivers are a street folk family band from Pittsburgh, PA fronted by the Hill family's four oldest siblings. The conception of the band happened in 2013, when Isaac and Heidi Hill began recording some of Isaac's original work. The Hills come from a multi-generational musical family, raised singing hymns in harmony around the table at family gatherings, with Isaac playing instruments and writing songs since the age of 12. As a poetry major at Pitt, it wasn't until after graduation that he rediscovered his love for music which grew during his exposure to Pittsburgh's fringe busking scene at Occupy Pittsburgh in 2011. With a couple of busker recruits on board for their freshman album, they began recording The World at Casey Fusco's Etcetera Studios in Ambridge, PA.  The Hill's and the Rivers are one of the flag ship bands of Pittsburgh's 4th River Music Collective, along side their close friends DIY folk/punk band, Cousin Boneless. The 4th River Music Collective has grown into a group of over 20 bands from various genres with their own annual music festival in just a few years. The Hills and the Rivers' sophomore album, Apocolyptic Dreams, was released in November of 2016. A meditation on how to find hope in a chaotic and apocalyptic world, it featured core members Isaac Hill on octave mandolin and vocals, Heidi Hill on vocals and tambourine, Ian Hill on mandolin and vocals, James Bristol on upright bass, Chris Fazio on violin, Joey Schuller on banjo and Faith Hersey on djembe as well as various musicians recruited from 4th River Music Collective pool. Their third album, “The Fool and the Magician” is out on May 18 and includes 4th Hill sibling, Colin!

Members:

Isaac Hill - Vocals, Octave Mandolin

Heidi Hill - Vocals, Tambourine

Ian Hill - Vocals, Mandolin

Colin Hill - Vocals, Washboard, Melodica

Faith Hersey - Djembe

James Bristol - Upright Bass

Joey Schuller - Banjo

Chris Fazio - Violin, Trumpet, Piano

The Hills and the Rivers - Discography

The Fool (2018)

Apocalyptic Dreams (2018)

The World (2014)

TH&TR Tracks from the PGH Street Folk Split with Black Bear Mute and Cousin Boneless (2014)