The Rural Alberta Advantage is a Canadian indie rock band that formed in 2005 in Toronto, Ontario. The band consists of Nils Edenloff on lead vocals and guitar; Amy Cole (Robin Hatch between September 2016 and January 2018) on keyboards, bass, and backing vocals; and Paul Banwatt on drums. They have released five albums and are signed to Paper Bag Records in Canada and Saddle Creek Records internationally. In 2011, they were nominated for a Polaris Music Prize.

History The Rural Alberta Advantage was formed after the band members met while organizing an open-mic event at The Winchester in Cabbagetown. The band's name was coined by Edenloff's brother, when he wrote in an e-mail to Edenloff that he was planning to explore "the rural Alberta advantage" by spending some time back on the family farm near Donalda, Alberta where they had spent part of their childhoods.http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/rural_alberta_advantages_prairie_home_companion "Rural Alberta Advantage's Prairie Home Companion"]. Exclaim!, June 23, 2009.

First formed in 2005, the band recorded a demo tape and released an EP independently before completing their first full-length album, Hometowns, in early 2008. Hometowns was recorded and produced from April 2007 to March 2008 by Roger Leavens at BoomBox Sound in Toronto, Ontario. The band toured extensively across Canada, including shows at the Pop Montreal and Halifax Pop Explosion festivals, to support Hometowns.

The band was selected as eMusic's featured artist of the month for November 2008. The band subsequently signed to Saddle Creek Records in 2009, and Hometowns was re-released by the label in July."The Rural Alberta Advantage Sign with Saddle Creek". Exclaim!, May 1, 2009. The band was also selected as the X3 Artist of the month by Aux.tv, CBC Radio 3 and Exclaim! for July 2009.

Their second LP, Departing, was released on March 1, 2011."The Rural Alberta Advantage reveal new album, ‘Departing’" . aux.tv, December 6, 2010. The album was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize,"2011 Polaris Music Prize Long List announced" . aux.tv, June 16, 2011. and José Lourenço's music video for "Stamp" received a Juno Award nomination for Video of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2012.Lynn Saxberg, "Saskatchewan’s Sheepdogs on top of the heap at Junos 2012". Ottawa Citizen, March 31, 2012.

Their third album, Mended with Gold, was released on September 30, 2014. In the fall of 2014, Mended with Gold was featured on NPR's All Songs Considered list for the top albums of September."The Rural Alberta Advantage Announce 'Mended with Gold,' Premiere New Track". Exclaim!, July 8, 2014

On September 12, 2016, Amy Cole announced her departure from the group via the band's website. On September 18, the band announced a new tour with keyboard, bass pedal, and backup vocals being supplied by Robin Hatch. On November 7, the band announced that their fourth studio album was forthcoming.

Their fourth studio album, The Wild, was released on October 13, 2017. Its lead track "Beacon Hill" was inspired by the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfires.

In January 2018, the band announced that Cole had rejoined their lineup.

On March 31, 2022, their second EP The Rise was released with six songs.

To build up anticipation for their 2023 tour, the single "Plague Dogs" was released on January 31, 2023.

Discography

Albums Title Album details Peak chart positions CAN US Heat US Indie Hometowns Released: 2008 Re-released: July 7, 2009 Label: Self-released / Saddle Creek — 49 — Departing Released: March 1, 2011 Label: Paper Bag / Saddle Creek — 4 30 Mended with Gold Released: October 30, 2014 Label: Paper Bag / Saddle Creek — 8 38 The Wild Released: October 13, 2017 Label: Paper Bag 68 — — The Rise & The Fall Release: October 4, 2023 Label: Saddle Creek (US) / Paper Bag (CAN/EU)TBDTBDTBD "—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released

EPs The Rural Alberta Advantage EP (2006) The Rise (2022) - Label: Saddle Creek

Singles Year Title Peak chart positions Album CANRock USSales 2009 "Frank, AB (Remix)" / "The Deadroads" — —Hometowns 2010 "Drain the Blood" — 50 2011 "Tornado '87" 45 —Departing "Stamp" — — 2014 "Terrified" 40 —Mended with Gold 2016 "White Lights" 36 —The Wild 2017 "Beacon Hill" — — "Brother" 31 — 2018 "Bad Luck Again" 34 — 2022 "Candu" / "AB Bride" 33 — The Rise 2023 "Plague Dogs" 37 — The Rise & The Fall 2023"Conductors"The Rise & The Fall 2025 "Falling Apart"Upcoming sixth album "—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released

Compilations Friends in Bellwoods (2007): "The Air" Friends in Bellwoods II (2009): "Rough and Tumble" (early version of "Barnes' Yard" from Departing)

Music Videos

Vulcan, AB (2014) - Mended with Gold Not Love or Death (2015) - Mended with Gold Brother (2017) - The Wild Bad Luck Again (2018) - The Wild 3 Sisters (2022) - The Rise EP Plague Dogs (2023) - The Rise & The Fall

References

External links The Rural Alberta Advantage