The Rural Alberta Advantage was formed after the band members met while organizing an open-mic event at The Winchester in Cabbagetown.

[3] 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.

In the fall of 2014, Mended with Gold was featured on NPR's All Songs Considered list for the top albums of September.

On September 18, the band announced a new tour with keyboard, bass pedal, and backup vocals being supplied by Robin Hatch.