Cariboo history comes to life in Vancouver-based band Tiller乌鸦传媒檚 Folly's new EP Way out West. 

Released in December 2024, Way out West is the latest addition to the band乌鸦传媒檚 initiative, an effort to preserve the history and culture of British Columbia乌鸦传媒檚 pioneer days through song and story.  

乌鸦传媒淓ach song is unique in the story it tells,乌鸦传媒� said Bruce Coughlan, the band乌鸦传媒檚 frontman and songwriter.  

The story of John Angus 乌鸦传媒楥ariboo乌鸦传媒� Cameron is sung by Coughlan in a bardic fashion, reminiscent of the Celtic traditions which followed the Irish and Scottish who came to western Canada in the 1800s.  

When asked why he chose Cameron乌鸦传媒檚 story, Coughlan told the Tribune it was due to the 乌鸦传媒渢ragicness of it.乌鸦传媒� 

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a hauntingly beautiful song,乌鸦传媒� he said while recounting the story of a farmer乌鸦传媒檚 lust for gold which came at the expense of his loved ones乌鸦传媒� lives.  

乌鸦传媒淪he died in the cold of these Cariboo hills乌鸦传媒� are the words which resonate as the is sung by Coughlan, recalling the sweet Sophie whom John Cameron had 乌鸦传媒渢ook to courtin'" and later called his wife. Cameron struck gold in the Cariboo in 1862, and his shares would multiply beyond the $100,000 which he initially collected. But he lost his wife and two children on his journey to the foot of the rainbow where a town called Cameronton would develop, known today as Barkerville.  

It乌鸦传媒檚 been 10 years since released a song for the Stirring up Ghosts initiative, which began in 1997, but the song John Cameron itself is not new.  

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a mystery track,乌鸦传媒� Coughlan said, explaining he recently found it on a disc from 2003 while sifting through his old notes. He remembers writing the song, but no one remembers recording it.  

When he listened to it for the first time in years, he said the story sent shivers down his spine. 

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John Cameron takes its place on the band乌鸦传媒檚 new EP along with the song Apple Box Belles, which tells the story of Lake Country women during the First World War, as well as two other songs commissioned by the BC Farm Museum. 

As he sings stories from the past, Coughlan hopes to connect British Columbians with some of their heritage in ways which you may find Nova Scotia乌鸦传媒檚 Cape Bretoners are. 

He grew up learning about the heroes and villains whose stories are preserved in Celtic music, and as he began to learn about his own heritage, found he wanted to mimic the practice. At just 13-years-old his career as a performing artist began, and as he got to touring he began learning all about B.C.'s history.  

乌鸦传媒淗ow does a fella keep himself occupied for four to five days in Campbell River,乌鸦传媒� he said. B.C.'s history sparked to life as he wandered through the small towns where he performed and learned about their history in museums and books he found in gas stations. 

乌鸦传媒淚 got hooked up to all these little stories...I decided I would preserve them in song,乌鸦传媒� he said. 

Coughlan continues to work on the Stirring up Ghosts initiative and invites historians to contribute their own knowledge to the mix.