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

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

鈥淓ach song is unique in the story it tells,鈥� said Bruce Coughlan, the band鈥檚 frontman and songwriter.  

The story of John Angus 鈥楥ariboo鈥� 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鈥檚 story, Coughlan told the Tribune it was due to the 鈥渢ragicness of it.鈥� 

鈥淚t鈥檚 a hauntingly beautiful song,鈥� he said while recounting the story of a farmer鈥檚 lust for gold which came at the expense of his loved ones鈥� lives.  

鈥淪he died in the cold of these Cariboo hills鈥� are the words which resonate as the is sung by Coughlan, recalling the sweet Sophie whom John Cameron had 鈥渢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鈥檚 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.  

鈥淚t鈥檚 a mystery track,鈥� 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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.  

鈥淗ow does a fella keep himself occupied for four to five days in Campbell River,鈥� 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. 

鈥淚 got hooked up to all these little stories...I decided I would preserve them in song,鈥� he said. 

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