tiller's folly news
The past year, the media has shown much support as Tiller's Folly re-launch their Stirring Up Ghosts initiative with new songs, a new Stirring Up Ghosts Website and production of a new “Songumentary” (documentary short) format.
songumentary samples
press articles
“Coughlan muses that his most enduring achievement is Stirring Up Ghosts, an initiative to preserve Pacific Canadian history through music. “Inspired by Celtic balladry, it’s my effort to keep a measure of our history and culture alive in story and song.” https://celticlifeintl.com/tillers-folly
"For the past 28 years, folk trio Tiller’s Folly has told significant tales of B.C. history via its nine albums of singalong songs. With the release of their latest tune, Apple Box Belles, the band honours a proud moment in the past and life in the present day." https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/tillers-folly-bc-history-song
"A new single, released by Tiller’s Folly, tells part of the story of the role of women in the Okanagan fruit industry. The Apple Box Belles details the role women played in fruit growing, especially during the First World War, when men were called to fight in Europe." https://revelstokereview.com/2025/08/07/song-tells-story-of-women-in-okanagan-orchard-work/
"There are not many, if any, better equipped to bring the history of our beautiful province to life in stories and songs than Bruce Coughlan, who spends most of his time as the frontman of the hugely popular folk band Tiller’s Folly." https://vernonmorningstar.com/2026/01/13/bard-of-b-c-brings-his-songs-and-stories-to-vernon/
Bruce Coughlan and his band, Tiller’s Folly, have been writing and singing songs about BC history for almost 30 years, travelling to schools and performance venues across the province. Their stories in song range from George Vancouver’s arrival at Spanish Banks and early encounters with First Nations, to voyageurs paddling the Fraser River and the exploits of gold rush figures like the Cariboo’s John Cameron. And there are ghosts, including Victoria’s Kitty O’Reilly. https://www.bchistory.ca/news/13519496
“The story of John Angus ‘Cariboo’ 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’s story, Coughlan told the Tribune it was due to the “tragicness of it.” https://wltribune.com/2025/01/10/tillers-folly-sings-the-tragic-story-of-john-cariboo-cameron/