An exciting cauldron of electronic, folk, reggae, jazz, dance and Island music is on tap for the second annual Kulth Music Festival which runs July 20 to 22 at the Coombs Rodeo Grounds.
Showcasing the very best in British Columbian talent, the festival’s main stage will see some top notch performers including The Boom Booms on Saturday night and Wil wrapping up the festival on Sunday afternoon.
Wil is an extraordinary Qualicum Beach musician who works his guitar so hard it is no wonder his website is called ibreakstrings.com.
The folk, rock and alternative musician has developed his expansive roots-rock sound while building a dedicated following for his famously intense live shows.
The celebrated songwriter and composer prefers to play live either solo or with “just a drummer.”
At a performance at The Soundgarden in Coombs back in June, Wil told the audience how awesome it was opening for Jann Arden during an Eastern Canada concert tour. He said when he played Massey Hall in Toronto it was incredible and in fact the whole tour was awesome.
“We just winged it when I had a broken string and played a song with just five strings,” he recalled.
He admitted he is chatty when he is up on stage but for the audience it means they get a glimpse into the stories behind the songs.
Some of his songs can be dark but he said writing and performing them is his form of therapy.
“With my hard songs I purge myself.”
Wil’s performances take the audience down a few paths, some bright, some dark but all performed with raw talent and intensity.
Wil recently released his fourth album Heart of Mine to much critical acclaim and has been touring in support of the album.
He said he makes albums just because and he will be doing a followup to Heart of Mine.
“It’s a tap you don't want to turn off. My last record wasn’t exactly what I wanted and the next one will be closer to what I have always wanted to accomplish,” he admitted.
He said it will be a record with really cool singles.
“The theme will be singles,” he laughed.
The musician agreed that in the world of iTunes making records is becoming a dying art but he isn't about to abandon that aspect of the industry.
“I love records and there are still great albums being made. There is so much wonderful stuff out there and I am surrounded by remarkable musicians.”
Most recently, Wil was commissioned to write the theme song Ride for this years’ 100th Anniversary of the Calgary Stampede.
On July 5 he began performing nightly at Stampede Park in Calgary and will wrap up that gig on July 15. His nightly show named Light Up the Park has been accompanied by a spectacular audio visual masterpiece with special effects, video, laser and pyrotechnics.
When Wil isn’t making music, he is a bike mechanic in town. His wife Caroline Lambert Mimnaugh is usually with Wil when he is on tour where she sells a line of recycled guitar string jewelry called ibreakstrings jewelry.
All ibreakstrings jewelry is handcrafted using authentic guitar strings broken by Wil during concerts and recording sessions. Each piece is individually made by Lambert Mimnaugh.
The self taught artist took up jewelry making after noticing Wil's waste bin was full of used guitar strings. That was back in 2002 and ever since then she has been creating unique one-of-a-kind pieces that she sells at her husband's concerts. You can check out her line of jewelry at Kulth and watch Wil when he performs Sunday 3 to 4 p.m. on the main stage.
Camping at the Coombs rodeo grounds is first come first serve at $10 per adult per night. Children under twelve are free to all events and camping when accompanied by an adult.
Festival tickets are $75 plus HST for Saturday and Sunday. For information on where to purchase tickets visit www.thekulth.ca.