5Th Wake the Giant Amazing!
by Scott A. Sumner
The weather was great,the music was awesome and the people were happy! Wake the Giant at Prince Arthur's Landing, with the Sleeping Giant in the back drop, is a special setting and really adds to the ambience of the event.
“ It's hard to believe we have done five of these now and just keep on getting such great acts.We are happy to have some of our favourites back this year. Coleman Hell is great with the students, he loves Thunder Bay and is from the community and I think that really adds to the show having that connection.” said Greg Chomot, teacher as Dennis Franklin Cromarty and one of the organizers of Wake the Giant.
“ The event is all about seeing the students integrated into all aspects of the festival.They get to meet and connect with many of the artists and write songs with them, in the lead up to the festival with the Amazing Race and DFC experience. Attendance is looking good and we have been selling some day of tickets.”
The goal of the festival according to Greg is to be good for the whole city, bring people together, recognize all the similarity's that we have and welcome our students in a great way to this great city.
“ I start enjoying everything about this time mid day as it is such a crazy week with the build up. Once the festival gets going you get to see the fruits of your labour in action and see people enjoying themselves. The smiles on the students faces make it all worth while.” notes Chomot
Coleman Hell grew up in Thunder Bay and we got to talk to him after his performance.
“ It is an honour to be part of this festival and see how much it has grown and blossomed since the first time I was here 5 years ago. Playing in front of my home town, my friends and family all the beautiful people that live here is great. I like to bring energy to my shows.”
“ It is important to have events that centre on youth, particularly indigenous youth and make everyone feel safe, heard, seen and respected in their community. No one should not feel that. It's great to have people come together to honour that which is really special. It is great to just be one of the people here.”
“ I'm touring my album Joyride which is kinda jam packed with up lifting music to help you feel happy for your own health and the people around you.This album is a expression of joy and I want to bring that to the crowds I play for.”
The album Joyride has around 10 million streams to date so is doing quite well.How has it been going since your start in the music business Coleman?>“ Since Two Heads about 8 or 9 years ago it has been wild to have something that big right out of the gate which was a little intimidating. I kinda had to ride that wave and find my footing to figure out what do I really want to do, what kind of artist do I want to be. So I had a little back and forth with that and now I am feeling really good about where I am at so am touring around and playing for good crowds. I just toured South Africa which was really cool. It was a blessing having Two Heads at the beginning and I hope to keep doing this for as long as I can.”
