THUNDER BAY – A local music legend has been revealed as the mystery fourth headliner for this year’s Wake the Giant Music Festival.
Coleman Hell, born and raised in Thunder Bay, will take the stage on Sept. 14, joining The Arkells, Galantis and Walk Off the Earth atop the festival lineup.
Hell’s inclusion had been kept a secret by Wake the Giant organizers, a marketing ploy aimed at kickstarting ticket sales more than a week after the lineup dropped.
“For the five-year anniversary it’s super awesome for Wake the Giant to welcome Coleman Hell back to the stage. He was not only a fan favourite that first year, but also left a lasting impact on one of our students’ lives,” said Sean Spenrath, co-founder and organizer of Wake the Giant Music Festival, in a release issued on Friday.
Hell is best known for songs like 2 Heads and Fireproof, and also performed at the inaugural event in 2019.
His latest album, Joyride, drops on May 24.
Wake the Giant Music Festival was created as a way to help welcome students from remote First Nations communities who come to Thunder Bay to study.
Artists routinely take part in workshops with students from Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, and Hell was no exception in 2019.
Nolan Aysanabee, who hails from Sandy Lake First Nation, was in the 2019 workshop and said it helped change his outlook on life and his future.
“Coleman shared the meaning behind some of his songs, and the ins and outs of songwriting. It was really cool to meet him and can’t wait to see him perform again,” he said.
Tickets are on sale at www.wakethegiant.ca.
