Wil Thomas

The Riding Light is the 3rd album by WA singer-songwriter Wil Thomas. The official album launch and accompanying concert will be a rare and beautiful night of live music, featuring the full band who recorded and worked on the album, some of the cream of Western Australia's musical talents gathered for one night only, playing the album in its entirety live at the Broome Convention Centre in Broome, Western Australia. Special guest Bex Yodale will be opening the evening.

However, these artists are scattered around the country and we need to get them to Broome for this event. That's where you come in! We need your help...

This pozible campaign is designed to raise the funds needed to stage this event in Broome, Western Australia, launching the album to the world. There are some fantastic rewards offered. If you make a pledge you will be making this night happen and be in the running for some great incentives. Read on...

The Riding Light is an album of stories in song, the likes of which Wil Thomas has become known for on the festival stages and the airwaves of Australia. The album, three years in the making, was Produced by Dave Mann and mastered by James Newhouse ( The Waifs, Eskimo Joe, John Butler). It was written between the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales and the Kimberley region of WA and features stories from everywhere in between, across the sea and back again; 16th-century rural Wales, through to the love story of the Japanese pilot shot down over Broome in World War 2, bushrangers, biography, love and redemption. 

The album launch coincides with the international release of the album's single, Ben Hall, the story of Australia's first proclaimed 'outlaw.' The evening will showcase the accompanying film clip to the song, made by renowned Australian Filmmaker Mark Jones. 

Some background on the record for your consideration: 

• In days gone by, the Riding Light was the lantern hoisted on the main mast, and when a ship sat at anchor it was 'riding at anchor' 
• The title is a metaphor; the album a story 
• The Riding Light was recorded in Margaret River/Woodandi Boodja, Western Australia at Hairy Back Marron Studios and features the multi-instrumental talents of Dave Mann, as well as vocals by Bec Schofield and Tilly Kay
• Phoebe Corke added the sweet violin to two of the tracks
• The drums for three tracks were played by Elliot Smith at Sundown Studio, while Charlie Mgee of 'The Formidable Vegetable Sound System' played the thundering drums on Ben Hall, and Tanya Ransom played the percussion and added her vocal flavour to the title track The Riding Light, a simple stripped-back ballad, written on Carningli mountain in Pembrokeshire, overlooking Newport Bay and a journey finished.
• Ben Franz of The Waifs played the bass guitar on three of the songs and upright bass on one
• Over six years the gathered songs written were whittled down to the 10 that made it to the studio
• There are 11 tracks in all, which includes a cover song Shipwreck, written by Australian musician Chris Bailey, who passed in 2022. Shipwreck seemed so perfect a tribute to include on the record...
• Three years in the making, the album was finished and pressed in March this year and debuted at the prestigious 'Nannup Music Festival' in W.A's South West
• Leaves of Silver, track two from the album, has been picked up in the US and aired in May for the first time on 'The International Americana Music Show'
• The album is ready to set sail. It all starts on July the 29th in Broome, with a fantastic concert showcasing the whole body of work. With your help, we'll see it sail the seven seas! 

Meanwhile here's a snippet of the title track, performed live at the 2022 Saltwater Festival in Broome, with Tanya Ransom on percussion

• Me

The target for our budget is  $6000

The breakdown is as follows

Venue hire

$2500

Flights for band

$2400

Band and Production

$2700