Will can often be found singing with a Falmouth based, male vocal group known as The Oggymen, who are highly regarded for their sense of humour, beautiful four part harmonies, and heartfelt songs. In 2016, Will took the decision to also try his luck at gigging alone with Acoustic Guitar and stomp box. Totally inspired by Cornwall’s rich History and Heritage, and the songs penned by his mentor Harry “Safari” Glasson, he hit the road! Will combines Harry’s, and his own songs, with traditional Cornish and Celtic folk songs and has received accolades from far and wide. And that’s how it started!
2020 In February Will Keating & Carrick Bend went on a 9 day tour up to North Wales to discover more about the similarities between the two cultures and languages. The highlights were performances at Welsh Folk Festival Gwyl Y Pathau Bychain and the making of a film which was subsequently put on You Tube. In March Will produced and performed at a sell out concert at the beautiful Alverton Manor in Truro and was very much looking forward to a full production show at the Minack Theatre in May, which was postponed due to Covid. During Lockdown, Will continued to brighten spirits when he performed a live stream, every Thursday evening, after the NHS and Key Workers hand clap. Will also set up a Poetry Challenge for those in isolation and had a feature on BBC Radio Cornwall for 8 weeks, reading out the poetry sent in. On August 17th, Will performed a sold out solo gig at the legendary Minack Theatre, the highlight of his career so far. Will was also able to perform alongside his four Daughters and Harry Glasson.
2019 Will set up his first Folk Band “Carrick Bend” to compete at the Kan Rag Kernow (Cornish Song competition) at the end of January! Carrick Bend (a maritime knot joining two ropes of any type together) performed a song in the Cornish language that Will wrote whilst on board the Scillonian on the way over to the Isles of Scilly.
Throughout 2019 Will continued to gig extensively, finding new venues and audiences. 2019 highlights include: In May, Will embarked on a week long tour of Scilly with Cornish Banjo player John Dowling. They bonded extremely well, on and off the stage, and this led to more duo performances and possible future tours together. At the end of October, and to help celebrate England Rugby Team making it to the final of the Rugby World Cup with two Cornishmen in the squad, Will produced the single Swing Low Sweet Chariot, which included a 170 children from the England players schools in Penzance, Cornwall. The single was released on November 2nd.
2018 Will spent most of his time gigging around local venues promoting his first solo album Cornwall My Home (Kernow ow Thre). As well as performing live on BBC Radio Cornwall on a number of occasions, Will also produced, and performed in, Cornish Folk Concerts around the County. These Concerts featured special guest musicians including Davey & Dyer, John Dowling, Anna Dowling, Rob Norman, Lizzie Pridmore, Claudia Lang-Colmer, Kevin Brinn and Rob Norman, as well as, local children’s choirs. Will played at iconic Cornish venues such as The Watering Hole, Penlee Park Open Air Theatre, The Tolmen Centre, The Acorn and The Poly, to rave reviews. During this year Will toured the Isles of Scilly three times and in September, supported, alongside Lizzie Pridmore, for Dalla at a special re-union gig at the Town Hall on St Mary’s.
2018 also saw Will collaborate with Davey & Dyer for the first time in a dual headline Concert and Cornish photographer James Kitto, inter twining both art forms, at the sold-out Concert at The Poly in Falmouth. Out of County, Will gigged in North Somerset, his place of Birth, and two gigs in London which were well received, but his feet were killing him!!
2017 As well as gigging extensively around Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Will produced and recorded his first album Cornwall My Home (Kernow Ow Thre), which was a tribute to the fantastic song writing of friend Harry Glasson. The album included two live tracks recorded at Will’s sell out Cornish Folk Concert held in the historic St Senara’s Church, Zennor, in September 2016. It also ambitiously included the fabulous Helston Town Band, The Oggymen, Truro High School for Girls Choir, Students from Falmouth University, and Will’s Wife and four Daughters!! Will brought in award winning local musicians, most of which he met by chance, including Fiddler Anna Dowling, Banjo player John Dowling, and veteran Double Bassist, Claudia Lang-Colmer, formerly of the Ivy Benson Big Band!! The album was produced and mixed with a local Sound Engineer, Brendan McGreal, from the Cornish Underground. During 2017, Will also supported award winning group The Changing Room at The Acorn, Penzance and Calstock Arts Centre.
2016 In March 2016, Will set out on to his first solo gig at The Witchball, on the Lizard Peninsula. Will had left full time work and had put himself in the position that he had to gig extensively, in order to earn the money to look after his wife and four children. He performed over 80 times that year, learning from every performance and gaining followers and repeat bookings. The highlight of the year was a Cornish Folk Concert at the stunning 12th Century St Senara’s Church in Zennor, which Will produced and performed at. The Concert also featured The Aggie Boys Choir, MacQuarrie & Toms, local musicians and King Charles Primary School Choir, including Wills Daughters.
Will has played at many festivals and wonderful venues over the last few years Solo, Duo and with The Oggymen, including, The Hall for Cornwall, Minack Theatre, Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival, Porthleven Food & Music Festival, Tunes in the Dunes, Falmouth Oyster Festival, Looe Music Festival and Looe Saves the Day.
