CERDD // ED FILKIN’S DRIFT 2023 WALES COASTAL WALK TOUR AND EP RELEASE

CERDD // ED, an 870-mile walking tour of the Wales Coast Path, is a radical approach to sustainable touring. With the climate emergency sharply in focus and people looking for new ways of connecting post-covid, it is clear that the music industry needs fresh and imaginative approaches to touring. Folk duo ‘Filkin’s Drift’ have found an answer in the ancient Welsh bardic tradition. In the Welsh language, ‘Cerdd’ means music and ‘Cerdded’ means to walk. To Filkin’s Drift, this suggests an intrinsic connection between the acts of roaming and creating music.

To release their new record ‘Rembard’s Retreat’, Seth Bye and Chris Roberts are walking the entire Wales Coast Path, performing every night on the journey. Along the way, the duo will collect songs, stories, and tunes to incorporate into their gigs, weaving together a tapestry of shared experiences of the Welsh coast.

CERDD // ED solves a global problem in a local way. It will be a pioneering voice as the music industry changes its approaches to touring; It will bring communities closer together; and it will bring Wales to the fore, as the country pioneering this change.

The project is supported by Help Musicians and Fusion Gig Bags. It is also raising money for the charity Live Music Now.

Promo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQb4zlm3Yzk

Website: https://filkinsmusic.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/filkinsmusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filkinsmusic

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@filkinsmusic

FILKIN’S DRIFT

Filkin’s Drift reimagine traditional melodies through pizzicato grooves, intricate guitar tunes, and boundless improvisation. Their original compositions are sophisticated, yet rooted in tradition. From delicate Welsh folk-songs to traditional English dance tunes, the duo blend fiddle and guitar with their close vocal harmonies.

Seth Bye and Chris Roberts are fast gaining recognition for performances that are “utterly mesmerising” (Bristol 24/7) and “hugely entertaining” (RnR). Previous shows include FolkEast, Warwick Folk Festival, St George’s Bristol and Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

Filkin’s Drift are constantly seeking out unconventional approaches to making music. The duo’s latest ventures include forming a 15-piece orchestral-folk band (Filkin’s Ensemble) and releasing their debut EP with an 870-mile walking tour of the Welsh coast.

Filkin’s Drift are proud to be Help Musicians-supported artists, and are affiliated with Fusion Gig Bags.

‘Hugely entertaining’ | RnR Magazine

‘They are utterly mesmerising. Hovering around a single microphone with tunes full of waterfall guitar and fabulous violin’ | Bristol 24/7

‘Exquisite tune playing mixes effortlessly with irresistible grooves and an engaging chemistry’ |

Dan Walsh, BBC Folk Awards Musician Of The Year Nominee, Urban Folk Quartet

‘Amazing musicians, singers and lovely chaps all rolled into one’ | Black Train Music

REMBARD’S RETREAT EP

Self-released on September 3rd 2023

Performing six tracks live, Filkin’s Drift recorded their debut EP on the grounds of a Saxon manor house. Named after Rembard, the abbot of the land, the record weaves together traditional melodies from Wales and England along with original material inspired by the landscape of the Cotswolds.

Just Yesterday Morning / Annabel’s Jig – Two original tunes that characterise the sound of Rembard’s Retreat EP. Full of intricate polyrhythms in the guitar and airy violin textures. These tunes were composed for a friend who Seth met whilst touring with Giffords Circus.

Clywai’r Tabwrdd (Hear the Drums) is a farewell ballad for the town of Brecon, based on a poem by T.I. Williams who was a soldier in The Royal Welch Fusiliers. He wrote this ballad on the departure of the 23rd regiment from the town of Brecon to Guernsey in 1826. The melody is ‘Can Aberhonddu’ (song of Brecon) from Maria Jane Williams’ collection Ancient National Airs of Gwent and Morganwg.

Rembard’s Retreat – two original tunes named after the 11th century grounds on which the EP was composed and recorded. Rembard was an abbot who managed a small holding on a Cotswolds manor house. The tunes draw on the landscape around the village and were recorded inside the walled garden, which is the last remaining structure of the manor.

Beeswing – A bold reimagining of Richard Thompson’s most iconic work. The lyrics are inspired by the lives of two free spirits: Anne Briggs, the gifted Nottingham-born folk singer who shied away from the spotlight at a time when it might have embraced her; and a former stable boy turned tramp named Ted who helped out in the Thompsons’ Suffolk garden.

The Girl I Left Behind Me – There was a unique tradition of morris dancing in the village of Filkins in West Oxfordshire. This tune has been collected across England dating back to the Elizabethan era, with evidence showing it was a popular tune for dancing in Filkins.

Filkin’s Drift: Seth Bye (fiddle, vocals), Chris Roberts (guitar, lead vocals).

Mixing: Sam Baldwin, Town Studios.

Mastering: Patrick Lester-Rourke, Forge Mastering Studios.

Artwork: Eliza Wimperis. Design: Seth Bye.

FILKIN’S DRIFT 2023 CERDD // ED

Wales Coast Walk tour dates

SEPTEMBER

Sun 3rd St David’s, Connah’s Quay

Mon 4th St Anne’s, Rhyl

Tues 5th St Tudno’s, Llandudno

Weds 6th St Mary’s, Conwy

Fri 8th Plas Bodfa, Llangoed

Sat 9th St Eleth, Amlwch

Sun 10th Llanbadrig Church, Cemaes

Tues 12th Ucheldre, Holyhead

Thurs 14th St Cwyfan’s Chapel, Aberffraw

Fri 15th Llanedwen Parish Church

Sun 17th Royal Welsh Yacht Club, Caernarfon

Mon 18th Henbant Bach Farm, Tain Lon

Weds 20th Eglwys Hywyn Sant, Aberdaron

Fri 22nd Plas Glyn y Weddw, Llanbedrog

Sat 23rd Y Nyth / The Nest, Criccieth

Tues 26th Magic Lantern Cinema, Tywyn

Weds 27th MOMA, Machynlleth

Thurs 28th Star of the Sea, Borth

Fri 29th Bookshop by the Sea, Aberystwyth

Sat 30th Neuadd Llandddewi Aberarth Village Hall

OCTOBER

Sun 1st Pentre Arms, Llangranog

Mon 2nd CRWST, Cardigan

Tues 3rd Bluestone Brewing Company, Newport

Weds 4th West Wales Arts Centre, Fishguard

Fri 6th Trefin Museum

Sun 8th Cuffern Manor, Haverfordwest

Weds 11th Llanstadwell Church

Thurs 12th Live to Your Living Room, Online

Fri 13th Cwtch Coffi, Pembroke Dock

Sat 14th Tenby Museum

Sun 15th St Martin’s, Laugharne

Mon 16th St Stephen’s, Llansteffan

Thurs 19th Llanelli Wetland Centre

Fri 20th Valley Folk Club, Glais

Sat 21st St Cennydd’s, Llangennith

Sun 22nd MumbAles, The Mumbles

Weds 25th St Teilo’s Church, Merthyr Mawr

Fri 27th Cubanas, Barry

Sat 28th Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff

Mon 30th St Mary’s, Magor

Tues 31st St Luke’s, Tutshill (nr Chepstow)

For all media enquiries, please contact James Soars james@jameshsoars.com 07758781032