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 âFilkinâs Driftâ have found an answer in the ancient Welsh bardic tradition. In the Welsh language, âCerddâ means music and âCerddedâ means to walk. To Filkinâs Drift, this suggests an intrinsic connection between the acts of roaming and creating music.
To release their new record âRembardâs Retreatâ, 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
FILKINâS DRIFT
Filkinâs 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 âutterly mesmerisingâ (Bristol 24/7) and âhugely entertainingâ (RnR). Previous shows include FolkEast, Warwick Folk Festival, St Georgeâs Bristol and Llangollen International Eisteddfod.
Filkinâs Drift are constantly seeking out unconventional approaches to making music. The duoâs latest ventures include forming a 15-piece orchestral-folk band (Filkinâs Ensemble) and releasing their debut EP with an 870-mile walking tour of the Welsh coast.
Filkinâs Drift are proud to be Help Musicians-supported artists, and are affiliated with Fusion Gig Bags.
âHugely entertainingâ | RnR Magazine
âThey are utterly mesmerising. Hovering around a single microphone with tunes full of waterfall guitar and fabulous violinâ | Bristol 24/7
âExquisite tune playing mixes effortlessly with irresistible grooves and an engaging chemistryâ |
Dan Walsh, BBC Folk Awards Musician Of The Year Nominee, Urban Folk Quartet
âAmazing musicians, singers and lovely chaps all rolled into oneâ | Black Train Music
REMBARDâS RETREAT EP
Self-released on September 3rd 2023
Performing six tracks live, Filkinâs 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 / Annabelâs Jig – Two original tunes that characterise the sound of Rembardâs 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.
Clywaiâr 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 âCan Aberhondduâ (song of Brecon) from Maria Jane Williamsâ collection Ancient National Airs of Gwent and Morganwg.
Rembardâs 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 Thompsonâs 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 Thompsonsâ 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.
Filkinâs 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.
FILKINâS 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
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle