Full details of gigs for the Song of The Downs tour 2013!
Exclusive 2013 tour t-shirt ! Now sold out.
If you are looking for details of walks rather than gigs, see here.
Sunday 26th May: Join us at the Hailsham Pavilion for a fantastic gig
(7.30pm start) which will also serve as the launch party for a great week of music and walking. Joining John as the Reluctant Ramblers will be Tim Cotterell, Al Scott and Dil Davies. Guests for this show will be Rowen Godel, who sang on John’s first solo album “Rising Road” and has guested with the Ramblers in the last two years. Also Boff from Chumbawamba., and Benji Kirkpatrick from Bellowhead.
Tickets are selling fast – get yours in person at the Hailsham Pavilion, by phone – 01323 841414 and online by visiting www.pavilionhailsham.co.uk.
Halsham Pavilion is on George Street, Hailsham, BN27 1AE.
Monday 27th May: Walking begins on Bank Holiday Monday when we follow the coastal path from Eastbourne, the start of the South Downs Way, via Alfriston towards Southease.
In the evening (Mon 27th) we shall be in the Trevor Arms pub in Glynde (8pm start) – a great music and song session with some of the finest players around – bring your instruments or just come and listen!
Guests include Boff Whalley, Benji Kirkpatrick and members of The Copper Family.
No tickets for this one – there will be a collection on the night.
The Trevor Arms is at The St, Glynde, Lewes, East Sussex BN8 6SS.
Tuesday 28th May: Tuesday’s walk will take us to Ditchling Beacon and the A273, just north of Brighton.
The Ramblers will play their own show at the Hassocks Hotel (8pm start).
Advance tickets (£16.50) can be obtained in person at the Hailsham Pavilion and by phone on 01323 841414; but walkers can contact us to reserve tickets at £15 to be collected on the walk itself, or book via wegottickets for £15..
Guests include Boff Whalley and Benji Kirkpatrick.
The Hassocks Hotel is on Station Approach, Hassocks, West Sussex BN6 8HN.
Wednesday 29th May: We’ll be walking west along the South Downs Way.
Wednesday’s gig will be at the George & Dragon, Houghton (8pm start).
This is just four miles north of Arundel and one of the oldest pubs in Sussex.
This gig is now SOLD OUT.
Guests include Boff Whalley and Benji Kirkpatrick.
The George & Dragon is at Houghton, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9LW.
Thursday 30th May: Today we start walking from Amberley station car park and continue west to Beacon Hill when we then walk down into Elsted for a drink at the Three Horseshoes.
This will be followed by an evening session (8pm start) in the village hall (bring your instruments or just come and listen), including a special show by the Reluctant Ramblers.
If you are bringing an instrument and planning to join in, tunes to look at would include the Salmon Tails set, Morpeth Rant, Stephen Baldwin’s, Sir Roger de Coverley, the Upton on Severn stick dance tune, Bonny Breast Knot, and Galopede.
No tickets for this. We will pass a hat around to collect for the musicians.
Guests include Boff Whalley and Benji Kirkpatrick.
Elsted Village Hall is at Station Rd, Elsted, Midhurst GU29 0JY.
Friday 31st May: We continue west through the Queen Elizabeth Country Park and on to Old Winchester Hill before getting lifts down into Wickham.
The evening show (8pm start) will be at The King’s Head, Wickham, a former coaching inn at the heart of a village renowned for its summer folk festival.
This gig is now SOLD OUT.
The King’s Head is in The Square Wickham, Fareham, Hampshire PO17 5JN.
Guests include Rowan Godel, Boff Whalley and Benji Kirkpatrick.
Saturday 1st June: The final day of walking will take us into Winchester via a lunch stop at The Millbury’s.
The tour will end here with a gig in a great live music pub, The Railway, with guests to help us celebrate the completion of the walk (8pm start),
Tickets available here for £10.
The Railway is at 3 St. Pauls Hill, Winchester SO22 5AE.
Guests include Rowan Godel and Boff Whalley.
Time to brush off those old walking boots and start thinking landscape and beer!
“The Wanderer” is a demo recorded for the 2012 White Horses walking tour and illustrated below by images from that tour. You can hear the song live in 2013 on the Song of The Downs walking tour!
John Jones and the Reluctant Ramblers 
John
Any idea as to when further details will be issued?
Many thanks
David
Hi John! Great news! Don’t forget that you still owe the Ranelagh a gig! See you at Hailsham anyway and hope to join you walking on one of the days.. Cheers Claire and Jock x
John
This is a beautiful. I will put this on my bucket list of things to do
Blair
Dust Rhinos
John
Please remind me what time you normally start walking in the mornings…
Martin
Hi Martin
It can vary a bit depending on how far we have to walk each day; but last year it was 9 o’clock most mornings. We’ll post a full list of start times and meeting points, lunch stops etc., as soon as we’ve got all the details worked out.
Thanks for the details. I’m looking to get in contact with anyone who wants to tag team with moving cars/luggage from walk start/finishes and accommodation locations. I’m not on Facebook but coud throw up a one time email address so this blog doesn’t get clogged. Thanks, Graham.
Graham
Might be in same position, although probably only for day 1, if you’re interested in contacting
David depratt13@yahoo.co.uk
I’m planning to drive between the daily start and end points, picking up a section of each day’s walk along the way. I’m happy to carry stuff around, give lifts etc.
Im walking Monday to Friday,happy to discuss.
longdenliz@yahoo.co.uk
I’ve just got tickets for the Hailsham gig, and plan to walk to the Trevor Arms at least. I have no idea how the logistics work….
Here’s my question. We can get down to Hailsham and back form Lewes. I guess we stay in or near Hailsham and make our way to Eastbourne first thing Monday. It looks like there’s a bus leaving at 9 which looks a bit late. Anyone want to share a lift or taxi? rambler@peterjudge.com
Hi, question for JJ and the ramblers really. Is there an age limit for the Gig at Elstead village hall ? Being watching Oysters for 20 years and want to introduce my 7 year olds to this kind of music live. Will we be able to get in ? Thx
Hi Simon – just checked with the Elsted organisers and they are very happy to have families there – no problem at all!
My mum, aged 82, is desperate to get a recording of black and white bird. Are you releasing soon?