More news on the Reluctant Ramblers and guests for this year’s walking tour. “The Ramblers are – as always – Dil Davies, Al Scott and Tim Cotterell; and at the opening gig in Hailsham we shall be joined by Boff (Chumbawamba), Benji Kirkpatrick (Bellowhead) and Rowan Godel (who sang on Rising Road and is the beautiful voice on Oysterband’s Street of Dreams). Benji and Boff will be walking all week, and Rowan will rejoin us for some of the later gigs. We have also just heard that members of The Copper Family will be joining us at our Bank Holiday Monday session at The Trevor Arms, Glynde at the end of our first day’s walk. I am so pleased. I really couldn’t have passed through that part of the Sussex Downs, walking and playing music, without them knowing; and to have them join us is just wonderful. To walk along the cliffs to Beachy Head and Seven Sisters, along the Downs and to share songs and music in the evening with The Ramblers and The Coppers. Hey…Heaven!” JJ

NEW exclusive 2013 tour t-shirt available ONLY for collection on tour (no mail order). If you are walking or coming to any of the gigs, order your shirt by 6th May and we’ll have it ready for you.

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JJ’s Monday update – complete gig list announced for the Song of The Downs walking tour with John Jones and Reluctant Ramblers at the end of May! Full details and booking information here, but here’s the list:

Sun 26 May: Hailsham Pavilion. Tickets £19.50 – 01323 841414 or www.pavilionhailsham.co.uk.

Mon 27 May: The Trevor Arms, Glynde. Session – bring instruments or just come and listen! No tickets.

Tues 28 May: The Hassocks Hotel. Advance tickets (£16.50) can be obtained in person at the Hailsham Pavilion and by phone on 01323 841414; but walkers can contact us (info@jj-rr.org) to reserve tickets at £15 to be collected on the walk.

Weds 29 May: The George & Dragon, Houghton. Tickets £8 – available very soon from WeGotTickets.

Thurs 30 May: Elsted Village Hall. A gig within a session – bring instruments or just come and listen! No tickets but we will pass a hat round for the band.

Fri 31 May: The King’s Head, Wickham. Tickets £10.

Sat 1 June: The Railway, Winchester. Tickets £10.

“In total there will be 6 walks, 100 miles, 7 gigs, always heading west. Join us on what should be a great journey. You are promised a warm and supportive welcome. Meet you there. JJ”

JJ’s Monday update – more details on guest musicians for the South Downs walking tour at the end of May:

“I am really pleased that Rowan, Boff and now Benji have said they would like to be involved in the Walking Tour again and all three are joining us for the opening night at Hailsham. Boff is walking, possibly Benji also, and all three will be guesting during the week. Tim Cotterell, like Al and Dil, lives in Brighton and we’re in touch with others there hoping to join us. Sadly we couldn’t make the gig at The Jailhouse in Arundel work, so we are still looking for a venue in that area to descend on and have fun. It has always been my concern and the ethos of the Walking Tour that gigs are properly presented but that making it work is a shared responsibility, lo-fi, high on spirit. We have played in all sorts of places and I love the challenge of creating an atmosphere in unlikely surroundings…Roll on May.” JJ

John Jones and the Reluctant Ramblers can confirm we will be walking into the following places on the Song of The Downs walking tour and celebrating…Sun 26th May, Hailsham Pavilion – big launch party/gig with lots of guests; Mon 27^th Trevor Arms Pub in Glynde – a great music and song session with some of the finest players around; Tues 28th Hassocks Hotel – a proper gig with friends/guests from Brighton; Weds 29th Arundel (venue tbc); Thurs 30th Elsted Village hall – a gig within a session; Friday 31st venue tbc in the area of Meonstoke; Sat 1st June The Railway, Winchester – the final fling, in a great live music pub. Details of gigs, guests and walks to follow. Time to brush off those old walking boots and start thinking landscape and beer. JJ

Song of The Downs Walking Tour 2013

Every time we travel to Brighton to work, the outline of The South Downs is visible from a distance, stretching out East and West, drawing you towards it, and as we reach it I always want to step out and stride away. Now it will happen. On Monday 27th May we meet on the chalk cliffs at Eastbourne and set off for Winchester 100 miles away, playing gigs, finding great pubs and sharing the experience of walking some superb downland scenery.

I have a natural affinity with the chalk downlands of England and the South Downs resonates to me with the sounds of The Copper Family harmonies, traditional Sussex and Hampshire musicians, sheep farming and ancient landmarks; but also this ribbon of rounded hills comes with such a strong recommendation from so many people…we had to give it a try. So close to urban development yet we are promised tranquillity, open spaces and wonderful walking on cropped downland turf.

All the Reluctant Ramblers musicians will be with me…Dil, Al Scott, Tim Cotterell plus guests Boff Whalley, Rowan Godel and more to be announced. Come and join us. JJ

The South Downs Way, Eastbourne west to Winchester. 100 miles of beautiful downland scenery. Launch gig and meeting point Hailsham Pavilion Sunday May 26th. Walking begins next day and continues for the whole of spring Bank Holiday Week. More dates and details to follow but put it in your diary and keep that week free. Anyone with local knowledge and good ideas for venues and pubs close to the South Downs Way between Hailsham and Winchester, please email info@jj-rr.org.

Don’t forget the first Kington Walking Festival on Saturday 22nd September. JJ will be walking that day while the rest of the band are recording nearby – do come and join the walk before the special one-off Oysterband gig at The Burton Hotel that night!

…A few reflections on a very special week. Somehow the theme of the White Horses Walk along The Ridgeway gave this walk added significance, a narrative in which the dramatically-changing weather, the music and lots of enthusiastic people played their part. Hopefully those who walked discovered something more about themselves, their capabilities, their limits and just the sheer fun of walking together. The bond fostered over a week’s intense walking in close proximity is a strong one and hopefully we also made that bond with the precious landscape we were in. The path became part of us and we, like many before us, discovered something new in ourselves through the landscape.

Walking a path…a journey…an arrival…the pub…the company…the music…So simple, yet so elusive these days.

To those who made it all possible, who packed out the pubs and venues, our hosts each night, our superb support and back-up team, The Village Pump Festival welcoming committee, Radio 2 and Radio Wiltshire….
…My humble thanks. See you out there, JJ

If you want to share any pictures taken on the tour, please post on facebook or email to info@jj-rr.org and we’ll put a photo album together!