Playing the Pennine Way
A folk musician is to play his way along the country’s first long distance path to mark its 60th anniversary. He talks to Tony Henderson
It’s a venture which will strike a chord with walkers and music enthusiast alike.
Folk musician Johnny Campbell will be marking the 60th anniversary of Britain’s first long distance path by tackling its 268 miles while carrying his guitar on his back (or in his hand as per pic above) – which needless to say is a first.
Johnny, 37, who specialises in North country folk songs and also writes his own material, will give 17 performances in 19 days along the route of the Pennine Way from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Borders.
His dates include: Middleton-in-Teesdale in County Durham, The Tees’pot venue (Mar 28); Saddler’s Bakery, Alston; in Northumberland (Mar 30); The Threshing Barn, Greenhead (Apr 1); Vindolanda Roman fort (Apr 2); First & Last brewery, Bellingham (Apr 3) and Walkers Inn, Byrness (Apr 4).
Vindolanda Museum will double as a ‘tavern’ for Johnny’s show, which begins at 6pm.
He has released three singles, Hard Times of Old England, Winter Hill Trespass and A Right to Roam and three albums, with the latest being True North, featuring traditional songs of several Northern counties, recorded on, or around the highest point of each.
In the North East Johnny recorded two songs, The Keel Row and See the Tender Coming – about the press gangs which rounded up men from the region’s ports to forcibly serve in the Royal Navy.
The recording took place on the 850ft summit of Currock Hill, on the border between Northumberland and Tyne Wear between the villages of Chopwell and Hedley on the Hill, where he was joined by Tyne Valley performers Sam and James Gillespie.
“I grew up in the shadow of the Pennine Way and have always had a connection with the landscape,” says Johnny.
“I hope the tour will bring people together to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Pennine Way.
“It has been a year in the making and it is going to be a feat, but I can’t wait.”
Johnny has launched a Kickstarter funding appeal to raise £1,000 to cover the costs of the tour and the recording of his original single Roving I Will Go.
For full Pennine Way tour dates, visit Johnny’s website.