Now that’s a noteworthy walk.
Hundreds of music fans recently hiked their way to the ‘UK’s most remote gig’ deep in Wales’s Snowdonia national park.
The Off-Grid Gig, part of Columbia Hike Society’s HikeFest, a new festival of hiking, involved the audience donning their hiking boots and trudging through fields, up hills and across mountain paths to reach the natural, and very remote, venue.
May Beaufort, a Columbia Hike Society ambassador who was at the off-grid gig, said: ‘Hiking to the UK’s most remote gig was absolutely wild.
‘We hiked up a mountain, along a ridge and down into a secluded valley where we were treated to some beautiful live music.
Hundreds of music fans recently hiked their way to the ‘UK’s most remote gig’ deep in Wales’s Snowdonia national park
The Off-Grid Gig, part of Columbia Hike Society’s HikeFest, a new festival of hiking, involved the audience donning their hiking boots and trudging through fields, up hills and across mountain paths to reach the natural, and very remote, venue
May Beaufort, a Columbia Hike Society ambassador who was at the off-grid gig, said: ‘Hiking to the UK’s most remote gig was absolutely wild’
Jack Cullen, an English-Irish singer-songwriter and Alice Boyd, a composer, sound artist and field recordist, performed at the remote gig
May said: ‘It was like being at a festival with thousands of fans singing back. It was genuinely moving’
‘The hills came alive with the sound of the music.
‘The artist’s voice was echoing between the mountains – it was like being at a festival with thousands of fans singing back. It was genuinely moving.’
Participants could choose between five hikes to reach the venue, with the easiest taking two hours and the hardest seven.
Attendees were sent the May 18 gig co-ordinates on the morning of the event before being led by hike leaders to the performance.
Participants could choose between five hikes to reach the venue, with the easiest taking two hours and the hardest seven
Attendees were sent the May 18 gig co-ordinates on the morning of the event before being led by hike leaders to the performance
Several hundred hikers made the event, with the area so remote that phone signal was non-existent. Above is performer Jack Cullen
The event was hosted by the Columbia Hike Society in partnership with Sofar Sounds
All those who walked their way through Snowdonia ended their trip at the Ffynnon Llugwy reservoir in the Carneddau range of mountains – a natural amphitheatre where an intimate, acoustic gig took place.
Several hundred hikers made the event, with the area so remote that phone signal was non-existent, leaving listeners with only the music and naturally beautiful surroundings to captivate them.
May noted: ‘To see people travel from across the UK to be part of it was amazing. That’s what it’s all about, connecting people and making friendships.’
The experience saw two up-and-coming artists perform an open-air set in front of the audience.
The line-up comprised Jack Cullen, an English-Irish singer-songwriter known for his ‘soft indie pop soundscapes and mellow guitar playing’, and Alice Boyd, a composer, sound artist and field recordist whose songs and sound are inspired by nature.
The event was hosted by the Columbia Hike Society in partnership with Sofar Sounds.
The hiking community and global music movement have joined forces ahead of Columbia Hike Society’s HikeFest, which has launched a series of over 40 free guided hikes across the UK this summer.
May added: ‘We’d love to see new people join us on one of the 40 free hikes this summer.’
For tickets to one of Columbia Hike Society’s free hikes this summer, visit columbiasportswear.co.uk/l/columbia-hike-society.
