On August 20th 2010, Martin Harley, one of the UK’s most exciting and innovative blues/roots musicians embarked on a solo tour of Britain, utilising only his bicycle and as much equipment as he could carry. 27 shows, 1,200 miles, 31 days. This short documentary film is the record of his adventure and the reasoning behind the attempt.

The tour was a totally emission-free, environmentally friendly way to take his unique music to all corners of the country. As well as a fresh, fun alternative to the standard idiom of touring, it will highlight the enjoyment to be found in green options for other artists and the British public by using the National Cycle Network, which now passes within a mile of more than half the UK population.

Martin made record of his exploits with a hand held camera, with additional footage collected by local cameramen, which has compiled into a short documentary film directed by Lee Cavaliere. This short film follows Martin on his journey and explores the motives behind his music and the tour itself.

For this tour, Martin followed the National Cycle Network – the flagship project of the charity Sustrans – to celebrate its 15th anniversary. He booked shows with Villages in Action and the Rural Touring Circuit, to take music to community spaces across the land, while also playing larger venues on his usual touring route.

Starting in Newcastle, Martin cycled down the country on a Surly “Big Dummy” Cargo Bike, to his final destination, the Eden Project in Cornwall. Along the way he played venues of all shapes and sizes, from concert halls to village halls, as well as playing the Isle of Wight’s phenomenal Bestival and TV’s River Cottage Canteen. Given the timescale of the month-long tour, Martin had to cover roughly 50 miles per day between shows.

No stranger to adventure, Martin’s music has already taken him to some strange places, via unusual routes. In 2005, in the Himalayas, he broke the record for the world’s highest ever gig above Mount Everest base camp, at a staggering 5,545m above sea level. In 2007, in search of the roots of blues music, he motorcycled across Mali in Africa, meeting traditional musicians to improvise music with. This admirably restless spirit has led him to navigate Australia, India and Nepal.

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