Two musicians, Chris Roberts and Seth Bye, are on an amazing 870-mile walking tour around Wales, carrying their instruments as they go. They want to encourage sustainable touring and challenge the music industry’s thinking about taking care of the environment. The duo, known as Filkins Drift, have done nearly 50 gigs during their 60-day journey, which ends in Chepstow, Monmouthshire. They’ve found that they only need minimal equipment for their performances, each carrying a 15kg bag with their instruments and essential gear.

Starting in Flintshire, the musicians have walked through different counties, including Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Swansea, and Bridgend. This journey has made them rethink how they tour, focusing on more sustainable ways to get around. Inspired by old Bardic traditions, they wanted to bring live music to communities and venues that don’t usually have access to such performances. They’ve also been raising money for a charity called Live Music Now, which brings music to people in care homes, special needs schools, and hospitals.

Despite facing two named storms during their journey, Chris and Seth have been lucky with the weather. They’ve adapted to the challenges, like finding venues every 15 miles and making sure their bags are waterproof. The musicians have been amazed by the support and kindness they’ve received from people offering their homes for accommodation. Despite the physical demands of their journey, they’ve managed to avoid blisters and aches, getting into the natural rhythm of walking and performing. The idea for the walking tour came from wanting to find a better way to tour, avoiding the environmental impact of always traveling by car. The musicians hope their journey will inspire others to think about more sustainable ways to tour and promote responsible and eco-friendly travel in the music industry.

Original news source: Band walks 870 miles to complete Wales tour (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Before revealing the content of the article, ask the class to vote on whether they believe musicians can effectively promote environmental sustainability through their touring practices. Afterward, discuss the results and then read the article to compare the students’ initial thoughts with the actions of the musicians mentioned.

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Divide the class into groups of three. Assign one student as the reporter, one as Chris Roberts, and one as Seth Bye. Using information from the article, the reporter interviews the musicians about their journey, their motivations, and the impact they hope to achieve. Encourage the use of direct and reported speech in their dialogues.

– Sketch It
Instructions: After reading the article, have students draw a simple comic strip or series of images that represent the main events of the musicians’ journey. Encourage students to include captions or speech bubbles that incorporate vocabulary and phrases from the text.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “sustainable” on the board. Ask students to write down all the words and phrases that come to mind when they think of this term, especially in relation to music touring. After a few minutes, have students share their associations and discuss how they relate to the article.

– Article Timeline
Instructions: Ask students to create a timeline of the musicians’ 870-mile walking tour around Wales. They should include the start and end points, key locations they passed through, any significant events (like the storms they faced), and the gigs they performed. This will help the students to sequence the information and focus on understanding the progression of events.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the main purpose of Chris Roberts and Seth Bye’s 870-mile walking tour around Wales?
2. How many gigs have the musicians performed during their 60-day journey?
3. What is the name of the charity that Chris and Seth are raising money for, and who does it help?
4. How have Chris and Seth adapted to the challenges they faced during their tour?
5. What inspired the duo to embark on a walking tour instead of traveling by car?
6. List some of the counties that the musicians have walked through during their journey.
7. What kind of impact do Chris and Seth hope their journey will have on the music industry?
8. How have the musicians managed to perform with minimal equipment, and what do they carry with them?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Two musicians, Chris Roberts and Seth Bye, are on an (1)______ 870-mile walking tour around Wales, carrying their instruments as they go. They want to encourage (2)______ touring and challenge the music industry’s thinking about (3)______ care of the (4)______. The duo, known as Filkins Drift, have done nearly 50 gigs during their 60-day journey, which ends in Chepstow, Monmouthshire. They’ve found that they only need minimal equipment for their performances, each carrying a 15kg bag with their instruments and essential gear.

Starting in Flintshire, the (5)______ have walked through (6)______ counties, including Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Swansea, and Bridgend. This journey has made them (7)______ how they tour, focusing on more sustainable ways to get around. Inspired by old Bardic traditions, they wanted to bring live music to communities and venues that don’t usually have access to such (8)______. They’ve also been raising money for a charity called Live Music Now, which (9)______ music to people in care homes, special needs schools, and hospitals.

Despite facing two named (10)______ during their journey, Chris and Seth have been lucky with the weather. They’ve adapted to the (11)______, like finding venues every 15 miles and making sure their bags are waterproof. The musicians have been (12)______ by the support and kindness they’ve received from people offering their homes for accommodation. Despite the physical demands of their journey, they’ve managed to avoid blisters and aches, getting into the (13)______ rhythm of walking and performing. The idea for the walking tour came from wanting to find a better way to tour, avoiding the environmental impact of always (14)______ by car. The musicians hope their journey will (15)______ others to think about more sustainable ways to tour and promote (16)______ and eco-friendly travel in the music industry.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a sustainable way of living that you practice in your life?
2. How would you feel if you had to carry all your belongings on your back for two months?
3. Do you like the idea of traveling by foot instead of using a car? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for musicians to think about the environment when they plan tours? Why?
5. What is a challenge you’ve faced that required you to adapt, like the musicians did with the weather?
6. Have you ever been part of a fundraising event? What was it for?
7. If you were to perform in public, what talent would you share?
8. How do you think music can help people in care homes or hospitals?
9. Do you prefer live music or recorded music? Why?
10. What is one thing you could do to make your daily routine more eco-friendly?
11. Have you ever received unexpected kindness from strangers? What happened?
12. Do you think walking long distances can be enjoyable? Why or why not?
13. How would you feel about visiting communities that usually don’t get much entertainment?
14. Do you think it’s possible to live without some of the modern conveniences we have? Why or why not?
15. Do you believe that small actions, like the musicians’ walking tour, can inspire big changes? Why?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. sustainable
2. challenge
3. essential
4. counties
5. Bardic
6. waterproof
7. accommodation
8. impact

Meanings:
(a) Something that is difficult and requires effort
(b) Areas of land that are part of a larger area with its own government
(c) Resistant to water, keeping things dry
(d) A place to stay or live in
(e) Able to continue without causing harm to the environment
(f) The effect or influence of one thing on another
(g) Absolutely necessary or extremely important
(h) Relating to an ancient Celtic order of poets and musicians
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the main goal of Chris Roberts and Seth Bye’s walking tour?
(a) To break a world record for the longest walking tour
(b) To promote their new album
(c) To encourage sustainable touring and challenge the music industry’s thinking about taking care of the environment
(d) To see how many counties they can visit in 60 days

2. How many gigs have Filkins Drift done during their 60-day journey?
(a) Over 100
(b) Nearly 50
(c) Exactly 60
(d) Less than 20

3. Which charity have Chris and Seth been raising money for during their journey?
(a) Greenpeace
(b) Red Cross
(c) Live Music Now
(d) Save the Children

4. What inspired Chris and Seth to bring live music to communities and venues that don’t usually have access to such performances?
(a) Old Bardic traditions
(b) A famous musician
(c) A documentary about sustainable touring
(d) Their own personal experience

5. What have the musicians been amazed by during their journey?
(a) The number of blisters and aches they’ve had
(b) The lack of venues for their performances
(c) The bad weather they’ve faced
(d) The support and kindness they’ve received from people offering their homes for accommodation

6. How have Chris and Seth adapted to the challenges they’ve faced during their journey?
(a) Giving up on their journey and going home
(b) Renting a car to drive between gigs
(c) Hiring a team of people to carry their equipment for them
(d) Finding venues every 15 miles and making sure their bags are waterproof

7. What do the musicians hope their journey will inspire others to think about?
(a) More sustainable ways to tour and promote responsible and eco-friendly travel in the music industry
(b) Buying more equipment for performances
(c) Touring only in big cities
(d) Ignoring the environmental impact of traveling by car

8. What was the main reason for Chris and Seth’s walking tour?
(a) Wanting to lose weight and get fit
(b) Wanting to find a better way to tour, avoiding the environmental impact of always traveling by car
(c) Wanting to prove that walking tours are better than driving tours
(d) Wanting to see all the beautiful scenery in Wales

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. They have not been raising money for a charity called Live Music Now, which brings music to people in care homes, special needs schools, and hospitals.
2. They have walked through different counties in Wales, including Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Swansea, and Bridgend.
3. The musicians hope their journey will inspire others to think about more sustainable ways to tour and promote responsible and eco-friendly travel in the music industry.
4. They are inspired by old Bardic traditions and want to bring live music to communities and venues that don’t usually have access to such performances.
5. The musicians carry a 30kg bag with their instruments and essential gear for their performances.
6. Two musicians, Chris Roberts and Seth Bye, are driving around Wales with their instruments to promote sustainable touring and support the music industry’s environmental impact.
7. Despite not facing any named storms during their journey, they have been unlucky with the weather and have struggled to adapt to the challenges.
8. They have done almost 50 gigs during their 60-day journey, which started in Flintshire and will end in Chepstow, Monmouthshire.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the main goal Chris Roberts and Seth Bye hope to achieve with their walking tour around Wales?
2. How have the musicians managed to perform with minimal equipment during their journey?
3. What inspired the duo to bring live music to communities and venues that are often overlooked?
4. Can you list some of the challenges Chris and Seth faced during their 870-mile tour?
5. Why do the musicians believe their walking tour could have a positive impact on the music industry?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the main purpose of Chris Roberts and Seth Bye’s 870-mile walking tour around Wales?
The main purpose of their walking tour is to encourage sustainable touring and challenge the music industry’s thinking about environmental care.

2. How many gigs have the musicians performed during their 60-day journey?
They have performed nearly 50 gigs during their journey.

3. What is the name of the charity that Chris and Seth are raising money for, and who does it help?
The charity is called Live Music Now, and it helps bring music to people in care homes, special needs schools, and hospitals.

4. How have Chris and Seth adapted to the challenges they faced during their tour?
They adapted by finding venues every 15 miles, ensuring their bags were waterproof, and getting used to the natural rhythm of walking and performing.

5. What inspired the duo to embark on a walking tour instead of traveling by car?
They were inspired by old Bardic traditions and a desire to find a more environmentally friendly way to tour.

6. List some of the counties that the musicians have walked through during their journey.
They have walked through Flintshire, Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Swansea, and Bridgend.

7. What kind of impact do Chris and Seth hope their journey will have on the music industry?
They hope to inspire others to think about more sustainable ways to tour and promote responsible, eco-friendly travel in the music industry.

8. How have the musicians managed to perform with minimal equipment, and what do they carry with them?
They managed by carrying only the essentials in a 15kg bag each, which included their instruments and essential gear.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) amazing
(2) sustainable
(3) taking
(4) environment
(5) musicians
(6) different
(7) rethink
(8) performances
(9) brings
(10) storms
(11) challenges
(12) amazed
(13) natural
(14) traveling
(15) inspire
(16) responsible
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. sustainable
Answer: (e) Able to continue without causing harm to the environment

2. challenge
Answer: (a) Something that is difficult and requires effort

3. essential
Answer: (g) Absolutely necessary or extremely important

4. counties
Answer: (b) Areas of land that are part of a larger area with its own government

5. Bardic
Answer: (h) Relating to an ancient Celtic order of poets and musicians

6. waterproof
Answer: (c) Resistant to water, keeping things dry

7. accommodation
Answer: (d) A place to stay or live in

8. impact
Answer: (f) The effect or influence of one thing on another
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the main goal of Chris Roberts and Seth Bye’s walking tour?
Answer: (c) To encourage sustainable touring and challenge the music industry’s thinking about taking care of the environment

2. How many gigs have Filkins Drift done during their 60-day journey?
Answer: (b) Nearly 50

3. Which charity have Chris and Seth been raising money for during their journey?
Answer: (c) Live Music Now

4. What inspired Chris and Seth to bring live music to communities and venues that don’t usually have access to such performances?
Answer: (a) Old Bardic traditions

5. What have the musicians been amazed by during their journey?
Answer: (d) The support and kindness they’ve received from people offering their homes for accommodation

6. How have Chris and Seth adapted to the challenges they’ve faced during their journey?
Answer: (d) Finding venues every 15 miles and making sure their bags are waterproof

7. What do the musicians hope their journey will inspire others to think about?
Answer: (a) More sustainable ways to tour and promote responsible and eco-friendly travel in the music industry

8. What was the main reason for Chris and Seth’s walking tour?
Answer: (b) Wanting to find a better way to tour, avoiding the environmental impact of always traveling by car
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. They have not been raising money for a charity called Live Music Now, which brings music to people in care homes, special needs schools, and hospitals. (Answer: False)
2. They have walked through different counties in Wales, including Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Swansea, and Bridgend. (Answer: True)
3. The musicians hope their journey will inspire others to think about more sustainable ways to tour and promote responsible and eco-friendly travel in the music industry. (Answer: True)
4. They are inspired by old Bardic traditions and want to bring live music to communities and venues that don’t usually have access to such performances. (Answer: True)
5. The musicians carry a 30kg bag with their instruments and essential gear for their performances. (Answer: False)
6. Two musicians, Chris Roberts and Seth Bye, are driving around Wales with their instruments to promote sustainable touring and support the music industry’s environmental impact. (Answer: False)
7. Despite not facing any named storms during their journey, they have been unlucky with the weather and have struggled to adapt to the challenges. (Answer: False)
8. They have done almost 50 gigs during their 60-day journey, which started in Flintshire and will end in Chepstow, Monmouthshire. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧