Si Connelly's 200-Mile Sussex Trek

Most musicians pack a van. Si Connelly packs a tent. The singer-songwriter has launched a cross-Sussex musical trek that is as much a physical endurance test as it is a touring schedule. He is walking by day and gigging by night in aid of the Rockinghorse Children's Charity. The route starts in Hastings and ends in Chichester.

This is not a standard tour where you hop on a bus between cities. Connelly is carrying his entire life in a rucksack. He is walking the South Downs Way as a loose guide but making his own stops. It is a meticulous and physically demanding way to perform music.

The Route and the Rhythm

The trek kicks off in late October with a packed schedule of small venues. He starts at The Piper and Barnaby's Lounge in Hastings on October 23. Then it is Battle Brewery on the 24th and The Sheldon in Eastbourne on the 25th. By October 26 he will be at Folklore in Brighton.

The pace is relentless. He plays at the Underground Bar in Worthing on the 27th. Then The Beach in Littlehampton on the 28th. The final stop is Havana in Chichester on October 29. It is a tight cluster of dates that demands constant movement.

The distance is technically 180 miles. But with the detours to various campsites it will probably be just over 200 miles. He is covering a lot of ground for a solo artist. It is a significant physical challenge.

Carrying the Weight

Connelly is carrying absolutely everything he needs. This includes his guitar. He has built a whole system for carrying the instrument and the rucksack and the tent. It is a logistical puzzle solved by sheer determination.

Some days will be 20 miles or maybe 24. Usually it is between 15 and 24. He is walking while tired and then performing. That is a unique combination of physical and artistic exertion. It sets his tour apart from the norm.

He lives in Colchester but lived in Brighton for around seven years. He left a couple of years ago. This trek is a return to a place he knows well. It is a personal journey as much as a professional one.

The Philosophy of the Walk

Connelly says he just loves walking anyway. He used to walk as an escape when the music was not going how he wanted it to. When you are walking you are so focused on the activity that you do not focus on the other stuff in your life.

The main objective is just to get to your destination. In a way that is a bit like music. You are trying to achieve something that is rewarding and human and nourishing. He sees a direct parallel between the two pursuits. It is a meditative approach to touring.

This mindset transforms the tour. It is not just about playing songs. It is about the journey between them. The walking is an integral part of the performance. It creates a unique atmosphere for each gig.

A Different Kind of Tour

A lot of the audiences will feel different at the end of each day. He is tired. He has been walking for hours. The performance carries that weight. It is raw and immediate. There is no polish or distance.

His next route after Sussex will be starting in February. It will take in Bridgend and Bristol and Bath and up to Derby. That is around 230 miles. It will take about ten days. The ambition is growing.

He gets to play every night as well. It is meticulous. If you are doing a normal music tour you will be playing Leeds and Manchester and Glasgow. But this one you have to think about it in kind of chapters. It is a new model for touring.

Looking Ahead

The aim is to walk the whole of the UK. So far he has done the Thames Path. This Sussex trek is just one chapter. It is a proof of concept. It shows that the model works.

The community aspect is key. He is enjoying the community which music and walking bring with him. It is a shared experience. The audience is part of the journey. It is more than just a concert.

This is a story of dedication and physicality. It is a rare sight in the music world. Connelly is pushing the boundaries of what a tour can be. It is a testament to his commitment to his craft and his charity.