The Pursuit of Folk

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On August 18th, equipped with only his bicycle, cello, and bare essentials,  Ben Sollee embarked on yet another pedal powered regional tour. The 25 performances on Ditch the Van Tour 2010 not only serve to promote Sollee's music, but also biking as a viable form of transportation.  After last year's eight-performce, one-the-way to Bonnoroo bike tour, Sollee decided to spend a portion of his touring each year on a bicycle. While many may think this is a ridiculous way to tour the country, Sollee couldn't disagree more, believing that conventional air, bus, or van tours move a a pace that is completely unnatural. Some artists may try to hop from plane to plane to squeeze a few extra performances into a busy tour, and all the while, Ben Sollee is cruising at a comfortable 13 mph, rolling up and down the hills from town to town, feeling the burn and satisfaction of pedal-powered transportation. That's not to say this is any easy task. The weight of his load is reportedly around 60 pounds plus the weight of the bike, and despite the extra work load of a bicycle tour, Sollee loves it. 

Regardless of your environmental position, you have to admit the concept of the tour is downright badass. I can't think of a better way to slow down the life of a touring artist than to hit the road on bike.

Ben Sollee @ Bonnaroo 2009 from Palestra Creative