Ever felt like you needed to do something a bit wild to make a point—or just to feel alive again? Maybe that’s cycling 2,000 miles with a cello strapped to your bike. For Kenneth Wilson, that’s not a midlife crisis. It’s a concert tour.
A cello, a bike, and a whole lot of heart
Imagine this: you’re cycling through rain, up hills, past cathedrals centuries old… with a full-sized cello on your back. That’s exactly what 66-year-old Kenneth Wilson, a Cumbrian poet and musician, is doing. He’s not just pedalling through the countryside for fun (although some might argue it sounds like fun). He’s bringing his project, Pilgrim Cello, to life—visiting all 42 English Anglican cathedrals with a cello and a message.
The tour kicks off Sunday 18th May 2025, and one of the key stops is Bradford Cathedral on Friday 23rd May 2025 at 3pm. Entry’s free, but donations are welcome. And yep, you can even tell Kenneth you’re coming via the Cathedral’s site.
Not just music—it’s a moving story in sound and word
What’s he actually performing? It’s a piece called Meditation on the Seven Last Words of Jesus. Sounds heavy, right? And it is—but in a good way. The performance is a mix of short poems Kenneth wrote himself and the hauntingly beautiful solo cello music of Bach. Together, they explore the final moments of Jesus’s life on the cross.
But Kenneth says it’s not just for the religious or churchgoers. He wants the performance to speak to anyone—no matter what you believe. It’s about reflection, emotion, and being human. As he puts it: “Even if you’ve never been in a cathedral before, I hope the Meditation—as well as the journey—will speak to you!”
Bringing art and faith together on the road
Now, here’s the twist: it’s not only music and poetry. Kenneth will be carrying seven striking abstract paintings by artist Gillian Lever, each representing one of Jesus’s last sayings. These won’t just sit in his panniers for the ride—they’ll be displayed at each venue, adding a powerful visual punch to the experience.
So it’s a bit like a mobile art exhibition meets classical concert meets poetry reading—all powered by bike pedals and passion.
Been there, biked that
This isn’t Kenneth’s first time swapping a tour bus for a bicycle. A few years ago, he cycled all the way from Hadrian’s Wall to Rome with his cello, performing in everything from mountain passes to Rome’s Musei Capitolini. That adventure turned into a book, Highway Cello, which was described as “an absolute charmer of a travel book” by Christi Daugherty.
Even the Dalai Lama is a fan—he called Kenneth’s earlier work, Orange Dust: Journeys After the Buddha, “inspirational” and “uplifting”.
When and where to catch him
Here are a few of the many stops on the tour (brace yourself, it’s quite the list):
- Ripon – Wed 21 May, 2:00pm
- York – Thu 22 May, 1:00pm
- Bradford – Fri 23 May, 3:00pm
- Wakefield – Sat 24 May, 2:00pm
- Sheffield – Sun 25 May, 12:15pm
- Lincoln – Mon 26 May, 3:00pm
There are 40 performances planned in total. Some of them already happened during Lent due to scheduling quirks, but the rest roll out from May through July 2025. You can get the full tour list on his website.
Want to tag along?
If you’re into cycling (or maybe just want a bit of an adventure), Kenneth’s inviting people to join him for short stretches of the ride. Don’t worry—he won’t make you carry the cello.
And if you’re more into sitting in a pew than a saddle, just come to a performance. They’re free, thoughtful, and probably unlike anything else you’ll do this year.
Honestly, whether you’re into classical music, modern art, poetry, or just love a good old-fashioned human story, there’s something pretty incredible about watching someone cycle across England just to share something beautiful.
Would you ever cycle 2,000 miles for something you believe in?
Loved to have seen a little video of him playing on his journey.
Marvelous effort and experience!