Attention was drawn to the topic of musicians’ touring methods during the summer, with Beyoncé supposedly opting for a private jet to reach her concert in Cardiff, while Coldplay’s Chris Martin chose a more environmentally friendly approach by taking the train to the same city a few weeks later.

Chris Roberts, from Cardiff, said, “We’re not at all suggesting that everyone should give up driving and walk to all their gigs because it has completely taken over our lives, but things like choosing more sustainable routes (should be considered).”

The guitar player said the 27-year-olds had discovered “how little stuff” they need to gig, each carrying a 15kg (33lb) bag. Seth, from Gloucestershire, said, “I’ve got kind of a medium-sized backpack and using an elaborate system of carabiners, my fiddle is strapped to the back of a bag, and I’ve also got the mic. Chris has got his sort of massive guitar, which has got various bag straps on the outside of it and clothes stuffed in with the guitar.”

In the diverse city of Birmingham, Seth and Chris convene to create harmonious melodies inspired by the rich folklore of their respective origins, Wales and Gloucestershire. Operating under the name Filkin’s Drift, this musical duo seamlessly merges traditional and modern elements, skillfully intertwining the sounds of the fiddle and guitar with their captivating vocal harmonies.

Their intricate interplay on the fretted instruments evokes a sense of ornate beauty reminiscent of the Baroque era, while their lively fiddle and guitar tunes ignite the passion of audiences throughout the United Kingdom.

In addition to performing alongside Filkin’s Drift, Chris Roberts embarks on tours alongside pop singer Tanita Tikaram, collaborates on composing lullabies with new parents, and conducts workshops in SEND schools.

Seth Bye, an accomplished violinist, composer, and educator, has graced the stages of prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and Cecil Sharpe House. He has also been a part of renowned festivals like Boomtown, Greenman, and Shambala. In addition to his solo performances, Seth is a member of the highly acclaimed Balkan band, The Destroyers, who were recently featured on BBC 1 for their performance at the Commonwealth Games. He has also toured with Giffords Circus, showcasing his skills on the fiddle, banjo, and accordion.

The news comes as Sheeran recently admitted his next Mathematics tour might be his last large-scale one, preferring to spend more time with his wife and 16-month old daughter Lyra. The singer-songwriter admitted on the Teach Me A Lesson podcast that “I would hate to get to 20 years’ time and have a relationship with my kids that had suffered because I’d chosen work over them …. I honestly think that this next tour that I’m going on, at the end of the tour, I can’t see myself going on one of them like that again.“

Of course, Sheeran isn’t the only one in the music industry starting to think over their effects on the environment. Fellow British artists Coldplay said back in October that they plan to make their next world tour as eco-friendly as possible, saying “We’re very conscious that the planet is facing a climate crisis. So we’ve spent the last two years consulting with environmental experts to make this tour as sustainable as possible, and, just as importantly, to harness the tour’s potential to push things forward.“

And it’s not just been the artists getting involved. A number of major record labels have recently signed the Music Climate Pact, which aims to decarbonise the music industry. The Pact sees various record labels having to commit themselves to certain organisations by next February, such as the Science Based Targets Initiative or the UN’s Race to Zero programme. Some of the major labels that signed the pact include Sony, Warner and Universal Music Groups.

In the words of #MusicClimatePact Supporter @musicdeclares‘ campaign, there’s #NOMUSICONADEADPLANET. Supporters help achieve the Pact’s goals by sharing data, knowledge, and resources, bringing the industry together to achieve our climate goals. Read more: https://t.co/eV6omO5cad pic.twitter.com/z8ha4TcYmf

— AIM (@AIM_UK) December 27, 2021

Another influential ‘signee’ was Beggars Group, whose CEO had this to say: “The Music Climate Pact shows the willingness of the whole music industry to work collaboratively on climate issues. Building on IMPALA’s project to develop a carbon calculator tool, all signatories will be pulling in the same direction on sustainability topics.“

As for Sheeran, his upcoming (and possibly final) stadium tour will be starting next April in Dublin, ending in September 2022 and taking the star all over Europe. If you’re interested in finding out about tickets, you can look here.