Gareth Davies-Jones: the way it will change you

Gareth Davies-Jones is a singer-songwriter who lives in Tynedale. His many albums and the long list of his collaborations and achievements in music are evidence of his skill at capturing story in song.In 2025, Gareth walked from Holy Island to Durham Cathedral, following St Oswald’s Way and the Way of Light, one of six trails based on ancient pilgrimage routes that lead to Durham. He took his guitar with him and performed concerts where he stayed, all the while capturing his impressions of the journey and his environment.These experiences were the inspiration for his new album A Troubadour Journey, which he has recently been touring around the North. I talked to Gareth about the origins of his pilgrimage and how the fourteen songs on the album describe the spiritual impact of his solitary travels. Gareth recorded two songs from A Troubadour Journey for this episode. They are: Follow the Way and Juniper.Gareth’s music is available from his website, https://www.garethdavies-jones.com. There, you can buy a CD of the album together with a 32-page companion booklet of lyrics, artwork by Horsley artist Rebecca Vincent and photographs Gareth took along the way. This is the best way to appreciate the music and the journey that inspired it but the album is also available on streaming platforms. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com