### Musician’s Epic 650-Mile Cycle to Glastonbury Ends in Emotional Arrival
English-Irish singer-songwriter Jack Cullen has spoken about the emotional impact of completing an extraordinary 650-mile cycling journey from Edinburgh to Glastonbury Festival, where he is set to perform this weekend. The 30-year-old, who currently resides in north-west London, undertook the ambitious expedition alongside his childhood friend George “GK” Kershaw, aged 33.
Their journey, which commenced on 30 May, was both a physical and personal challenge for Cullen, who is best known for his soft indie pop sound and mellow guitar performances. Speaking once he finally reached the famed Somerset festival site, Cullen described the sense of achievement as “amazing and somewhat emotional”. He explained, “While you’re doing it, you almost lose track of the scale of it all. But then it hits you—‘We’ve actually spent the last month cycling across the country, and here we are.’ It’s quite a surreal feeling.”
The pair confronted a range of formidable weather conditions throughout their month-long trek, with Cullen candidly recalling “horrendous wind and rain” that battered them as they made their way south. Despite the meteorological setbacks, the singer maintained his sense of humour, quipping that his well-travelled Birkenstocks footwear survived the entire ordeal.
Cullen and Kershaw’s route wound through some of the UK’s most iconic regions, including the picturesque Lake District, bustling Manchester, and the historic city of Liverpool. The musician made the most of the journey, stopping to perform in some notably unusual venues. One particularly touching moment saw Cullen cycling four hours specially to deliver a private performance for a dedicated fan in Liverpool — someone who regularly makes lengthy trips to attend his gigs. “It was really special being able to share new music face to face with someone who’s supported me for so long,” he said.
The trip was not without its own set of unexpected challenges. Whilst filming a video for his single “All I Need” under the RCA Records label, Cullen narrowly avoided losing his drone in the Lake District, spending several hours climbing a mountain to retrieve the device. Such episodes added both to the adventure and the unpredictability of their cross-country odyssey.
Remarkably, Kershaw did not initially have a ticket for Glastonbury Festival when the journey began. However, fortune favoured the pair, with Cullen later revealing that his friend was permitted entry on the agreed condition that he would help out with some work during the festival.
Before pursuing a successful career in music, Cullen’s life took a very different trajectory. He was once a promising professional rugby player, representing Ireland in both the U20 World Cup and Six Nations tournaments. However, a series of dramatic sports injuries in 2016 left him housebound; he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and suffered substantial shoulder damage. It was during this period of enforced rest that Cullen first picked up his guitar, and began the songwriting journey that would define his next chapter.
Since then, Cullen has steadily built a following, performing at venues across the UK and amassing significant popularity online, with more than 20,000 followers on TikTok. His dedication and grassroots approach to connecting with listeners has brought him to a major milestone, with a scheduled appearance on the Wishing Well stage at Glastonbury on 29 June.
The tenacity shown by both Jack Cullen and George Kershaw in undertaking this ambitious journey reflects both a spirit of adventure and a dedication to music and community. Their story stands as a testament to the lengths some artists will go to reach both their audiences and career milestones. As the festival unfolds, Cullen’s performance is sure to be underscored by the unique story of how he arrived, adding another memorable chapter to the rich history of Glastonbury.