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Pleasant Revolution, modern times troubadours

A troubadour was a composer and performer of Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages (1100–1350). Since the word “troubadour” is etymologically >>>more

Pleasant Revolution is a group of American Cyclist playing music and touring Europe entirely using Cargo Bikes. They left Northern California back in May, train across the US and sailed from NYC and Southampton, England. Since then they have pedaled and played music in England, Germany, Holland, Slovakia, Czech republic, Austria, France and are now on their way to Spain.

More than a bike tour or music festival, this is a new movement for an evolving culture of transportation cycling, renewable power, and greener music/community events. The bicycle music festival (BMF) merges a 1200 Watt pedal-powered P/A system, zero use of cars and trucks, and an eclectic crew of world class musicians and volunteers. The entire experience is all human powered by setting up our bikes on stage, connecting them to generators, and having audience members pedal to power the system.

Our tour will pass through the UK, Holland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, France, Spain, Portugal, and and everywhere in between. We are on a mission to lighten up the view of a sustainable lifestyle – from one of sacrifice and restriction to one of abundant health, happiness, and a deeper sense of connectedness: thus, it is the Pleasant Revolution.

The Idea

Our way of life threatens our way of life. “Bigger, faster, more” has run its course, leaving a mountain of environmental and social woes and a void of meaning. Into that void rides the Pleasant Revolution, a transformational way of working and living that restores environmental and cultural vitality and returns deep meaning to ordinary human experience.

These days, everyone is talking about global warming, about how bad things are going to get if we don’t change; and yet hardly anyone straight talks about what the necessary changes are, preferring vague generalities or cutesy “simple things you can do.”

In our explorations of bicycle lifestyle we’ve stumbled upon what we think will be a truth of the coming age: Yes we must change, in some areas drastically so—we must consume less, drive less, throw away less, hate less, fear less. And yet, while superficially this may look like sacrifice, the pursuit of these changes can actually lead to a life that’s more local, rich, humane, fulfilling and happy.

The Pleasant Revolution is a set of evolving ideas, a loose set of principles designed to help answer the question, “What next? How do I live fully and restore the planet in the process?”
Some principles of the Pleasant Revolution:

  • slow is beautiful, local is profound
  • sustainable living is richer
  • we can free ourselves from the culture of fear that drives our consumerism and apathy
  • fundamental change is necessary and possible
  • to change the world, we must change our own consciousness and lifestyle
  • humanity now, perhaps more than in any previous time, has an opportunity to create a new, saner, more loving world
  • the bicycle liberates

Next dates:

10/10~ Barcelona, Spain

TBA ~ Santiago de Compostela, Spain

10/16 ~ Lisbon, Portugal

10/30 ~ Porto, Portugal

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