Tours

Americana Awards Finale – photo Jim Jacob

Like to Experience the Best of American Roots Music?

Want to go on an Escorted, Personalised Tour of the most influential music cities in the United States – Memphis, Nashville, Clarksdale and Austin?

Then join me as Your Escort on the inaugural ROOTS’n’ALL Music Tour in 2017!

My colleague Greg Clayton and I are designing a tour for September 2017 which will encompass all of the above AND MORE!

The key components of the 2017 ROOTS’n’ALL Tour will include:

Four-days attending the Americana Music Festival and Conference in Nashville, Tennessee
An overnight stop in Clarksdale Mississippi with a ‘Surprise’ gig!
Exploring the music heritage of Memphis, Tennessee – Graceland, Beale St, Sun Studio and Stax Soul Museum
Attending one of the best kept secret festivals – Roots ‘n’ Blues ‘n’ BBQ in Columbia, Missouri, with VIP tickets
An overnight in St Louis, Missouri with Dinner at Chuck Berry’s Blueberry Hill Cafe
An amazing Swing Across Texas Special Tour add-on – Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth and Fredericksburg, with a special drop-in visit to Luckenbach, Texas!

Ground Zero Blues Club Clarksdale – photo Jim Jacob

Dates:

The primary component of the tour will cover the period from mid to late September 2017 and ending first week in October. It could be a week either way dependent upon final dates for both Americana and the Roots ‘n’ Blues ‘n’ BBQ

If you choose to add-on the Swing Across Texas option (and you all should) then another eight days or so will be added on to the tour.

Downtown Presbyterian Church, Nashville – photo Jim Jacob

Numbers:

The tour is restricted to initially a small group of six, with myself as your Driver/Escort. We’ll be travelling in a 12 Seater Mini Van so there’ll be plenty of comfort and room for one suitcase per traveller. The emphasis will be on ‘behind-the-scenes’ experiences and covering as much music territory as we can. If interest is very strong, Greg will drive a second van BUT that will be it – a maximum of 12 only will get to enjoy this fabulous experience.

Photo Jim Jacob

Music Styles:

Everything roots! – Americana, blues, rock, folk, alt. country, soul, country and maybe even a little bluegrass.

Sun Studio – Memphis

Expected Modes of Travel:

In Nashville : Festival Shuttle Buses and our good old feet!

On the Road: Driver/Escorted 12 Seater Mini vans where required. Eg: Nashville – Clarksdale – Memphis.

Fly Memphis – St Louis, Missouri.

12 Seater Mini Van : St Louis – Columbia – St Louis.

Fly to Austin. 12 Seater Mini Van throughout Swing Across Texas leg.

The Magnolia Cafe, Austin

Who will you see perform?

You will see many of the finest roots musicians in amazing settings and in some of the most iconic venues in the USA. As well as festival experiences, you will also get to experience small and intimate gigs, specifically arranged for you.

Blueberry Hill, St Louis

Actual artists?

Well that’s to be announced down the track, but as a guide here are some of the artists that I saw at previous festivals:

Americana Music Festival and Conference 2014:
Ry Cooder, Loretta Lynn, Jackson Browne, Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris, Jason Isbell, Rodney Crowell, Sturgill Simpson, Steven Stills and Taj Mahal

roots ‘n’ blues ‘n’ bbq 2014:
Los Lobos, The Avett Brothers, John Prine, Rosanne Cash, Preservation Jazz Hall Band, Amos Lee, Trampled by Turtles, JJ Grey & Mofro and Bettye Lavette

Columbia, Missouri

Costs:

We’re pulling it all together right now but final tour cost will include:

Transportation and transfers between Nashville and St Louis (Core Tour), and all transportation and transfers on the Swing Across Texas extension
Admission to Festival and appropriate tickets
Sightseeing and Entry Fees to be announced
Special Lunches and Dinners
Twin share accommodation

If you’re salivating about the potential and the experiences to be had on this tour, I need to know that you’re interested.

As soon as the full detailed itinerary is ready, we’ll send it and the cost out to you.

I have a feeling this will sell out very quickly, so let me know you’re keen to go!

Provide a comment below or email robdickens101@gmail.com

Photo Jim Jacob

Who Are We?

Both Greg and I have travelled to the USA many times over the past thirty years. We have designed and escorted music tours across America’s Musical Heartland and have the testimonials to prove it!

We both have a passion for music and collectively have had experience in travel agency marketing, radio announcing, freelance music writing, entertainment blogging BUT most of all we have taken 100’s of people on journeys of musical discovery from California to New York.

We know America’s Music Roads better than anybody so why not come for a ride with us?

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