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Music Tour Beats

Music Tour Beats...Rock & Roll, Jazz, Blues, Classical

 

Contact us for even more itinerary suggestions!

 

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Music Tour Beats - Rock & Roll London Day Tours
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The Freewheelin' London Bike Tour Company

Day Trip!

Freewheelin' London Bike Tours

 

Yep, inspired by Dylan, our cycling explorations around London are designed to be fun, informative, relaxed and carefree, not strenuous. These are 'softy' cycling adventures around the amazing city of London!

 

Explore London BY BIKE, get OFF THE BEATEN TRACK in the green spaces and cityscapes, the oft overlooked local areas of the capital. Take a SPIN in the FRESH AIR to discover hidden gems in your own backyard. 

 

C'mon London, Get On Your Bike - footloose & fancy-free with The Freewheelin' London Bike Tour Company!

 

These are Small Group Adventures, from 1 guest and up on private departures. Travel along safe routes, mostly off the beaten track using side streets, cycle lanes and park paths.

 

BYOB - Bring Your Own BIKE! The comfort of using your own bicycle and equipment.

Or there is the option to hire one on arrival. All our BIKE TRACKS can begin and finish at a Santander bike dock station. Your tour guide is on hand to assist you for a quick and easy process.

 

Our BIKE TRACKS are mostly 3 to 4 hours in duration, travel along reasonbly flat landscapes, and include multiple stops for photos and commentary from your tour guide. There's the odd hill here or there but done at your own pace and heaps of stops along the way!

 

No Lycra Required. We called our bike itineraries TRACKS (besides being a cheeky vinyl record reference) because these are NOT 'hard core' cycling treks. The 8 Track itineraries are between 3 and 6 miles start to finish, with many photo and commentary stops and a comfort break en-route.

 

The goal is carefree, fun, easy and informative!

 

Electric CYCLE-land: But if anyone is in doubt of their fitness, there's the option to go 'Electric CYCLE-land' and hire an electric pedal assist bike for your comfort. (Subject to availability)

 

If A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall, Don't Think Twice, It's Alright   Our tours can go ahead rain or shine, April through September, on a private hire basis. Wet weather gear is available if required.

 

Get out cruising Down the Highway and biways, you Shall Be Free, to explore and Dream. Join us, why not get your hair Blowin' In The Wind...

 

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Themed London Walking Tours - featuring Rock & Roll Walks

Day Trip!

Private Hire London Walking Tours -- Your choice of theme! Featuring Rock and Roll London

 

Explore London neighbourhood BY FOOT, get OFF THE BEATEN TRACK in the green spaces and cityscapes, the oft overlooked local areas of the capital. Take a WALK in the FRESH AIR to discover hidden gems in your own backyard. The goal is carefree, fun, easy and informative! Just yourselves and your walking tour guide.

 

This is a private/custom tour available, subject to availability, on the date of your choice.

 

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Classic Rock & Beatles London Rock Afternoon tour

Day Trip!

We call this our Classic Rock Legends tour because it covers sites and locations relevant to the history of so many 60s, 70s and 80s artists in the elite neighbourhoods of Chelsea, Kensington, Holland Park, Notting Hill Gate, St John’s Wood, Marylebone and the West End.

 

ACCESS ALL AREAS *HIPPIES, PUNKS, MODS, RASTAS *1950s till today

 

London is the Capital City of Rock and Popular Music. In no other city will you find so much rock heritage in such a concentrated area – its been a magnet for rockers from Liverpool to Los Angeles, Manchester to Melbourne, Stockholm to Sao Paulo, Dublin to Detroit and Trenchtown to Toronto. From the 1950s to the current day, musicians, singers, producers, bands, lyricists and writers have come to London to seek, or expand their fame and fortune  And in doing so, they leave a rich and growing legacy to be discovered and enjoyed: the recording studios where classic records have been made; stars homes, apartments and, alas, death sites; instantly recognisable film and video locations, and cityscapes captured forever on classic album covers; venues small and large; clubs and pubs; sites of famed drug busts; trashed hotels; management company offices; secret rehearsal sites; street names made famous through song lyrics; and boutiques and flea-markets where global fashion trends have started. Beatniks and Teddy Boys, Mods and Hippies, Punks and Rastas, Heavy Metal and Heart Throbs; this is a city of monumental rock landmarks where hardly a street is without a rock back-story!

 

On our award-winning, five-star rated, ‘magic mini-bus’ tours, accompanied by a live specialist rock guide, you’ll learn about the London history of bands from the Animals to the Zombies – and every letter of the alphabet in-between. It’s Beatles, Beatles, Beatles to satisfy the most ardent fan and AC/DC, Bowie, Blur, Clapton, Cream, Cliff, Clash, Dylan, Damned, The Eagles, Elton, Faces, Georgie Fame, Free, Geldof, Genesis, Hendrix, Hawkwind, Kinks, Led Zeppelin, Madness, Marley, Madonna, Oasis, Pink Floyd, Police, Queen, Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, Sting, Suede, Rod Stewart, T Rex, U2, Who, Wham!, Weller, Yardbirds, Yes, Zevon, Zoot and Zappa! They are all here.

 

You’ve found London’s original and founding rock tour company (since 1986). Let us share our passion with you: choose your itinerary from one of the many DAILY tours we run; half-day morning or afternoon or the full-day rock heritage tour, or choose one of our special band or genre tours. You’ll find full description for each tour on this site; just send an email to check the date and book. Whichever one you take, we’re looking forward to meeting our fellow rock fans.

 

Your record collection will never sound the same again: We will rock you!

 

 

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Sex, Drugs and Rock’n’Roll; The Early Years! London Rock Morning tour

Day Trip!

British musical journey from jazz & blues roots through today including Classic Rock, Punk, 80s & Brit Pop

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Monsters of Rock full day London Rock Tour

Day Trip!

Be a DayTripper! This full day LONDON ROCK TOUR combines the Sex, Drugs & Rock n Roll MORNING tour and the Classic Rock Legends AFTERNOON tour to create one fabulous MONSTERS OF ROCK London day tour - with time for an independent lunch at your choice of either the Hard Rock Cafe or in the West End. Our morning section covers Rock landmarks in bohemian Soho and the north London neighbourhoods of Camden Town, King’s Cross, Holloway and Islington. Then in the afternoon see Chelsea, Kensington, Holland Park, Notting Hill Gate, St John’s Wood, Marylebone and the West End.

 

London is the Capital City of Rock and Popular Music. In no other city will you find so much rock heritage in such a concentrated area – its been a magnet for rockers from Liverpool to Los Angeles, Manchester to Melbourne, Stockholm to Sao Paulo, Dublin to Detroit and Trenchtown to Toronto. From the 1950s to the current day, musicians, singers, producers, bands, lyricists and writers have come to London to seek, or expand their fame and fortune  And in doing so, they leave a rich and growing legacy to be discovered and enjoyed: the recording studios where classic records have been made; stars homes, apartments and, alas, death sites; instantly recognisable film and video locations, and cityscapes captured forever on classic album covers; venues small and large; clubs and pubs; sites of famed drug busts; trashed hotels; management company offices; secret rehearsal sites; street names made famous through song lyrics; and boutiques and flea-markets where global fashion trends have started. Beatniks and Teddy Boys, Mods and Hippies, Punks and Rastas, Heavy Metal and Heart Throbs; this is a city of monumental rock landmarks where hardly a street is without a rock back-story!

 

On our award-winning, five-star rated, ‘magic mini-bus’ tours, accompanied by a live specialist rock guide, you’ll learn about the London history of bands from the Animals to the Zombies – and every letter of the alphabet in-between. It’s Beatles, Beatles, Beatles to satisfy the most ardent fan and AC/DC, Bowie, Blur, Clapton, Cream, Cliff, Clash, Dylan, Damned, The Eagles, Elton, Faces, Georgie Fame, Free, Geldof, Genesis, Hendrix, Hawkwind, Kinks, Led Zeppelin, Madness, Marley, Madonna, Oasis, Pink Floyd, Police, Queen, Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, Sting, Suede, Rod Stewart, T Rex, U2, Who, Wham!, Weller, Yardbirds, Yes, Zevon, Zoot and Zappa! They are all here.

 

You’ve found London’s original and founding rock tour company (since 1986). Let us share our passion with you: choose your itinerary from one of the many DAILY tours we run; half-day morning or afternoon or the full-day rock heritage tour, or choose one of our special band or genre tours. You’ll find full description for each tour on this site; just send an email to check the date and book. Whichever one you take, we’re looking forward to meeting our fellow rock fans.

 

Your record collection will never sound the same again: We will rock you!

 

 

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Ticket to Ride, Beatles London evening tour

Day Trip!

Beatles By Night! Your ‘Ticket to Ride’ includes live commentary from a specialist Beatle-guide who re-tells Beatle history as it happened, with music, memorabilia and photographs helping recreate those magic years.

Your record collection will never sound the same again: We will rock you!

 

 

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Pink Floyd’s Cambridge & London Day Trip

Day Trip!

Cambridge & London - Pink Floyd's "Tale of Two Cities"

 

Your record collection will never sound the same again: We will rock you!

 

 

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Beatles Liverpool Tours

Day Trip!

Beatles Liverpool Half and Full Day Adventures!

 

Music Tour Beats - Scheduled Multi-day Tours
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Paris to Bordeaux: Culinary Delights, Jazz & Josephine Baker

Custom trip - As you please!

This magical tour offers a variety of sightseeing – magnificent historical cities often dominated by powerful hilltop fortresses, miles of vineyards, mountainous scenery, art from prehistory, colorfully fragrant gardens, an amazing array of architectural styles, ancient ports, distinct cultures and naturally – this is France, after all – some wonderful food and fine wines. Our route will take us via two famed grape growing areas to experience excellent gastronomic delights. Along the way we can fill our ears with the sounds of jazz music and delve into the larger than life personality of Josephine Baker, one of France’s First Ladies, as we loosely follow her trail from Paris to the Dordogne and beyond.

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Walking the Spirit of…Jazz Age Paris & the Harlem Hellfighters, Heroes of WWI

Custom trip - As you please!

The US 369th Infantry Regiment, better known by their nickname “Harlem Hellfighters,” were one of the most successful units in the American Expeditionary Force of the First World War. Among the first units in the US armed forces to have black officers in addition to its all black enlisted corps, the 369th compiled quite an impressive war record. Formed in New York in 1913 and dispatched to France in late 1917, the Hellfighters rejuvenated depleted French troops, never lost a foot of ground or had a man taken prisoner. For service in the First World War, 171 members of the 369th were awarded the Legion of Honour and many Distinguished Service Crosses. For exceptional bravery, the Hellfighters were also awarded the prestigious Croix de Guerre, the first Americans to achieve what is France’s highest military honour.

 

Originally overlooked in America, the Hellfighters received more recognition on the home front for their musical qualities but their military service began a change of attitude. At the end of the war, the 369th returned to New York City and paraded through the city where thousands, of all races, lined the streets to celebrate their achievements.

 

The regimental band under leadership of James R Europe took France by storm, introducing the new and exciting rhythms of jazz to the continent, spurring Paris in particular on its continued love of jazz music. The 369th Regiment’s band were highly regarded and relied upon to boost morale for all Allied troops, which can be the difference between a battle being won or lost.

 

On this tour, follow the 369th through the musical streets of Paris and onto the front line, where they spent 191 days in combat, longer than any other American unit. On the battlefield, focus on the areas northeast of Paris including Belleau Wood, Chateau Thierry and the Meuse-Argonne where these brave soldiers fought in the trenches alongside French regiments. This area is a popular tourist destination, in the heart of Champagne Country, so we have the opportunity for a sample!

 

This one-of-a-kind tour is a partnership between Special Group Tours, which specializes in small group touring of fascinating destinations and themes in the UK and Europe, and Walking The Spirit Tours, the pioneers of Black heritage tourism in Paris and France.

Music Tour Beats - Suggested Custom Itineraries
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Musical Vienna & Salzburg with Oberammergau Passion Play

Custom trip - As you please!

The splendors of Vienna and Salzburg

 

Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Gluck, Brahms, Hugo Wolf, Bruckner, Mahler, Johann Strauss...

 

For the spiritual, this tour includes the 'once a decade' special event, the Oberammergau Passion Play held mid the stunning scenery of the Bavarian Alps. Certainly a once in a lifetime experience!

 

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New Orleans, Memphis & the Mississippi Delta Blues, also celebrating the Civil Rights Heroes of the Freedom Trail

Custom trip - As you please!

It is not possible to walk through New Orleans' French Quarter without a musical rhythm in your step. The city drips with its unique and vibrant swirl of French, African and American cultures, evident in the food, rich music scene and friendliness of the locals.

 

Mississippi is a unique intersection of history, culture and the arts. In the Delta, blues is a way of life that touches everyone. So ingrained is blues music here that it permeates every particle of Delta dirt. As the B.B. King Museum states on its website, "From the cotton fields, street corners and juke joints...considered by many to be the only truly indigenous American music, this form that has influenced musicians worldwide is deeply rooted in Delta soil." You don't just hear the blues, somehow it’s something you can see, taste, touch and certainly one can feel it down to your bones.

 

Poignant reminders of a difficult past to help us shape a better future together

 

Mississippi was a crucial battleground in the American Civil Rights Movement. The Freedom Trail was created to commemorate Mississippi’s role in the fight for Civil Rights, to appreciate those brave individuals that fought for justice and equality for all. Although some of the darker aspects of the state’s past are brought to light, the trail is in place to foster hope and promise for a brighter tomorrow. To date, markers have been placed in honor of Fannie Lou Hamer, Medgar Evers and other pioneers as well as pivotal locations such as Bryant’s Grocery, where young Emmett Till's whistle initiated his murder, an event which most consider the catalyst of the modern Civil Rights Movement.

 

Memphis is the cradle of the blues, soul and rock n' roll but also a centre for gospel, funk, jazz and r&b. The bright lights of Beale Street and the promise of stardom have lured musicians since the early 1900s and the traditional continues - from WC Handy to B.B. King and Elvis to Stax and the voices of the Civil Rights Movement through today. The city is also a place of pilgrimage on the Freedom Trail, particularly the Lorraine Motel where the world lost the great Dr King. In Memphis, all threads weave together into a rich fabric of cultural history.

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UK Rock Weekend Tour: Led Zeppelin Trail

Custom trip - As you please!

A fantastic journey of discovery for all Led Zep fans, through Wales and the English Midlands. This is a wonderful opportunity of seeing some pretty and historic areas while indulging your passion for one of the world’s greatest rock bands!

 

Choices include a 2 or 3 day weekend OR extend your stay out in the inspirational countryside of North Wales for a week long adventure.

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Paris Rocks! Paris Music Day Trip

Day Trip!

Full day trip in Paris -- Do 'Paris in a Day' exploring with a local guide. Experience the Marais, Place Vendôme, the Bastille, the ‘Left Bank’, Montmartre and Pigalle, the Seine embankment, and Père Lachaise Cemetery and Boulevard Saint Germain. 

 

Available for private departures, date of your choice (subject to vehicle/guide availability)

 

This is a suggested tour itinerary for private departures, adjustable to best suit your specific wishes - focus on a specfic band/artist where available. Price based on how many travelers and your chosen package inclusions.

 

 

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Walking the Spirit Black Heritage Paris & Beyond Bus Tours

Custom trip - As you please!

Groups of any size appreciate the convenience and scope of our private Spirit of Black Paris bus tours. Take in the full 200 years of history in a half day: Sally Hemings and the Harlem Hellfighters on the Champs Elysées, W.E.B. Dubois at the Opera, Josephine Baker and Bricktop in the shadow of the Moulin Rouge. Several opportunities to disembark for photos. Includes hotel pickup.

 

Choose a full 5-hr combo walking/bus tour or a 3.5 hour bus tour that includes a ½ hour stroll in Paris. Options for traveling BEYOND Paris too – experience Nice, Monaco & the French Rivera, Normandy, the Champagne region, Nantes and Josephine Baker’s chateau near the stunning Bordeaux region.

 

ATTENTION SCHOOLS/UNIVERSITIES: Turn textbooks into reality! Our knowledge of Black and French history and our engaging storytelling skills makes our tours appealing to students of all ages. We work closely with teachers and professors to meet the needs and complement course syllabi, as well as provide printed material.

 

Private tours cost is based on how many in your party & duration of your private tour. Please contact us for a specific rate quote.

 

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Austria, Reformation Prague with Oberammergau Passion Play

Custom trip - As you please!

The splendors of musical Austria - Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Gluck, Brahms, Hugo Wolf, Bruckner, Mahler, Johann Strauss...

 

Prague – also known as the Golden City, the city of one hundred-towers and the Jerusalem of Europe, the Czech capital is also justifiably considered to be one of the forerunners of the Lutheran Reformation...

 

For the spiritual, this tour includes the 'once a decade' special event, the Oberammergau Passion Play held mid the stunning scenery of the Bavarian Alps. Certainly a once in a lifetime experience!

 

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London's Caribbean Connections, Bob Marley half day tour

Day Trip!

Experience the vibrant and culturally rich neighbourhood Notting Hill​, where many immigrants from the Carribean settled in the 40s and 50s. Learn of the area's the tumultuous past now transitioned into celebration with the annual Notting Hill Carnival, the backdrop for our journey following the life of Bob Marley. Also touch on other musical connections here, including Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Clash, Island Records/Sarm recording studios and more.

 

 

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Walking the Spirit, Black Heritage Paris Walking Tours

Custom trip - As you please!

Daily, subject to availbility

Join Walking The Spirit Tours, the original Black Paris Heritage tours since 1994. You’ll love the versatility, blend Black heritage with delightful discovery of the city and regions. Your experience can be as boundless as your curiosity and time!

 

Join us for ONE, TWO or ALL THREE of our special neighborhood walking tours. Not only will you gain valuable insight into African-American expatriate and Diaspora life but get an up close look at what makes these streets buzz.

 

Come stand in the same doorway James Baldwin crossed, or browse the market the Beboppers shopped. You’ll also get to peek in the café where Richard Wright jotted his notes, study the landscape that inspired Lois Mailou Jones‘ paintings, stand beneath the marquee where the Harlem Hellfighters first jazzed up Paris, and stroll Josephine Baker‘s and Bricktop‘s neighborhood.

 

Also available – private Spirit of Black Paris bus tours, combo walking/bus tours. And multi-day tour adventures throughout France, London, Amsterdam and beyond!

 

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Beatles Liverpool Tours

Day Trip!

Beatles Liverpool Half and Full Day Adventures!

 

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Beatles 50, Liverpool & North Wales, can include Led Zeppelin’s Bron-Yr-Aur

Custom trip - As you please!

Follow loosely in the Beatles footsteps in their hometown of Liverpool and in the magical land of North Wales.

 

The Beatles ruled the music industry 50 years ago, and were in the intense swirl at the height of Beatlemania. The Beatles played early on in their career in North Wales and it was in North Wales that they spent time with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1967. This was where they learned of the death of their manager Brian Epstein, an event that was a major turning point in Beatles history. The following year, the lads made an escape from the madness of their daily lives with a trip to India to stay with Maharishi Yogi.

 

Liverpool is home to the Fab Four. What a huge amount to discover here! North Wales is home to the fantastic scenery of Snowdonia National Park, Isle of Angelsey and the most impressive range of 12th century castles of anywhere in the British Isles. Enjoy the wonderful tranquility of a Victorian coastal resort and a steam train ride into the mountains. Uncover a fabulous industrial heritage, prehistoric tombs and evidence of the rich Celtic culture of our forefathers.

 

This is our celebration of The Beatles in India, over 50 years ago now, without leaving the UK!