The Music Tourist Podcast

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Bonfest, a unique rock festival which celebrates the life of AC/DC frontman Bon Scott. Taking place in the small Scottish town of Kirriemuir, where the singer spent the first six years of his life, it attracts visitors from around the world and has become a significant tourism attraction. Bonfest is run by a local youth music charity, DD8, and its profits go into developing the next generation of musicians and industry professions. Music Tourist caught up with Graham Galloway, who for many years was part of the core team.

Leipzig was recently crowned Best Global Music Cityby the Sound Diplomacy consultancy, and in 2024 attracted 850,000 music tourists thanks to its huge range of musical attractions.  These include museums, tours, statues, an extensive classical programme, the world’s largest goth festival and everything from club shows to huge concerts in the Red Bull Arena. Martin Dürrschmidt, Project Manager International Marketingat Leipzig Tourismus and Marketing, gives an insight into how the city promotes these ample offerings.

Tallinn Music Week founder Helen Sildna talks about how the event promotes Estonia and its attractions beyond the festival conference.

Music Tourist meets Fiona Shepherd, who co-founded Glasgow Music City Tours in 2015 with Alison Stroak and fellow journalist, Jonathan Trew. She talks about why the company started, the different itineraries it offers and how guests have helped inform the content. In 2018 the company launched of an Edinburgh tour which takes place every August which along with the book Edinburgh's Greatest Hits. And to mark the first decade, they recently published Glasgow's Greatest Hits.

UK Music CEO Tom Kiehl, gives an insight of the industry organisation's pioneering music tourism research which it began commissioning 15 years ago and has become an interntionally recognised model. The in-depth reports have been instrumental in highlighting the contribution made by live shows and festivals to the broader economy. And the data gathered has become an invaluable tool for the music sector in making its case to government at all levels.

Music Tourist meets Pablo Borchi, co-founder of Mexico City's cumbia tour which includes a range of stops and ends with a jam session. We find out how came about, the places it takes in and take a small digression to look at the history of the genre. For more information about the tour visit https://linktr.ee/discosyamigos and for pictures of the tour visit https://www.facebook.com/musictourist.net

The Music Tourist Podcast returns to Stockholm to talk to Caroline Fagerlind, this time in her role as head of exhibitions at the city's Avicii Experience. We look at how the attraction combines its role as a museum with the charitable work of the Tim Berling Foundation.

Music Tourist founder Olaf Furniss interviews Montreal guide Ruby Roy, who hosts tours on Leonard Cohen, jazz and a general music-themed excursions. Ruby is a former head of the World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations. In the interview she talks how she ended up creating a Leonard Cohen tour in spite of not being a fan and the role of hotels in Montreal's musical history.  Ruby also provides some tips for visitors.The interview was recorded at Montreal's Queen Elizabeth Hotel, where John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their second bed-in for peace. It was produced by Chuck Pee and the music was composed by Kelman Greig.  

Musician and sailor, Barry Nisbett, talks about his Sessions & Sail, a musical voyage round Scotland's islands in a tall ship. The cruise includeds onboard tuition workshops and visits to local communities to learn their tunes. www.sessionsandsaild.com

Music Tourist founder Olaf Furniss, heads to Stockholm to meet Caroline Fagerlined, head of exhibitions at ABBA The Museum. The multimedia extravaganza was founded in 2013 and on an average month welcomes guests from 100 countries, with 2.3m visiting in just under  10 years.  Fagerlind, who started out as a researcher for the attraction, describes the museum's origins and how the band play an active role in its continuing development, in spite of Benny Andersson's initial reservations.