Admit it: ever since The Simpsons’ episode How I Spent My Strummer Vacation, where Homer lives out his music fantasies at a rock camp with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Tom Petty and Elvis Costello, you’ve been wondering how to get up close with your own musical favourites. As the music scene changes, more artists are diversifying their repertoire beyond the studio and stage. From country and ‘80s rock through to metal and Weimar, here are five travel adventures where you can interact with your favourite award winning musicians.
Steve Earle
After releasing the excellent So You Wannabe An Outlaw album just last week, Steve Earle is prepping himself to get up close and personal with fans at Camp Copperhead, which kicks off on June 26. Named after his massive ‘80s stomper "Copperhead Road", Camp Copperhead is a four day retreat allowing fans to analyse Earle’s lyrics and songwriting in lectures and classes. Musicians can learn from Earle as well as co-write, workshop and perform for a like-minded audience. “This is our fourth year,” Steve says. “We’ll once again be returning to Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, New York.” No doubt the Americana outsider will also give his Camp Copperhead audience a taste of his new So You Wannabe An Outlaw album, too.
https://www.campcopperhead.com/
Here's some highlights from last years event...
Heart
Thirty years since Heart sang "How can I get you alone?" on their Aussie top 10 "Alone", fans can now spend quality time with Heart’s guitarist Nancy Wilson during her Rock Camp appearance this month. “I'm excited to be part of Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp this year,” Nancy says. “Some of my rock brothers have already been involved and really enjoyed the experience!" Steve Adler from Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite For Destruction line-up will also be appearing at the Hollywood event, so if you’ve ever wanted to perform at the infamous Whisky A Go Go, jam with bona fide rock stars and attend master classes, you can now make ‘these dreams’ a reality. Rock Camp will also host a Judas Priest event in September.
https://www.rockcamp.com/fantasy-camp-with-nancy-wilson.php
Rufus Wainwright
Designed more as a holiday with a famous tour guide than a rock camp, but flamboyant Canadian musician Rufus Wainwright will also be offering fans intimate performances and musical discussions during his September trip to Havana, Cuba. “The fact that you might build a little vacation around following me to an interesting destination is very humbling as a musician,” Rufus says. Away from the music, Wainwright’s guests will also get to travel around the streets of Havana in a convertible, sightsee various museums and sample local rum and cigars.
Steve Vai
Guitar wizard Steve Vai has been running rock camps for three years, with January’s Vai Academy welcoming guests to Carmel on the Monterey Peninsula, central California. This one is for the serious axe nerds, so if you’re a guitarist with a flair for vibrato, 11/16 timing and confounding arpeggios you should seek out his next event. “Ultimately, the main goal of Vai Academy is for everybody in attendance to feel incredibly enthusiastic when thinking about their goals, their future and connection to the instrument,” Vai says.
Stone Sour
With their new album Hydrograd due next week, you could understand metal dudes Stone Sour would be looking forward to a break by January. Unlike most holidays, when Corey Taylor and his bandmates take off on cruise ship Carnival Liberty from Port Canaveral destined for the Bahamas, they’ll be taking hundreds of fans with them. As well as hearing the band perform, you can expect panel discussions, Q&As, live band karaoke and the sorts of crazy drinking games you’d expect on a Contiki tour. Joining Stone Sour are Seether, Black Label Society and heaps more tattooed juggernauts!
- SM