USA Roots of Music

What our customers told us:

“Top tour! Music and story-wise very good. Tour-theme well put together, well explained. Highlights were the church service with gospel, Dockery Farm, Hotel Mobile, Birmingham, and New Orleans’ East-side. Points of improvement: daily schedule so that you arrive at the hotel early, and the tour guide preferably not leading from the front.”
Joke Bosch - USA Roots of Music - October 2016

“The tour met with my expectations, brilliant way to pick up something about the emergence of pop-music whilst enjoying some beautiful scenery. Top of the list were the accommodation in New Orleans, Clarksdale and Mobile; music in Nashville and New Orleans was excellent. Points for improvement: better information with regard to choice of motorcycles, live music on offer was disappointing, and the tour guide often rode in front. Marc as a music connoisseur and guide was perfect.”
Siem Burger - USA Roots of Music - October 2016

“The tour was really good. Highlights swamp-tour, visit Reds in Clarksdale, Beale Street, Frenchmen and Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. Marc as tour guide is good, involved, open, and the stories on location were good. Point for improvement: changing the date was an unwelcome surprise and reserving a seat at United didn’t go well. Contact with office didn’t always run smoothly.”
Atje Timorason - USA Roots of Music - July 2016

“Very good and pleasant contact, accurate and complete. The tour was tremendously special. I’ve already complimented Marc on the fact that this wasn’t about a trip but about an experience. Goosebumps for 16 days. SUPERB!”
Robert Spraakman - USA Roots of Music - March 2015

“Contact is good, sufficient information and neat back link. I’ve really enjoyed myself thanks also to the lovely group of people and not to forget the tour guide. Most experiences were a highlight in their own right, but New Orleans and Memphis stuck out above the rest. Tour guide Marc was one of us, and above us when necessary, he lifted my knowledge of music to a higher level in a relaxed way and with a lot of passion.”
Lies Trommel - USA Roots of Music - March 2015

“The tour is interesting, varied, lived up to my expectations. Highlights were the many performances at the most unlikely places. We had a bit of luck in that two festivals fell just within this tour. One of the real highlights for me was Pow Monkeys. Tour guide Marc did a terrific job and managed to captivate everyone with great stories and anecdotes.”
Hilbert Jonkman - USA Roots of Music - March 2015

“Well organised, Marc knows everything about the music and all that comes with it, he’s a fantastic motorcyclist and keeps an eye on everyone, sometimes a bit of over-kill for people with less music knowledge. The boat trip was fantastic, the visit to the prison was impressive and the church service the best. Tour guide Marc is a very special person who knows a lot and considers everyone. I’m really glad I joined the tour. Greetings from Zwolle.”
Michael van Rossum - USA Roots of Music - March 2015

“The tour was fantastic. Highlights: 1. Riding a Harley Davidson. 2. Visiting the city of New Orleans. 3. Riding a bike in America. 4. Visiting the residence (Graceland) and the house where Elvis, the idol of my youth, was born. 5. Gospel church service. 6. Angola Prison. 7. Memphis. 8. Staying in those old shacks. 9. The varied accommodation etc etc. Tour guide Marc is a top bloke. It was unforgettable.”
Teunis Kamerman - USA Roots of Music - October 2013

“Contact was good: quick and clear answers to email-queries . The tour was in a word FANTASTIC and offered more experiences, impressions etc than I had expected. Highlights: two hugely contrasting experiences in one day: in the morning a visit to the Angola prison including a walkway past the inmates of death row (!) and in the afternoon a visit to Jerry Lee Lewis’ wacky sister and cousin. For me the tour was one big highlight and an experience I’ll never forget. To me Marc is the perfect tour guide. Really keeps everything together, holds on to the leadership whilst at the same time a very welcome member of the group. Extensive music and local knowledge and an tremendous raconteur. As is obvious from my response I’m more than satisfied with the organisation and the tour. I like the surprise of new and different initiatives that bring together music and motorcycling: a great combination. Thank you for this experience!”
Peter Doreleijers - USA Roots of Music - October 2013

“Enerverend, fun, exciting, musical, life-changing even, interesting. Highlights New Orleans, Angola State Prison, Greenwood, Cleveland, grave Robert Johnson, WDIA visit, BB King museum, Dockery Farms, Memphis, Muscle Shoals (FAME), Hank Williams Museum grave, New Orleans (II). Tour guide Marc is very good, fun, well informed, funny, sociable, knew fun places, perfect rider, good in traffic. In short: ideal. Only thing his pace was slightly higher than mine. I am very pleased indeed.”
Jaap Boots - USA Roots of Music - October 2013

“Contact is Good and pleasant! The tour more than met with expectations. It was intense, varied programme with surprises, unpretentious, very informative, in short brilliant, fantastic! Too many highlights to mention, but the encounter with James Burton, the stops and stories about the slaves and their music, the trips to the museums, studios, music school. The tour guide knew a lot of stories, leaves space for own initiatives etc.”
Adri Markusse - USA Roots of Music - September 2013

“Interesting tour that has given me a new look on the experience of music. The whole trip was perfect, experienced so much, which makes especially the unexpected things extra enjoyable. Tour guide Marc has a good knowledge of the subject and really fitted in with the group and welcomed individual initiatives.”
Yvonne Kock e/v Kroon - USA Roots of Music - September 2013

"The trip was good, seen and heard a lot. Still processing all the impressions. For me, the highlights were the Sun studio, the visit to the prison, and New Orleans. And the background to what caused the death of ML King is a lot clearer, that’s a picture I did not have before. "
Rob Woudstra - USA Roots of Music - September 2013

"Contact is really good, there is fast and clear response to emails . The tour fantastic, this quest is about MUSIC, and the trip happens on the motorbike, with the beautiful weather, the great locations and the ride on the Harley, in short FANTASTIC. The visit to the Parchman prison really is very impressive, the visit to death row, where a few months earlier three inmates were put to death by injection, is heavy stuff and stays with you for some time. Here you may wonder whether you take would want to experience that. Highlights for me are the Stax museum in Memphis, the Electra Glide Classic, Marc’s stories and the Natchez trail. I can say that tour guide Marc lead us with a lot of experience and passion, pace was high but we got so much in return that I found this really enjoyable. Also got clear instructions whilst riding the bike and he was open to criticism and suggestions. Too bad it costs so much, otherwise this would be an annual road trip for me, I would love to go again. "
Joost Verbunt - USA Roots of Music - October 2012

"We didn’t have much contact with Motorcycle Trails but everything was clear. The tour fully met with expectations and more. We really enjoyed it from day one right to the end. Highlights include New Orleans, Po Monkey's, The Gospel service, Paul from WABG. The friendly people, the lovely weather, the endless stories and tidbits from Marc, the live music, the great food, the Harleys, the quiet traffic. I’m sure I’m forgetting some things, but these are some at least. Tour guide Marc was very enthusiastic and he knows (of course) a lot about the roots of american music. He was always willing to put in something extra. In summary, he did well, had everything well organised and well managed."
Bram van der Does --USA Roots of Music - October 2012

"Contact is good. Enjoyed it, especially the information Marc gave. Well documented and clear, maybe some written information concerning noise pollution around the places we visit would not be a luxury. Highlights: the LIVE music in New Orleans and the on the spot blues festival. Po Monkey’s was also impressive. Tour leader Marc: There is no better! "
Piet de Jong - Roots of Music, USA - October 2012

"Contact was very good. You even arranged a rental car for us after the tour. Tour is, in one word, amazing! Totally came up to my expectations. Highlights include the blues content, and our stay in shacks ensured a special atmosphere. The history around that felt very special. Also enjoyed the evenings with live music spent in various bars. Marc is may be not a natural tour guide, but that has its charms also. Brilliant improvising where necessary, but with a lot of music knowledge."
Lammert Kosters - USA Roots of Music - April 2012

"Tour is very very overwhelmingly interesting with regard to culture and music. Highlights are all to do with music, live in the cafes at night, Juke Joint Po Monkeys, New Orleans, Memphis, museum of Civil Rights and Martin Luther King. Tour guide Marc was very congenial, patient and always open to suggestions. "
Ine Hendriks - USA roots of Music - April 2012

"Really enjoy sitting down and thinking back to the tour, still. I’ve already come to a conclusion for myself, I will absolutely do it again. Which tour I have yet to decide."
William Wijnker - USA Roots of Music - April 2012

"Tour is fantastic, we loved being able to join by car. Marc is a passionate music man and fanatically so. "
Helenus de Reus - USA Roots of Music - April 2012

"As always the contact was pleasant, went smoothly and correct, and got a quick response to requests for information. The personal touch in particular is much appreciated. The tour was "awesome", the best. It hit the right balance and distances were not too long. Highlights include the church service in Memphis, Reverend Kyle’s story about Martin Luther King, the auditorium in Shreveport, the swamp boat ride, the countless live performances, the lovely relaxed ride on the Harley in the sun with great laid back music blasting from the speakers, the friendly group and the enjoyable evenings, all the stories about the bluesmen and the impressive visit to the Parchman Prison, I could go on and on. Marc is a great guide and it is real bonus to have your "personal" music encyclopedia with you. Besides, he is also just a very nice guy who creates a good atmosphere. Marc’s knowledge, all the stories and the way he tells them make this trip very special. Don’t make too many changes, it is a really terrific tour as it stands, THANX "
Ronald and Marga Wortelboer - USA Roots of Music - November 2011

"The contact was personal and adequate, especially considering the fact that I booked only shortly in advance. The booklet, CD and info pre-tour: very good! The tour is totally awesome! It actually exceeded my expectations. It's the first time I got to know a country in this way, with the absolutely added value of Marc. For me it was the perfect blend of motorcycling, music experience and culture. Enjoyment and adventure and that all with a fun group of people. The best! Many highlights, basically a succession of highlights. The beautiful trails, the ever-present music, and continuous surprises. If I have to mention a few things: Crossroads, Graceland, Parchman Farm, Lorraine Hotel, Baptist Church, Mexican trio in Cleveland restaurant, Riverside Hotel, Biloxi route, Shreveport Auditorium and Beale Street. Tour guide Marc did an outstanding job! Very relaxed, plenty of room for discussion, freedom, of course he had lots to tell. Absolute added value. The first week Marco also played an important role. His experience and philosophy on travel were very reassuring to the group. Chapeaux! "
Bert Beijesbergen - USA Roots of Music - November 2011

"The tour was an adventure, not everything was right but that just made it special. Enjoyed the brilliant performances in different locations and the hospitality of the people living there as well as the musicians. I was able to join in on my Blues Harp and got a comment from black musicians: "Man ... you are not playing as a whity, you are black." Highlights for me personally are the meeting with Reverend Samuel "Billy" Kyles, one of the two friends of Martin L. King who were there during the last hour of his life. I had the honour to speak with him about his feelings in the years afterwards. That makes this trip unique. Tour guide Marc thoroughly prepared for this trip and is unmatched in his knowledge about the roots of US music. He had movies, music at the right time."
Pieter van Vaneveld - USA Roots of Music - November 2011