With a web of logistical headaches, ever tightening margins, and all manner of travel-related red tape to cut through, touring in today’s market is as tough as it’s ever been. It’s no surprise then, that the trend nowadays is for artists and bands to stick to the well-trodden touring routes and avoid veering too far into the unknown. However, for James Blunt and his long-serving band and crew, discovering new destinations is all part of the fun of being on tour. “James loves that aspect of touring,” commented Blunt’s long-serving Tour Manager, Robert Hayden. “The desire to play these more unusual destinations trickles down from James. He’ll put on a show wherever we are the world, and if he’s happy then then the rest of us don’t have much excuse to moan!”
With the James Blunt camp at the tail end of the Who We Used To Be Tour, which started in the UK and Europe before heading to Morocco, South Africa and several dates around Australia, Thailand, Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong, TPiMEA caught up with Hayden backstage ahead of the show at the SunBet Arena, Pretoria, where he spared a few minutes to reflect on some of the more unconventional destinations the camp have visited over the years and shared some of the quirks that come with following the road less travelled.
“For us, it’s all about having the correct information and being realistic with our expectations,” he said, explaining his approach to advancing a tour. “Where issues can arise is if a promoter is too eager to please and promises the world instead of giving a realistic impression of what’s going to happen. The more we go to places, the easier it becomes, because we know what to expect. If we get the correct information right from the start, we’ve just got to work with it.”
Having worked with Blunt since the early days of playing clubs, Hayden has been all over the world with the singer-songwriter, including several stop-offs that don’t appear on the typical touring route. “One that immediately springs to mind is a great run we had after leaving the USA, which took us through Tahiti, Reunion Islands and New Caledonia, on the way to New Zealand and Australia,” he recalled, reminiscing about some of the most memorable places he and the team have visited over the years. “When you look on a map, they’re just tiny dots in the ocean, but they are beautiful places – and the shows were well attended with great audiences.”
Of course, each territory comes with its unique set of challenges, from flight times and visa issues to hotel arrangements and even protocol during the show. “Some countries insist on having a list of songs that James is going to play in each city on the tour, so that’s another thing that must be considered before we go,” he revealed. “If you want to play these territories, it’s something you must deal with.”
According to Hayden, the fact that James Blunt and his band are so flexible makes touring to unusual destinations possible. “As long as we can get hold of a piano or a keyboard, we can put on a show. They’re fantastic musicians and they can make it work with what they’ve got, which is testament to their talent,” he praised. “It’s all about going in with the right attitude, an open mind and realistic expectations.”
Before Hayden was called away to facilitate the pre-show meet and greet, we posed the question, where’s left on the travel bucket list? “There aren’t too many places where we haven’t been,” he laughed. “We’ve done 46 of the 50 US states but not Alaska yet. I’d love it if we could get up there at some point.”
Photo: TPiMEA
