The Blue Nile?? I'm just MP3ing A walk across the Rooftops as we speak! The most memorable away game for me was a trip to London in the early nineties to see Julian Cope (under duress from a jeunne fille). After nearly 18 hours travelling and a quick spin round Covent Garden, we headed off to the Town & Country only to find the gig had been cancelled that day. Possibly the only band I would travel to see at the moment is The Trashcan Sinatras. Also, given their stunning gig in Whelan's recently, The Twilight Singers.

I recently saw a great unsigned band in London called Havana Guns (very 80s electropop kind of stuff, a bit like Ladytron, but with more emotive vocals). I didn't go over specifically to see them, I just happened to be in London the same week that they were playing a gig. I had heard of the before so I decided to check them out live, sadly I only caught the end of their set because the gig started much earlier then they had stated on their website. There was very few people at it too, shame really, because I think they're a great, maybe Londoners are just spoiled for choice. They're still a bit rough round the edges, but I think they have a lot of potential. I don't think I'd travel abroad specifically to see a band, maybe I'm just lazy. On the other hand if they were playing somewhere nice, I might adjust my holiday plans to include a gig. Come on tour operators, you know there's a niche out there, a nice cheap cruise to see New Order and Kraftwerk in the Carribean

I've been to London to see the Who in 2001 when Entwhistle was still alive, played in Wembley Arena, fab gig, only went cause I wanted to see them before they snuffed it, looks like i got to see them just in time. Also travelled to see Belle And Sebastian twice, once across te border to Belfast, it's not really foreign I know but does it count?? And once to Edinburgh to see them, cause they just won't play Dublin.

I'm always at it.....its my favourite passtime!

My parents let me fly to San Francisco on my 16th birthday to see U2. (1986--an Amnesty International benefit concert, also playing were Sting, Peter Gabriel, Jackson Browne, Joan Baez, Lou Reed.) That's the furthest I've ever travelled. It's hard to do anything like that these days, got kids and stuff. But when I was younger I'd drive up to Bellingham (2 hr drive) to see local bands like Mudhoney play the college up there. If there's a band I really really like I may drive down to Portland (3 hour drive) and catch them there, then come home and catch them in Seattle the next night.

I left my desk in the office in Southwark, London, at 5.45 to catch the Eurostar to Paris. There I took a cab to Bercy to catch U2's last tour with the monsieur who started this very thread... (just missing the Stereophonics... YEY!). I then partied most of the night - caught the 6am train back to London and was at my desk, fresh as a month old banana, at 9.15 am. Same clothes. Great stuff. Bands I'd travel to? Wilco too... Neil Young (still haven't seen him), Bowie.

Started my overseas jaunts in 1993 ( U2's Zooropa gig, Wembley Stadium ). Since then: U2 - Popmart, Wembley Stadium - 1997 T in the Park festival - Balado, Scotland - 1998 Pearl Jam - Wembley Arena - 2000 Bruce Springsteen - Wembley Arena - 2002 Bruce Springsteen - Crystal Palace Bowl - 2003. Have yet to make the pilgrimage to Glasto, and judging by this year's farrago over the tickets, probably never will.......

Forgot : if Belfast counts, saw Radiohead at the Odyssey Arena there in 2001 ( first time in Belfast ).

I once travelled to the ILAC Centre car park to see Aslan. Does that count ? Best The Rev

i'd go see weezer, just because they were the band whose first single i bought and the feckers won't ever play in ireland. P.S. you do know wilco are playing oxegen, i know it wouldn't be a patch on the Astora but just to let you know

Aslan in ILAC car park! Oh God, I remember it well. I travelled to that one too, on the 51B bus however. 'Twas a grand gig. 1988 if I remember correctly. And then it went all mouldy pear-shaped. eoghan

Talking of interesting but slightly naff gigs, does any remember Thompson Twins in Stephen's Green?? Maybe 1987-ish?? Middle of the afternoon??

Let me see, as far as travelling to see someone I think I've only done it the once (apart from a few Glastonbury trips), to go and see Oasis at Knebworth. And they were a bit s**t for me that day, still good day out though. I think I'd make an effort to travel and see the likes of Neil Young or Brian Wilson.

Vent My Spleen - oh my God, I was at that gig in Stephens Green !! If memory serves me right there was a Dublin band called Scale the Heights playing which is why I was there - they were a cracking band, later became The Beekeepers and disappeared. I think Scullion might have been at that as well but I'm not sure. And the Aslan ILAC centre gig - not only was I there but I have a superb set of photographs to prove it. That was their last gig alright before Christy's "My Drugs Hell" period.

If I could afford it (the joys of student life!) I'd definitely travel to see Bruce Springsteen (who's apparently just finishing up the new album according to Backstreets!) U2, Willie Nelson, Martin Hayes and Denis Cahill, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Allison Krauss, Yo-Yo Ma (who I missed in NCH last time) Tom Waits, Gillian Welch and Jesse Malin (but don't have to - roll on the summer in Dublin!)

I havent even traveled out of ireland to catch a band. Although i was supposed to travel to manchester to catch coldplay in 1999, but i canceled at the last moment. Ive travelled to kilkenny for Damien Dempsey and to waterford for paddy casey and also Bell-x1/TenSpeedRacer If pete yorn doesnt play ireland this year then i reckon a trip to the UK will be on the cards. (heres hoping he turns up on stage with jesse malin in the village)

saw rem at rock wherchter in belgium in 99 and gonna see the pixies in brixton this june. rock

Hey, Would love to see John Doe's Aslan photos. Any chance Cluas would think of doing a photo montage with his permission ? Best Rev Jules

i went to glasgow to see snow patrol recently, well worth it i'd a brilliant weekend. i wanted to go to t in the park to see the pixies ( i hate the chili's , thrills so dont want to pay money there) but the campin ticks just sold out :(

I *have* travelled to see: Sepultura Brixton Accademy 1996 (last ever gig with Max) Jetplane Landing London December 2003 Grandaddy/Snow Patrol London December 2003 Heading to London next month to see JPL again. And I'd seel my soul to travel to see: Pink Floyd (only with Waters playing) Tool Pearl Jam

Caught them on their 1st post-Waters tour in Wembley Arena circa 1989 and I have to say it was one of the (if not the) most memorable gigs I have ever experienced. I was talked into going by my brother & a mate who where big fans. I was sceptical as the tickets were 35 Sterling at the time (a massive amount, I was getting about 110 quid a week for a decent job). But it was worth every penny. The had speakers set up all around the auditorium so the sound would travel from one corner of the stage all round you to the other corner. The lights, the movies on the background, the fireworks the pigs, the beds crashing into the stage - it was pure theatre. If you ever get a change to see them in a venue the size of the point of smaller, grab it.

Travelled to London to see Weezer about 3 years ago in Shepherds Bush. If those bastards wont come to me I'll damn well go to them! Great gig. Jimmy Eat World were supporting and I had never heard of them. Blown away! Think I might also make the trip to see Wilco in the Astoria.

One good gig this summer in Birmingham "RUSH" as they start world tour Dont think their playin here though. That's one worth travelling to......

Wow! a Rush fan, that would make you the second one I've ever encountered.

there's a few more out there !! Rush also won the best music website award this year. not sure if that gig in birmingham is sold out though?

Whats the URL of the Rush website by the way? I remember a friend of mine (the solitary rush fan in question) playing a CD of their stuff for me and thinking, "hey, thats not bad". OK I wasn't blown away or anything, but I didn't get a chance to listen to it properly either. The only other encounter I've had with Rush is back in my teens when I was trying to learn to play guitar. I used to buy those guitar mags with the tablature at the back (you too can shred like Joe Satriani!, yeah right). This is back in the days before I had access to the wonder of the interweb and OLGA, I would have saved a fortune if I had. Anyway, I digress, I just rember looking at the tablature for a rush song and thinking "wow, thats hard, nuts to that, lets find something easy to play". Needless to say my career as a fretboard shredding rock god never got started. Yay for PCs! helping lazy people make music since about 1984!

I hear ya ! one of those lazy people myself who never sorted out the guitar back in school, I blame football.....bloody football.Thank god for the PC and cubase and all those lovely Vst plugs. Those rush chords and rifts just blew the head of me anyway so I,d leg it out the back garden and kick the ball in frustration........ www.rush.com

nick cave... i'd travel, and travel, and travel... if i had the money...

Bob Dylan and The Band, everyone else can come to the point/slane/my local. Except maybe Faith No More, who are no more themselves. Hey FiddleChick, as far as I know Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill play around the country every few months, I saw them down the country in Tipp, pure lunatics.

Yes Lucera, I've seen them 9 times live at all sorts of venues over last 2 years - were in Natinal Concert Hall about 6 weeks ago or so - absolutely brill! Brought a friend along who hates trad music but he was completely converted by their capivating and impeccable musicianship and they're just finishing up a new album - yipee! As for Bob.....roll on Galway! Simon and Garfunkel in RDS too! How good is that? Was checking up some of thier setlists from 2003 Old Friends tour and while they've got the Everly Bros and all the S&G stuff they don't play Simon's solo stuff much - which is a pity - Diamonds on the Soles of her Feet and Graceland would be heaven!

The Frames - Czech Republic, June 2002 Josh Ritter - Amsterdam, Holland, January 2004

Weird choice Loveless, I mean don't the Frames and Ritter play loads in this country already? Seems like a lot of effort when you can just catch them next time they play Whelans or whatever, or am I missing something here?

I think you are underestimating the committment of Frames fans there Binokular. Seeing the band every now and then in Whelans would not make a dedicated fan of Glen and Co. Their fans are on a par with Springsteen, Grateful Dead and Dylan. Josh Ritter - I wouldn't cross the road to see.

Ah, so Irelands answer to Dead Heads and Numanoids (Gary Numan) then? Anyone come up with a good nickname that these dedicated Frames and Ritter fans refer to themselves as yet?

Well, if you are a dedicated fan of both Josh Ritter and The Frames, I guess you could be called...a Fritter. Boom, boom !

I'm going to see Rush in the NEC in Brummie on Sept 11th (eek ) .... can't wait , it's the 30th Anniversary Tour so probably the last ever chance to see them over this neck of the wood. Flights / Hotel & Tickets = 150 euro .. f**kin bargain of the decade.

Birmingham, eh? Anyone willing to travel there must be a dedicated fan! On the plus side, you should have no trouble getting a decent curry after the gig. Ah Birminghams great really: http://www2.b3ta.com/birmingham/

can i say one quick thing? pixies, tomorrow night, london, LATER

Stephen came all the way to Seattle to see Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter. :)

Hey Sue.... was a pleasure to meet you. But I did meet an interesting character on my flight home from Seattle... I was queuing to get on the flight, section by section, when an extremely rotund but very friendly American remarked to me that he was only one row away from being allowed to board... He then talked about boarding aeroplanes in Vietnam and other random thoughts when he asked "Why are you in Seattle?!". I explained why and then he told me the sole and only reason he was travelling to London - "I'm going to see the Shadows in concert"... Now there's a band to travel to see! An intercontinental trip to go see the Shadows... When we arrived I met him in Baggage Reclaim and wished him a good concert... to which I was admonished - "I've heard all their recordings. Of course it will be a good concert!" accompanied by a shaking of his head... What a character.

Hey I know that guy! JK.