Old Time Country Tours are US bound again

Unlike other tours, which concentrate on the modern country scene, this one caters for those whose hearts are anchored in the traditional roots and sounds of authentic country music.

Castlebar-based Eugene McDermott, who pioneered the Old Time Country Tour in recent years, has found a ready market for his well-focussed itinerary.

The first stop is Birmingham, Alabama, with visits to Montgomery and the Hank Williams Museum.

Old Time Country Tours has again included a visit to Tupelo, Mississippi, the birthplace of Elvis Presley, visiting the house where Elvis spent his early days and also the church where he first started singing. Guided tours of the Graceland Mansion and Sun Studios are also part of the trip to Memphis.

Johnny Cash fans will love the time spent in Dyess in rural Arkansas, visiting the restored boyhood home of Johnny Cash and hearing stories from the local people in a part of America that has changed little over the decades.

The days spent in Nashville will include a show at the Grand Ole Opry and an evening at the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theatre’s Country Music Show, plus a midday lunch and Country Music Show aboard The General Jackson while sailing the Cumberland River. The group will also tour the Ryman Theatre and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

“Our itinerary also takes us to Kentucky, where we will visit the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and the Brush Arbor Cabin Village, Mount Vernon, which gives one a glimpse of how the first settlers lived when they arrived in America. We will also attend an evening country show in Renfro Valley, Kentucky,” says Eugene McDermott.

The final stage of the tour features a visit to the Indian Village and Museum in Cherokee, North Carolina. The group will also attend the Country Tonite Theatre in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for one of the top shows in The Smokies.

“Old Time Country Tours provides one of the most personal and enjoyable trips for followers of real country music who appreciate the rich and inspirational stories behind the music and its legends. The 10-day trip is something that is very much appreciated by those who book with us. It adds a lot to the feel of a real vacation,” says Eugene.