In 2003, U2 star and campaigner Bono stunned reporters when he arranged for his infamous trilby – which he had forgotten in the lead-up to a concert – to be delivered to him first-class on a passenger aircraft.
The Joshua Tree singer had arrived in the Italian city of Modena for a charity concert hosted by Pavarotti, only to discover that he had left his favourite hat in London.
Considering his wealth, it’s no surprise that Bono would expedite the hat’s delivery, happily covering its taxi transfers between airports with the headpiece travelling in a BA cockpit to avoid it being damaged.
Less indulgent is the need to safely transport equipment for music festivals, from guitars and drum sets to gargantuan sound systems. This equipment, however, is nothing on the scale of a festival’s set designs. Events such as Tomorrowland in Belgium and the UK’s Boomtown Fair are better known for their elaborate sets and scenery than they are the music. That level of freight isn’t shifted by road.
Looking across the pond in Nashville, this ought to strike a chord with the Tennessee capital’s appeal for music tourism. Alongside venues like the Ryman Auditorium, Mercy Lounge, Grimey’s and The Station Inn, Nashville hosts several major musical events throughout the year, including CMA (Country Music Association) Fest, Americana Fest, and Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight.
With such a huge number of ongoing music events and venues, the city is a hub for concert and set design shippers and IAG Cargo’s new Nashville route, launching May 2018, is welcome news.
IAG Cargo has a history of partnering up with top acts, having recently joined forces with The Who on the back of their 50th anniversary. Watch our exclusive interview with the band here.
IAG Cargo will be flying to Nashville from May 2018