About Soundescapes

About Sound Escapes Concert Tours

Who we are

Sound Escapes is a family-run tour company specialising in performance tours for all types of amateur music ensembles and expressive arts groups to the UK and Ireland.

Our holidays are completely bespoke and your requirements are key in creating the perfect tour. We are based in Nottingham, located in the heart of the UK, so are perfectly placed for facilitating your tour arrangements to the finest detail. Whether you are embarking on a tour to the UK and Ireland for the very first time or visiting from another region of our fine country, we will ensure a unique and great British welcome to wherever your musical journey leads. We will organise every aspect of your tour, from the travel within the UK, accommodation, excursions, meals, tour guides and of course most importantly your performances and the publicity that goes hand in hand with this.

UK Tour Managers

Here at Sound Escapes we work with a number of professional and highly experienced Concert Tour Managers who will accompany your group on tour to ensure it runs smoothly in every way!

The Performances

Soundescapes Performances

At Sound Escapes we fully appreciate that no two performance groups are the same and will ensure your musical needs and performance aspirations are fully considered from our very first point of contact with you. We have established relationships with hundreds of venues across the country from UNESCO World Heritage Cathedrals to outdoor amphitheatres, bandstands, music festivals, arts and visitor centres. Our UK location allows to have our ear very close to the ground from a musical perspective so will ensure that your concerts are the very best.

We would also highly recommend the exciting opportunity of performing with a musical ensemble based in your chosen destination or during one of the UK’s excellent music and arts festivals. Here at Sound Escapes we have the contacts and expertise to facilitate this very special performance option for you!

Meet the Team

Jo Porter

Owner and Chief Tour Orchestrator

Music, performance, travel and my home country of the UK are my greatest passions and after 16 brilliant years of working in the travel industry as Head of Concert Tours for a leading bespoke tour operator, I decided to follow my dream and set up Sound Escapes. Raised in rural north west England, within close proximity to the tourist meccas of Blackpool and the Lake District, travel and tourism always played an important role during my younger years and influenced my love of travel once adulthood arrived. Performance too has played a huge part throughout my life, from playing the piano and violin, being Head Chorister in a church choir and performing in amateur and professional productions in my youth to completing a university degree in French and Performing Arts in Leicester. More recently, in my spare time I’ve enjoyed being part of a Nottingham based musical theatre company, community choir and singing in a 1960’s soul and Motown band!

Alastair Porter

Marketing and Promotions Maestro

Born and bred in County Durham in the picturesque North East, with stints in Bahrain, Norway, Leicester, Birmingham London, Alastair too is now firmly established in Nottingham. Having worked for a number of leading FMCG and blue-chip companies in both marketing and sales roles, and with experience of being directly responsible for large scale music events at mainstream festivals, Alastair brings a wealth of experience in his Marketing and Concert Promotion role at Sound Escapes.

Gill Keighley

Tour and Finance Administrator

With a whopping 40 years of administration experience under her belt, Gill knows how to get a job done or two and will ensure the administrative aspects of your tour are executed to perfection! A long-term member of her local church choir and choral group as well as an experienced tourer, Gill’s love of choral and classical music combined with her administrative experience makes her a vital member of the backstage team!

Peace of Mind for You

  • Protected Trust Services MemberFinancial Protection – Sound Escapes is a company committed to customer satisfaction and consumer financial protection. We are therefore pleased to announce that, at no extra cost to you, and in accordance with ”The Package Travel, Package Tours Regulations” all passengers booking with Sound Escapes are fully protected for the initial deposit, and subsequently the balance of monies paid as detailed in your booking confirmation form. Your money is fully protected and paid into an independent Trust Account, managed by Protected Travel Services Ltd of 307-315 Holdenhurst Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH8 8BX and its Trustees, chartered accountants – Elman Wall Ltd of 8th Floor, Becket House, 36 Old Jewry, London EC2R 8DD.
  • Health and Safety – Here at Sound Escapes, we only provide the very best in quality and all of our suppliers are independently assessed to ensure they meet our high standards and fully comply with UK Health and Safety regulations. We are able to provide risk assessments for your tour as required.
  • Public Liability Insurance – Sound Escapes holds a comprehensive tour operator’s public liability insurance combined packaged with one of the UK’s leading brokers for tour and travel agents’, Towergate Chapman Stevens, for your full peace of mind. Please see http://www.towergatechapmanstevens.co.uk/tour-operators-insurance.aspx for more information.
  • Group and Individual Travel Insurance – It is essential that every member of your party has their own individual travel insurance to ensure they have adequate cover for any medical emergencies (non-UK residents) during their stay, tour cancellation and personal belongings. Sound Escapes is able to offer your party comprehensive travel insurance for a supplementary cost with SunWorld Travel. Please click here for your personalised quote,
  • 24-hour tour assistance – In addition to the services of a dedicated accompanying Tour Manager throughout your musical break, Sound Escapes will provide 24-hour emergency assistance in the event of unforeseen circumstances which may arise during your tour.

Fantastic tour in Bonnie Scotland, enjoyed by all who went, singing and non-singing. Brilliant organisation from Jo who really made it all look so easy.
Kate HymansTour organiser for Masterworks Chorale
Brilliant tour, expertly organised. Kindness and compassion. Nothing was too much trouble. Colin, our driver, was a complete gem and so knowledgeable about the isle. Lovely hotel staff where nothing was too much trouble
Felicity CourageChoir Director, Courage Choir
You’ve been patient and kind all the way through this, Jo – especially with it being the first international tour I’ve done, and with all the unforeseen changes to the travel arrangements, so thank you to you and the team.
Sarah MonteithChoir DirectorResound ChoirParis 2023

In May 2020 we were due to tour the Stirling area in Scotland and due to the current coronavirus pandemic we took the difficult decision to call off the tour. I’d like to give our thanks and praise to Jo and her team for all the planning and preparation she had done to put the itinerary together – she was able to provide us with an excellent range of stunning concert venues, plus some great suggestions for our leisure time, and we look forward to working with her again soon.

Sally ColesSecretary, Cantamici
Sound Escapes did a fantastic job on arrangements for our tour . Would thoroughly recommend Jo to any choir looking to travel . All feedback has been positive from everyone who travelled . The extra care at meeting us at the coach and check in to ensure things ran smoothly went above and beyond .
Don OakleyMalmesbury ChoirOxford 2023
As a Chorister, and eventually Head Chorister in our local church choir for eleven years, Jo was talented, dedicated and could always be relied on to work to the utmost of her undoubted abilities. I would expect that she would apply the same attributes to her professional life
P BuckmasterChoral Director
From cathedrals and abbeys, churches and stately homes, all steeped in centuries of history, some in Roman Towns others in quintessential English ‘picture postcard’ villages, every choir and musical ensemble should spend a tour exploring the United Kingdom and Ireland. Whatever part of the country you to choose to visit, by working with a knowledgeable team of people who know the regions inside out from both a tourism and musical perspective, you will be guaranteed the richest of touring experiences
Tim KnightBritish composer and Choral Director
Jo and her team came up with a fantastic itinerary for our choir and planned everything to the last detail. We always felt we were in safe hands and that they were on the end of a phone to help us with anything we needed. We couldn’t recommend them highly enough.
Rosie SayersChairperson for Sing It Loud Community Choir
Care and attention to detail of the highest degree. The planning with Jo Porter was detailed and meticulous, with nothing being missed, and although she was not involved in the accommodation arrangements, she nevertheless checked it out and acted as an intermediary.
Robin SpencerChoir Secretary, Phoenix Choir
One of the best tours we have ever undertaken – musically, socially and geographically. Would heartily recommend Sound Escapes to any group considering a tour.
Carole Lindsay-DouglasAmici SingersWeston-Super-Mare 2023

Your musical journey awaits, get in touch today ...