Doing the mini (or not always so mini) vacation around a concert is a lot of fun.  I have a  great group of friends I met in London in 2009 seeing Joe Bonamassa at the Royal Albert Hall, and since then we have managed in one place or another, either there or on this side of the pond, to get together.  I'm going to London over Labor Day weekend for a special show with some of these folks and it is only costing me a plane ticket.  Great, great fun.