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Have Guitar Will Travel World

The travel adventures of a Nashville singer/songwriter seeking to understand the world through its music and music traditions. In the style of “travel cinéma vérité,” Have Guitar Will Travel World lets viewers experience the enthusiastic discovery and spontaneous jam sessions that erupt when musicians are your guides to exploring the crossroads of music & cultural identity.

Hosted by Nashville musician Mark Allen and presented by Nashville Public Television.

  • Mark Jeffrey Allen
    Director
  • Andrea Leigh Engleson
    Writer
  • Mark Jeffrey Allen
    Writer
  • Andrea Leigh Engleson
    Producer
  • Mark Jeffrey Allen
    Key Cast
    "Host"
  • Mark Jeffrey Allen
    Music
  • Andrea Leigh Engleson
    Photography
  • Andrea Leigh Engleson
    Camera
  • Andrea Leigh Engleson
    Showrunner
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Television
  • Genres:
    Travel Documentary Series, Travel Cinéma Vérité, Documentary, Documentary Short, Music in film, Film music, Film score
  • Runtime:
    26 minutes 46 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 31, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    100,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Ireland, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • Nashville Public Television
    Distributor
    Country: United States
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Mark Jeffrey Allen

A natural storyteller and lifelong traveler, Mark’s career as a performer, writer, composer, producer and engineer both sets him apart and makes him universally at ease, whether in the pubs of the UK or onstage at the Grand Ole Opry.

Mark distills the complexities of existence into music, the common currency of humanity. His ability to connect with strangers and bond over the shared love of song is unparalleled, making him one of the longest-running performers at the Gaylord Opryland Resort entertaining international audiences —and hundreds of thousands of people— since 2006.

While his passion as a lifelong producer/musician includes the founding of Atlanta’s Benchmark Productions (1992), Mark’s chapter in Nashville began in 1998, when recruited to run the studio of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Over his career, he has scored films and released several critically acclaimed albums, including “American in the 21st Century,” and held residency as a premier writer/artist at CAL IV/Spirit Entertainment. His background in literature, music history, community outreach, production and engineering gives him fluency in music of every genre, including –but certainly not limited to– Americana, Hip Hop, Celtic, R&B, Jazz, Rock and Country.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Our series captures the magic that happens when we explore the world through the “musical conversation.” It's the spontaneous harmony of local, live music --whether at a pub, club, a community hall or festival. It's the voice of a culture that everyone can hear.