The countdown is on… 

In a few days, I am headed to watch Coldplay perform in an old bullring in Madrid, Spain. (The famed Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, actually.) As I type this, I am pinching myself at how much fun this sounds.

The experience is the latest in the American Express Unstaged series that pairs amazing live acts (think Arcade Fire, The Roots, Sugarland) with notable filmmakers (think Spike Lee, David Lynch, Todd Haynes) to create a love child that is equal parts raucous concert and avant-garde cinematography. And all of the Unstaged concerts are live-streamable (nice work, VEVO and YouTube), so fans – like yourselves – can check it out from anywhere, even choosing their camera angles, pick songs and more.

When Coldplay takes to the stage on Oct. 26 – just two days after their next album, Mylo Xyloto, drops — filmmaker Anton Corbijn (The American, Control) will be directing. 

Watch this space and twitter.com/schoolfinishing to follow me on my travels and to stay tuned for what Amex has in store for me. Very soon, I am being put in touch with an American Express Platinum travel concierge to help me with my plans. I have been told that their attention to detail is incomparable and, as a DIY traveller, I am very much looking forward to someone else doing the heavy lifting of coordinating flights, connection times, accommodations, etc.

I love travel. I am just as happy in a plush Paris pad in Le Marais as I am sleeping under the stars in Nicaragua — so long as I pack accordingly.

Which leads me neatly to my next point: packing. Since this is going to be a whirlwind trip with a slammed itinerary, I am endeavoring to only take a carry-on. Maybe my Amex Concierge can help me narrow down outfits. Or tell me if the hotel has a hair dryer. Or if I should opt for wedges over heels given the perilous cobblestone streets of Madrid.

Oh, Concierge. I hope you’re ready for me…

Pssst. You should RSVP to catch the performance here and scope out how you can be part of the show here.