Music is a timeless past time that has been around for eons. Each country and culture has it’s own sound, but there are a few destinations across the globe that are really known for their music. Whether they birthed countless stars, a unique sound or a musical movement, these are 8 places every music lover should visit at least once…
Liverpool, Great Britain
You may have heard of Liverpool’s most famous exports, they’re this little band called the Beatles. The UK city lives and breathes Beatle-mania (they even have International Beatleweek once a year), but John, Paul, George and Ringo aren’t the only big musical drawcard in Liverpool. Their Echo Arena has hosted countless stars and they host the Liverpool International Musical Festival. Liverpool is the home of some of Britain’s finest pop music and its rich musical history makes it feel like every street and building has a story.
Memphis, USA
This Tennessee city is King of music, and that’s because it’s the home of The King, Elvis Presley. His family home, Graceland, is worth a tour and whether you’re a fan of Blue Suede Shoes or not, he’s an iconic figure whose music changed the world. Sun Studio is also a must visit. This humble recording studio is where Elvis, Johnny Cash and B.B. King all recorded albums. Now that’s iconic! The city has a unique musical flavour that needs to be seen to be believed. EVERYONE is always grooving. The best place for live music though is the famous Beale Street. BYO dancing shoes.
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Berlin, Germany
Germany’s capital is often applauded for its music scene. A city that comes alive at night, Berlin has some of the world’s best night clubs. From the famously hard to get into Berghain, to techno nirvana Tresor, Berlin has music for every taste (and energy level), with a scene that is always evolving. Currently Berliners are into Echtzeitmusik, an experimental music that focuses on rock, pop, jazz and improvisation. There’s definitely music niches and crowds in Berlin, it’s just up to you which you want to explore! Rock and roll? Rave? Retro? You can find it all in this musical mecca.
New Orleans, USA
Jazz (at least the American kind) was said to have been created in New Orleans and one walk down Bourbon Street will have you nodding in agreement. It’s one of the most-loved cities for music and hosts a lot of vibrant festivals, like Mardi Gras, the New Orleans Jazz Festival and the New World Rhythms Festival. Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Harry Connick, Jr. and Wynton Marsalis have all shaped NOLA into the soulful hot spot it is today.
Havana, Cuba
Cuba’s capital is alive with the sound of Latin music! The energetic tunes are known all over the world, but no Spotify mix can compete with how amazing it is in real life. Head to Havana to hear the unique Cuban music that is part Latin jazz, part salsa, part timba and part rumba. Every street and bar has patrons dancing to local sounds and many Cuban musicians remain locals, so you might just bump into them if you’re lucky…
London, Great Britain
Old London town is chock-full of iconic music buildings, sights and artists. It’s been at the forefront of British music (especially the Brit-Pop movement) for decades and is STILL producing the goods today. South London has an up and coming music scene, but places like Shoreditch and Camden are still well known and loved for their influence on music. Visit Abbey Road for the iconic Beatles shot and be sure to check out the London Rock Tours for an epic look at everything music in Britain.
Vienna, Austria
Known as the City of Music, Vienna has been the home to classical music for decades. Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart (you may have heard of them) all had their legend start in Vienna, where they composed and performed throughout their lives. Vienna hosts an annual performance season that has classical music events all over the city. The Vienna Philharmonic is a must visit if you want to witness a world-class recital by the esteemed orchestra in the stately Wiener Konzerthaus.
Austin, USA
Texas has a lot of great music, but only Austin can boast the title of Live Music Capital of the World. Willie Nelson, Janis Joplin and Spoon are all from Austin, which proves that it’s not all just about country tunes there. Austin also hosts some of the world’s best festivals, Austin City Limits and South by Southwest. Even if you don’t score a ticket to the festivals, you can always catch a beat at venues like Broken Spoke, the Continental Club and Antone’s.
