Music can play a significant part in any travel experience. Whether it’s the lilting strains of a traditional folk song, an indie concert or great jazz that complements a delicious meal, it’s as much a part of vacation memories as a walk on the beach or exploring a magnificent castle.
No matter what your tastes, if you’re a music lover, you’re sure to enjoy a fantastic getaway by choosing any one of these destinations.
No music-lover who remotely liked Elvis Presley could pass up a chance on visiting the place synonymous with the King. Here it’s all about the rock ‘n’ roll and blues. Graceland is the obvious crowd-puller, the home of Elvis the King of Rock and Roll, where you can delve into his life and extravagance. You can also follow in the footsteps of Johnny Cash, Isaac Hayes and Howlin’ Wolf in the many musical museums, clubs and the iconic Sun Studio. Away from the obvious groovin’ attractions, Memphis is a city laden with beautiful green parks, Mississippi views, history and the arts.
Liverpool has often been called the world capital of pop, thanks to John, Paul, George and Ringo. But it offers a lot more than the Beatles, hosting big name performers at Echo Arena as well as special events like the Liverpool International Musical Festival in addition to International Beatleweek. Of course, countless Beatles’ fans arrive here to experience the birthplace of the legendary English pop band. If you’re one of them, there’s no better way to take it all in than a Beatles Fab Four Taxi Tour, which includes stops at the former homes of the singers, Strawberry Field and Eleanor Rigby’s gravesite – all set to a soundtrack that made Liverpool famous.
It’s called the Music City for a reason! Nashville is home to some of the biggest names in country music with Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Reba McEntire, to name a few, all calling the great city home. Pull on your cowboy boots and get ready to swing to the old time sounds of ballads drawled out to the twang of steel-string guitars, mandolins, banjos and fiddles. There are hundreds of amazing live music venues and a walk down Main Street will fill your senses with bright lights, loud noise and the smell of delicious local American-style food.
Many travel to Havana to experience pre-revolutionary son-style music, a prototype of salsa, along with Latin Jazz, timba and rumba which can be heard in the city’s streets and bars. One of the best places to watch these musicians who are just as vivacious as those who dance to the beat, is at Salon Rosada in Marianao. Here you can listen to amazing Saturday night tunes from a balcony overlooking a sea of dancers. There are organised tours on offer that allow visitors to experience various forms of music in the country, and even meet the musicians who’ve produced some of its most famous tunes.
America’s capital may have a stuffy reputation, but it’s actually had a thriving underground music scene for years now, including hardcore bands like Fugazi and Bad Brains as well as the Godfather of Go-go, Chuck Brown, who was from D.C. Of course, this is also the place to go for those who enjoy visiting museums, with almost more than one could see in a lifetime, including the National Museum of American History, which features old cassettes and a plethora of other pop culture items in its collection. You’ll find lots of places to see live music too, such as the 9:30 Club, which has hosted everyone from Rob Zombie and Arcade Fire. John Coltrane and Miles Davis are among the many top musicians who’ve played the legendary Bohemian Caverns.
Trinidad and Tobago is not only an island country with the chance to enjoy the ultimate tropical escape, it’s also the home of Soca, a combination of calypso, funk and soul. While the music has popped up in other areas of the Caribbean, its roots are here. At the International Soca Monarch Competition, you can watch local artists showcase their musical talents in exchange for a prize. Steelpan, a drum that was invented in this country, is also rooted here and used in Carnival celebrations. At the biggest event of the year, the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival held at the end of February, everyone, including tourists, are asked to participate.
There’s more to New Orleans than Mardi Gras! The city is known as the birthplace of jazz and after all the years, no one does it better than the original. Iconic jazz musicians like Wynton Marsalis and Kermit Ruffins regularly perform in town, while local acts who were born and raised in the area know how to play just as well as the best of them. Louis Armstrong and Leroy James were both born here and their legend lives on throughout the lively city. Head down Bourbon street for some of the best musical hot spots and be sure to try the local food while you’re there too, especially ‘gumbo’ — the cajun stew the city is famous for.
Vienna is known as the City of Music. It’s a must-stop for classical music lovers, with many of the giants of this genre having lived or made music here, including Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Strauss, Mahler, Haydn and Schubert. Their legacy is celebrated in the city with an annual performance season that lasts all the way from September to June, along with nine festivals that take place every year as well as one-off performances and special events. See the Vienna Philharmonic if you can – there may be nothing better than experiencing a world-class recital by the esteemed orchestra in the stately Wiener Konzerthaus.
London has been the center of British music for decades, teeming with talented young musicians like King Krule and Juce from South London who are generating an entirely new sound. From Camden to Soho and Shoreditch, music oozes from nearly every pore of England’s capital, no matter what sound you choose, in an eclectic mix of pricey clubs, traditional pubs and massive arenas that have played host to some of the most renowned music acts in the world. Head to Ronnie Scott’s for jazz and Floridita for Latin.
The entire Emerald Isle is a great place to be for music lovers, but if you’re into traditional Irish tunes, the wild and remote west coast of Ireland is where you want to be for immersing yourself in a powerful music tradition that’s still interwoven into the fabric of day-to-day life. Passed down through generations, many children still learn traditional music on instruments like the fiddle, bodhran and uileann pipes which they later perform at traditional music festivals held across the country. You can find great musical talents in large cities like Galway at just about any time of the day or night, but the small villages are where you can enjoy the most authentic sessions. Doolin, a tiny fishing village in County Clare, is considered the “capital of Irish traditional music,” a spot where nightly sessions can be enjoyed throughout the summer months and weekends during the rest of the year at pubs like McDermott’s and Gus O’Conner’s.