Top Music Travel Destinations Around the World
PHOTO: London is one of the top city’s to visit if you’re a music lover, says Kayak. (photo via Flickr/Raphael Chekroun)
Awards season is upon us, and next up is the Grammys, one of the music industry’s biggest extravaganzas.
On January 26, the show turns 60. To mark that occasion, Kayak has just released its list of destinations music lovers need to put on their radar: Places that are not only home to multiple Album of the Year winners, but also various landmarks tied to the music industry.
Greater London, England
So many legendary music industry figures have called London home, it’s hard to know where to begin—The Beatles, Mick Jagger, George Michael, Rod Stewart; the list is endless. There’s also a great deal for music buffs to see and do, including Abbey Road, Royal Albert Hall and The Spice of Life Pub, which has hosted performances from such notable figures as Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens.
“Some of the most iconic stages and places in music history can be found in one city: London,” states the report.
Northern England
London is not the only British location that can claim ties to music icons. Both Manchester and Liverpool also have a number of Grammy-winning sons and daughters.
Liverpool is famously tied to The Beatles, who played many of their gigs at the city’s Cavern Club. For more than 70 years the club has hosted everything from underground acts to headliners.
Manchester, meanwhile, has musical roots that impressively date back to Elizabethan times. Among the modern names to have come from this city are The Smiths, New Order and The Hollies. Today, the city continues to have a vibrant music scene, from the buskers playing for tips in St. Ann’s Square to the live performances at Band on the Wall.
Los Angeles County, California
There’s no shortage of award-winning musicians and bands who have called Los Angeles home. Famous names that got their start here include The Doors, Guns N’ Roses, the Eagles, Beck, Maroon Five, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and more.
Today, the city’s music scene offers everything from hair metal to hip-hop. If you want to hear some of the city’s current up and coming talent, make sure catch a show from Zebulon in Frogtown, a group that’s new to the scene but already earning notice. The World Stage is another notable music stop in Los Angeles. Founded in 1989 by the late jazz drummer Billy Higgins and poet Kamau Daáood, World Stage has long been home base for great local talent and a place to hear unforgettable jazz performances.
Dublin, Ireland
One word: Bono. Enough said right?
Wrong. The legendary U2 frontman is not the only famous rocker from Dublin. Sinead O’Connor, Joe Elliott (lead singer of Def Leppard) and Bob Geldof, (the organizer of Live Aid), are all from this famous Irish city. Among the top music-related sights to visit these days is Whelan’s, where you can take in a live performance featuring up-and-coming talent.
Another stop suggested by Kayak is The Grand Social, one of the city’s most well-known live music venues.
Montreal & Ottawa, Canada
Delivering several well-known singers, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s (Celine Dion, Corey Hart and Alanis Morissette to name a few), the music culture in both Montreal and Ottawa remains vibrant.
The former is the location of frequent summer concerts and outdoor venues. But even in the dead of winter, you can find top acts at Club Soda and MTelus, which are located in the Quartier des Spectacles. When in Ottawa, check out the unassuming, no-nonsense Mavericks Bar to see smaller sets and local acts.
At Café Dekcuf, you get rowdier shows where bands mix enthusiastically with the crowds. The two cities are also conveniently located within a 2.5-hour drive of one another.