10 US Travel Destinations for Music Lovers

Tune up your playlist! It’s time for a musical road trip around the USA. America has no shortage of cities with a rich musical heritage. But just what are the best travel destinations for music fans? Below are 10 musical Meccas across the states that could be worth visiting for their deep history and vibrant live music scene.

Austin

Willie Nelson, Janis Joplin and Stevie Ray Vaughan all launched their careers in Austin, Texas. The ‘live music capital of the world’ is known for its array of exciting venues where you can see the hottest stars and the coolest underground acts. It’s also home to several music festivals including Austin City Limits and South by Southwest. There are sites that can tell you what’s going on in Austin – you’ll need to buy tickets for some live shows in advance, while others may be possible to show up to on the night. Make sure to check out the Texas Music Museum too while in Austin. 

Chicago

Chicago has a long musical history. Alongside New Orleans, it is often regarded as the birthplace of jazz, while also spawning many of the greatest blues musicians. More recently it has helped birth house music, while also being home to famous hip hop artists like Kanye West. From jazz club Green Mill (where Al Capone used to hang out) to the ramshackle Hideout, there are many historic music venues throughout the city that are worth a visit. 

Cleveland

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame can be found in Cleveland, Ohio – one of the most famous music museums in America. Here you’ll find artefacts belonging to various different musicians throughout history along with everchanging musical exhibitions. Cleveland is also known for its buzzing live music scene, which includes venues like the Agora Theater & Ballroom and Jacobs Pavillion. Artists to come out of Cleveland include Kid Cudi, Tracy Chapman and Nine Inch Nails. 

Detroit

Detroit has produced a dazzling list of stars over the years ranging from Stevie Wonder to Eminem. It was the home of the famous Motown label – which you can learn all about in the Motown Museum (formerly the famous recording studio known as Hitsville U.S.A). Other musical attractions here include New Bethel Baptist Church (where a young Aretha Franklin used to sing gospel) and The Shelter (the venue where Eminem rap battled in 8 Mile). 

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is known for its historic and glamorous music venues where artists perform ‘residencies’ – several concerts in a row over several months at the same venue. The most famous Las Vegas residency is that of Elvis Presley, who performed at The International Hotel throughout the 70s (now the Westgate Las Vegas Hotel & Casino). It’s worth looking into Las Vegas residencies before you visit to see who is performing so that you can experience a concert in this city. Attractions such as the Punk Rock Museum could also be worth visiting.

Los Angeles

When people think of LA, they first think of Hollywood. However, Los Angeles is also one of the biggest musical hubs in the world – producing some of the biggest rock bands and rappers of the 20th century. When it comes to musical attractions, there are many sights worth seeing including the Capitol Records Building, Sunset Boulevard and an array of famous stars along Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Make sure to also visit The Grammy Museum where you can currently see memorabilia belonging to everyone from Michael Jackson to Elvis Presley. 

Memphis

Speaking of Elvis, the next stop on our musical road trip is Memphis! Often believed to be the birthplace of rock and roll, this city in Tennessee is a must-visit destination for music fans. The King of Rock famously launched his music career here at Sun Studio (along with many other artists including Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and B.B. King), which you can take a tour around for $14. The Rock n Soul Museum is also worth visiting and details the musical history of this exciting city. Elvis fans should also plan a visit to Graceland – a mansion once owned by Elvis. 

Nashville

If you love country music, then Nashville should be at the top of your travel bucket list. This city is home to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry music venue, and has helped spawn many country stars over the years ranging from Dolly Parton to Patsy Cline. Many pop stars and rock bands also herald from Nashville including Justin Timberlake, The Allman Brothers, Paramore and Kelly Clarkson. Nashville tours can take you around the city and show you many of the city’s famous musical venues including Ryman Auditorium and Bridgestone Arena. 

New Orleans

Along with Chicago, New Orleans has long been regarded as the birthplace of jazz. It was where Louis Armstrong was raised – arguably the most famous jazz musician of all time (the house where he grew up has sadly been demolished, but there is a museum you can visit to learn about his life). Many historic music venues can be found here including Preservation Hall and Dew Drop Inn where you can still watch live performances on certain nights. In more recent years, New Orleans has produced many famous hip hop artists including Lil Wayne and Master P, and it has many world class hip hop venues and nightclubs. 

New York

Last but not least, there’s New York. Arguably no city in the US has produced as many famous musical stars as The Big Apple – Lou Reed, Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, The Strokes, Cyndi Lauper, Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey are just some of the big names to come out of this city. There are many ways to explore the musical history of New York including Harlem gospel tours or a visit to some of the iconic music venues like the Apollo Theatre. Of course, New York is also the theatre capital of the US – fans of musicals must visit Broadway where you can see some of the most famous theatre shows. 

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