If you’re anything like us, you love music. You listen to it on your way to the office, nodding your head in time with the rhythm. You listen to it while you cook dinner, and when you’re relaxing in your living room after a hard day’s work. Music is your life, and every hour of your every day is spent thinking of, listening to or playing music. That’s just how it is when you love this art form!
Loving music doesn’t just mean listening to it all the time; it means making it a part of your vacation-planning routine! As a music lover, planning a vacation means taking into consideration which concert venues you’ll visit, which music stores you’ll browse and which people you’ll be taking with you on your trip. You wouldn’t want to have to drag someone to a show who has no interest in actually going!
Of course, this means choosing the right city as the destination of your next trip. If you’re going to enjoy some local and international music while you’re on the road, you’ll have to pick one that has a thriving music scene, as well as a substantial number of music stores and instrument shops. You might also want to choose a city that was or is home to some of your favorite musicians, such as Jimmy Page, Dolly Parton or Ray Charles.
If you’re weighing your options for your next music-based vacation, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the most popular cities for music lovers, complete with their most famous musical attractions and music shops. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best cities to visit if you love music!
Best music cities in the US
Now that the intention of today’s article is clear, it’s time to take a look at the places that will make your musical vacation one for the history books. These cities are steeped in musical history and populated by artists and musicians of every color and creed, so you’ll have no difficulty finding musical ways to stay busy. Let’s take a look at some of these cities, shall we?
Nashville, TN
As anyone living in the US will undoubtedly know, the city of Nashville is no stranger to musical innovation and intersection. This place is called music city for a reason! With musicians, producers, technicians and salesmen galore, there’s no shortage of music here. Country music prevails in most commercial venues, but there are plenty of jazz, blues, RnB musicians to go around as well. The bottom line is this: if you like music, this is the place for you!
Those who enjoy going to concerts and shows, there are plenty of excellent places to do just that. The Grand Ole Opry is a great example of one such place, with weekly concerts from some of the biggest names in country, folk and bluegrass music, as well as other genres from time to time. This venue has stood for nearly a century, in which time it has hosted the most influential artists throughout the years.
Nashville is also home to a wide variety of music stores, instrument shops and other musical attractions. If you play an instrument, you’ll feel right at home in some of the largest and most impressive music stores in the country, with a variety and catalog so vast it defies understanding. Music lovers without any musical training will love the many record shops that can be found here, but you can mix and match; we won’t tell you how to live your life!
Those seeking to find a more grassroots music scene will have to dig a little deeper than the headliners at the Opry and the Friday-night show at the Ryman. Surf the dive bars, peruse pedestrian thoroughfares and spend time in the park. You’ll find street musicians, small shows and a wide variety of other, more organic forms of musical expression. If all we’ve said so far makes you wanna make this city your own then reach out to the local real estate agents in Nashville TN to help you find your home.
New York City, NY
While no one would question the musical merits of Nashville as a city, there are a few places that can compare to the sheer volume of music that it is creating on a yearly basis. One such city is New York! Often called the cultural capital of the western world, New York is one of the best music destinations in the USA, with thousands of unique sounds and musicians playing each and every day.
Music venues in New York are dime a dozen. You’ve no doubt heard of Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall and some of the other world-famous concert halls in town, but here’s one you might not know: Radio City Music Hall! This opulent art deco building is on the bleeding edge of modern music, hosting famous and unknown musicians alike on a week to week basis. Catch a show here if you can; you won’t regret it!
With over 24 million residents, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of places to browse musical instruments or shop for unique and esoteric records or instruments. It seems that this city has a music store or instrument shop for just about every buyer, so you have no difficulty finding a store to browse for hours on end!
Underground, organic music is in no short supply here either; just take a short jaunt on the subway or through central park. The melodic notes will be hitting your ears in no time! The local realtors in New York told us there are plenty of excellent non-traditional music venues too, in addition to your standard bars, clubs and lounges as well. There’s nothing even resembling a shortage of good, grassroots music here!
New Orleans, LA
If Nashville is the undisputed capital of country music, then New Orleans is that but with jazz. This delightful city has been a crucial part of the developing jazz scene in the US since it began, and it’s still one of a mecca for anyone with a love of the genre. Whether you’re seeking live performances, rare records or a glimpse into the fascinating history of Jazz, you’ll find any and all related attractions here in New Orleans!
As far as conventional music venues are concerned, local real estate agents in New Orleans LA tell us there are plenty of excellent options on offer here in New Orleans. The first one that springs to mind is the House of Blues! This regal but down-to-earth concert venue showcases the likes of John Mayer, Joe Bonamassa and other blues royalty on a regular basis, and is great for anyone who enjoys the genre. Sometimes they host jazz musicians too!
Those seeking rare records or unique instruments once again won’t have to look far; this city is teeming with just about every type of music store and record shop you can imagine! With some artists recording locally and others sending their records in from across the country, there’s no telling what you’ll find in the local music store’s collection!
There are hundreds of excellent grassroots music venues in the city, but the one that really catches our eye is the Preservation Hall in the downtown area. This beloved historic concert hall has been a fixture in the city for years, in spite of its extremely stripped down nature. With wood floors and no air conditioning, this isn’t a place for the faint of heart, but you’ll find the best jazz in the city under this roof.
Los Angeles, CA
If you looked, you’d probably be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn’t heard of this incredible city. Sprawling out for tens of miles across the desert, this city is one of the most metropolitan places in the whole country. This being the case, it’s no surprise that it’s also home to one of the most vibrant music scenes in the entire country too, making it a great location to relocate according to the realtors in Los Angeles CA. Let’s take a look to see what it has to offer, shall we?
Concert venues and music halls are dime a dozen here, as you might expect. Arguably the most famous among these is the Hollywood Bowl, a scenic venue that has wowed and amazed attendees for as long as it’s been around. Some of the most famous celebrity musicians have played here over the years, making it a veritably historic site for music lovers!
If you’re looking to spend some time browsing, there is plenty of selection at your fingertips. For those with an interest in unique instruments and gear, we feel that we simply have to mention Caveman Vintage music. At any given time, they’ll have instruments and curios from throughout history! Search around the city a bit and you’ll find plenty of record shops as well, although some are a bit out of the way.
Considering the fact that L.A. is the entertainment capital of the world, it should come as no surprise to find that there are plenty of aspiring musicians looking for their big break here. Those that haven’t yet made it can be found milling about all over the place, from sidewalks to parks, bars and clubs. You won’t have to look far to find a unique musical act!
Conclusion
Well folks, there you have it; the best music cities in the US! These places are packed with talented musicians, fascinating musical attractions and a healthy helping of stores and shops selling any music related paraphernalia you could hope to find. It’s been an honor to share them with you and tell you a little bit about what you can hope to find within their city limits, and we hope you make use of this list. What are you waiting for? Go explore the world of music!
