By Andrés Muñoz
English writer Aldous Huxley once said: “After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” While many people like travelling to visit historical sites, try the local cuisine, or explore nature, music is usually a central element when I hit the road.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy all the above activities just like any other traveller, but usually, the highlight of my trip is attending a musical event. Whether it is a large-scale festival or a local concert, enjoying an artist’s live performance is a fascinating experience.
The following are a few places in the world with a thriving music scene that you should definitely keep in mind when embarking on a quest for the freshest tunes. 3, 2, 1, let’s jam!
Japan
One of the top items on my bucket list, Japan is an epicentre of grooves. Writer Haruki Murakami has always included jazz in his books, anime soundtracks have nothing but bangers, and Japan is usually a stop-off for any artist worth their salt who is on an international tour. Fuji Rock is one of the biggest festivals in the country, with over 100,000 people attending every year. Last year’s edition included the Foo Fighters, Alanis Morrisette, Weezer, The Strokes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and many more.
If you want to check out the more traditional aspects of Japan, you should definitely explore one of the local festivals like the Matsumoto Grand Taiko Festival. Held in the city of Matsumoto in the prefecture of Nagano, this event gathers some of the best taiko drummers in the country for an epic soundfest.
Germany
From Rammstein to Beethoven, this European nation offers everything when it comes to music. Berlin is universally known for its booming techno scene, with clubs like Watergate, Sisyphos, and the iconic Berghain entwining themselves with the city’s cultural fabric.
The countercultural Fusion Festival gathers all sorts of underground artists in a former airbase in the northeastern province of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Wacken Open Air entices hard rockers and metalheads from all over the world for a four-day headbanging extravaganza.
Dresden Music Festival is one of the largest classical music festivals in Europe. While classical is the biggest genre played there, world music, jazz and other contemporary instrumental music are also performed.
Belgium
Tomorrowland Music Festival. Enough said! Don’t miss it.
New York City
Honestly, all you have to do is enter a subway station, where the buskers will introduce you to the city’s beating musical heart.
Another definite destination for any touring artist in the world, The Big Apple has it all. Whether it is an epic concert in the historic Madison Square Garden, a virtuoso performing in Carnegie Hall, or the spectacular stage design and spectacle of any Broadway musical, the city that never sleeps genuinely offers the whole package. Bonus, there are hundreds of jazz clubs all over the place. I particularly recommend checking out Birdland; it’s THE classic venue of the New York jazz scene.
Electronic music-wise, Electric Zoo is a yearly festival held during Labor Day weekend. Inaugurated in 2009, it gathers some of the hottest acts to Randall’s Island, northeast of the city. A fascinating summer venue is the breathtaking Brooklyn Mirage, located in the Avant Gardner events complex. Numerous electronic artists have played there, such as Black Coffee, Purple Disco Machine, Martin Garrix, Charlotte de Witte, Zedd, and more.
Austin
Another American destination, Austin, Texas, is known as the live music capital of the world. Apart from the sheer number of venues in the city, it is home to Austin City Limits festival. Founded as a one-weekend festival in 2002, it now spans two three-day weekends in October. Past festivals included bands like Radiohead, Paul McCartney, Queens of the Stone Age, Phish, Guns N Roses, The Cure, and other musical icons.
But I strongly recommend South By Southwest (SXSW) above anything else. It started as a music festival in 1987, but SXSW has vastly expanded into a triple festival, with a film festival and an interactive and emerging technology conference attached to it since the mid-90s. Whether you’re in the film industry or wish to learn more about the newest tech trends, this event will let you create valuable connections with industry players from all over the world.
That being said, the music is where it’s at. The 2022 edition boasted over 1400 artists playing in 79 different venues, so there’s something for everyone. SXSW is a week-long event that takes place in Mid March.
This small guide is just an appetiser for the musical smorgasbord available in these places. As with all travel, do your research properly, check out the dates and set yourself a solid plan to make it happen. Where else should we add to our travelling playlist? Let us know in the comments section below!