The World's Best Live Music Destinations

Dublin

The Irish are known their live music and traditional pubs, so it’s no surprise that Dublin has been identified as the ultimate destination for World Music Day celebrations. Sing along with the locals to sentimental Irish folk songs whilst enjoying some of the world’s best Guinness. Spoilt for choice, each pub is filled with a lively, exciting atmosphere with different bands playing every night of the week.

Buenos Aires

Home of the tango, the colourful city of Buenos Aires is known for its rhythm, boasting a long-standing reputation as a live music lover’s dream. The infamous bars of Palermo line the streets, where upon arrival the strumming of guitars and voices of the Argentinian locals greet you.

Glasgow

Glasgow’s musical streets have been the breeding ground for musical heavyweights including Franz Ferdinand and The Fratellis, where rich Scottish voices come together to create powerful sounds like no other. Quirky music bars are tucked beneath railway lines, and intimate basements are found off hidden alleyways where the city’s music loving residents are often found.

Melbourne

Priding itself on its widely acknowledged stance as Australia’s music capitals, Melbourne’s numerous live music venues range from stadiums to basement bars. Built in 1878, Melbourne is home to the iconic Esplande Hotel (or ‘The Espy’ to locals), boasting the title of longest continuously running live music venue in Australia. With the city’s hidden haunts pumping out sounds from indie to electronic, Melbourne has a rich music scene that has long-delighted seekers of quality live music.

New Orleans

The vibrant Louisiana city of New Orleans is synonymous with soulful music, vibrant colour and a contagiously electric atmosphere. The town is considered the birthplace of jazz, but visitors are also treated to live soul, blues, funk and rock. Guests to the city can expect plenty of street jamming, festivals and fabled music clubs oozing New Orleans charm during their stay.

Lisbon

Renowned for its soothing Subtropical-Mediterranean climate and picturesque cityscape, a lesser-known draw card of Portugal’s hilly capital is its plentiful live music offerings. As a centre of fado, you can often hear traditional Portuguese folk music wafting out of bars and down the winding cobblestone streets. Guests can get amongst the buzzing cultural scene by heading to the Coliseu dos Recreios, home to some of the city’s best live shows.

Austin

Austin is regularly touted as a must go-to destination for music lovers, and rightly so. Home to a seemingly endless offering of exceptionally talented musical street performers and its very own world-renowned music festival, South by Southwest, the hazy Texan heat lends the city a unique vibe - perfect for nights filled with live music. From rock to country tunes exuding from the speakers of the city’s slew of clubs and bars, there’s a sound to suit every taste in Austin.

Berlin

Long associated as a city of the arts with a plethora of live shows and street artists, Berlin is a bucket-list necessity for those with a love for live performance. The city is known for its electronic music scene, but also hosts a number of more traditional live music shows for those. A city with an ‘anything goes’ approach to life, expect experimental, exciting sounds in this buzzing German metropolis.