Similar to how meals feed the body, music is essential for the soul. It brings forth an infinite universe filled with harmony, variety, and color. You can feel any way you want with music. Nowadays, it’s easy to enjoy your favorite song through popular apps like YouTube, Spotify, and iTunes. All you have to do is pop in your earbuds and search for the title.
However, you can never fully appreciate the beauty of a song through an electronic device. See, the best way to enjoy music at its finest is by listening to it live – hearing the exact words and melody from a musician’s mouth.
So if you’re a sucker for live music, here are the top cities to dwell in and explore.
Austin, Texas
The title of ‘Live Music Capital of the World’ is not a joke. Austin’s quite dedicated and electric when it comes to its music scene. Whether you love headbanging to punk and rock, dancing to reggae and Tejano, or enjoy chilling out with acoustic and bluegrass in the background, you can take in the best of each genre in the city. Heads up! It’s just the beginning of your adventure. Prepare to sing your lungs out during the grand ACL and SXSW festivals. And if you’re not a fan of crowds, you can still enjoy more intimate stages in exclusive venues like the Continental Club and Parish. Make sure to drop by Cactus Café, where Lyle Lovett and Lucinda Williams used to play back in their younger days. With the crazy amount of fun and rhythm the city has to offer, you might regret giving Austin a pass.
Nashville, Tennessee
Won’t be surprised if you’re expecting this. If there’s another city on par with Austin when it comes to live performances, it could be no other than the Music City, Nashville. Home to iconic venues such as the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium, the spirit and energy of this place will never be contained. The legendary Pat Boone and modern-day multi-hit wonders like Taylor Swift and Kesha all hail from Nashville. The city brims with so much positive vibe that you can listen to pop and rock inside a bus via SongBird Tours or enjoy free shows of jazz and blues at Honky Tonk Highway 24 hours a day, six days a week. As a music lover, moving to Nashville could easily be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.
Columbia, South Carolina
It’s not hard to relax in South Carolina’s capital with a music scene that ranges from jazz and bluegrass to contemporary and indie. Going around, you’ll find plenty of humble pubs and popular bars lining well-known streets. Grab dinner along with an unlimited stream of performances at Tin Roof, a classic bar in the center of Vista District. If you wish to enjoy your glass of wine with a limited audience, visit the White Mule, a lively place that tends to feature fresh talent and comedians. Finally, don’t forget to hit The Joint (okay, that sounds weird), a jazz hall that encourages local singers and up-and-coming blue bands to showcase their music. All in all, Columbia is the place to bathe in the warmth of intimate country music.
Los Angeles, California
As the place where many young people aspire to make their dreams come true, Los Angeles has always been a dynamic musical hub and the entertainment capital of the world. Thanks to its long chains of bars and pubs, pulsating nightlife, vibrant culture, insane concerts, and eclectic neighborhoods, live music continues to thrive in the City of Angels. Featuring a large millennial community, expect that pop, EDM, and any form of party songs to always hit the playlist. Party as if your life depends on it at the Hollywood Palladium, attend your favorite artist’s concert at Greek Theatre together with 6,000 people, or paint the town red at Novo, where famous bands love to drop by occasionally. Los Angeles’s music scene might feel more of a celebration than a performance, but it’s what makes it one of the best!
Raleigh, North Carolina
If Columbia is the South’s champion, then Raleigh is the pride and core of live music in North Carolina. But unlike the other that favors calming melodies, this city throbs with a wild attraction to rock, pop, and R&B playlists. But this isn’t a problem if indie jazz and blues is your thing – Just head over to C Grace and relish your favorite titles paired with a great cocktail. Learn to appreciate the art of band performances as they mesmerize you with their skills at the Pour House Music Hall. And oh! Don’t you dare forget about Lincoln Theatre, a movie-house-turned-bar back in 2001. This 70-year old haven rocks a cozy but stylish design and features some of the best local artists and tribute bands you can find in all of North Carolina. Honestly, Raleigh is a musical paradise that doesn’t discriminate among genres. If you’re moving somewhere else, it’s not too late to change your mind!
