Dublin, Ireland
fascinating one: David Bowie used to live here, Iggy Pop recorded here, as did U2. In the 70s Berlin was on the forefront of the punk scene: the city is still home to classic clubs like SO36 in Kreuzberg, and Schokoladen in Mitte. The modern-day scene, meanwhile, is all about techno and dance, housed in megaclubs like Berghain and Tresor. For some laid-back fun though, head to the Mauerpark on Sundays to watch bands busk and random punters sing open-air karaoke.
Austin, US
Austin hosts the now world-famous South By Southwest music festival every March; however, at any time of the year the self-proclaimed ‘‘live music capital of the world’’ is rocking, with hundreds of music venues playing host to indie, country, rock, blues, metal and more. Spoon, Iron and Wine, Willie Nelson, Dixie Chicks, Jimmie Vaughan – they’re all from Austin.
Manchester, UK
The infamous Hacienda club might be long gone, replaced by a block of apartments, but there’s still great music in Manchester, remnants of the halcyon Madchester and Brit-pop days. Though you won’t see Oasis or The Smiths any more (you can do a walking tour, however, to check out their old haunts), venues such as Band on the Wall, Gorilla and the Castle Hotel are always hosting local and international acts. The Irish love a song, something you’ll appreciate from the moment you set foot in any traditional pub across the country. If there isn’t a band on stage, there will be regular punters bringing along their instruments to get the crowd going. To listen to traditional music in Dublin, head to the Cobblestone or O’Donoghue’s, grab a pint and get ready to sing.
San Francisco, US
Any student of musical history, any fan of the hippie movement of the 60s and 70s, would already know about San Francisco. This is the home of HaightAshbury, the district that played such a huge part in hippie and psychedelic culture, and many of the landmarks of that era remain. You’ll also find Amoeba Music in the Haight – a mustdo record story for vinyl fans. Ageing punks, meanwhile, should head across to Berkley to visit the classic 924 Gilman St venue.
Cali, Colombia
Cali is known as Colombia’s ‘‘salsa capital’’, which pretty much makes it the world’s salsa capital. If you love to dance, or you love to watch other people who actually know what they’re doing dance, then you have to visit Cali, and prepare for a few long nights. Zaperoco is the city’s classic salsa venue; however, you should hop between Tin Tin Deo, Siboney and La Topa Tolondra to get the full experience.
New Orleans, US
New Orleans’ musical chops really need no introduction. This is a city with a musical obsession, the birthplace of jazz, with influences from all over Africa and the Caribbean that can still be heard today. There’s always music playing in New Orleans – if it’s not in the pubs and clubs and dedicated music venues, then it’s probably being played on the streets in a ‘‘second line’’ parade.
Johannesburg, South Africa
There are a few African cities with great music scenes – Essaouria in Morocco is another to check out – but the best of them might just be Johannesburg. There’s a huge range of live music to check out in Jozi on any given night, from jazz to house, hiphop to traditional African styles. - Traveller