Do you constantly walk around with headphones planted in your ears dreaming of jamming with your favourite band (even if they are all 60 years old now), or spend your entire student loan on gig tickets? If so then here is the Her Campus travel list you have been dreaming of!
1. New York: A city rich in music history, going from the jazz scene of times gone by all the way to the hip hop of today.
For Rap fans you have Kool Herc’s block, The Bronx (the birthplace of Rap – Kool Herc first started cutting together breaks from funk records, and held renowned parties here) and the former home of Jay-Z: Marcy Projects, Brooklyn.
Music history buffs cannot deny the musical significance of The Chelsea Hotel, New York. This is the place where Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe lived, where Leonard Cohen got lucky with Janis Joplin, and where Nancy Spungeon died. Music history madness epitomised in one building.
The Apollo Theatre, in Harlem, is one of the last iconic music venues still around in the area, noted for its rich history (Artists whose careers started at the Apollo include Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Jackson 5 and more recently Mariah Carey and Ne-Yo). That is not to mention the legendary Monday Amateur night (Jimi Hendrix won first place at one of the nights in 1964). This is totally worth a visit but you will be visiting with the estimated 1.3 million visitors per year!
Lou Reed fans out there can contemplate the depressing nature of life in Harlem in the 1960s at Lexington and 125th St., Harlem. (Yes, this is the place where Lou Reed buys heroin on the Velvet Underground’s ‘I’m Waiting for the Man’ track from their influential debut album ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’).
2. Melbourne: This may seem like an unlikely choice, but Melbourne remains to this day one of the musical centres for Australia.
ACDC Lane – Despite the lack of lightning bolt in the name, this street has drawn in many fans and tourists alike. (For you AC/DC fans out there look down to Compass Point Studios, which features on the list. This is where the ‘Back to Black’ album was produced).
Seaview Ballroom – Once described by many as “the epicentre of the city’s post-punk scene in the 1980s”. Melbourne’s New Wave and Little Band music scene flourished here, with bands who played there including Simple Minds, The Cure, Magazine, The Members, XTC, The Residents, Snakefinger, Iggy Pop and Dead Kennedys.
3. Memphis: The birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Need I say any more …
Graceland, Memphis may seem like an obvious choice, but expect to be immersed into the strange world inside Elvis’ mansion.
The central point for all rock’n’roll fans throughout, the Sun Studios, Memphis, TN. Rock and roll, country music, and rockabilly artists such as Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Ray Harris, Warren Smith, Charlie Rich, and Jerry Lee Lewis, recorded there throughout the mid to late 1950s. (Speaking to all Johnny Cash fans out there, do not forget to drive by Folsom Prison, Folsom, CA when you are in America!)
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4. Bahamas: not usually known for its musical background….
It may seem like an unlikely choice, but Nassau, Bahamas is the home of Compass Point Studios. It was founded by the owner of Island Records, Chris Blackwell, in 1977, with artists such The Rolling Stones, Grace Jones, Shakira, U2, Talking Heads, Bob Marley, Eric Clapton, James Brown, Iron Maiden, Roxy Music, Bonnie Tyler and David Bowie recording here (just to name a few…).
5. New Orleans:
A place for the jazz fans among you: Preservation Hall, New Orleans. It is not only New Orleans’ best-known jazz venue, but also a French Quarter institution. It hosts live shows every night and has an incredible house band as well. It’s also played host to Jazz artists such as George Lewis, Punch Miller, Sweet Emma Barret and Buddy Bolden. Louis Armstrong once said “Preservation Hall. Now that’s where you’ll find all of the greats” – a quote that still resonates today.
The United Kingdom Music Travel Bucket list
If you want to stay a little closer to home, within the UK, our rich musical history will serve you well. (Her Campus could have done a Top 20 for places just within the UK!) For Beatles fans you have the iconic Abbey Road, London. If you are akin with The Smiths you have the legendary Salford Lads Club, Manchester (Manchester [or its nickname of Madchester] in general is dripping with musical history). And finally, Stone Rose fans have Spike Island, Bristol.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: If that is simply not enough, during our research Her Campus discovered The Experience Music Project, Seattle, WA. Yes, that is a museum dedicated entirely to music. Take a moment to breathe…
Picture credits: www.guestofaguest.com, www.arizonarealestatephotographyblog.com, www.flickr.com, www.rockislandrebels.com, www.wikimedia.com