{"id":31395,"date":"2014-12-23T11:14:06","date_gmt":"2014-12-23T17:14:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=31395"},"modified":"2018-03-02T11:12:19","modified_gmt":"2018-03-02T17:12:19","slug":"7-best-music-cities-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2014\/12\/7-best-music-cities-u-s\/","title":{"rendered":"The 7 best music cities in the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"

While the 57th Annual\u00a0Grammy Awards<\/a> will soon honor some of the greatest acts in the music industry (Sunday, Feb. 8, on CBS), we’re here to honor the country’s greatest music destinations<\/a>. The seven best music cities in America make the grade for their abundance of talent, ample venues, worthy festivals and thriving music scenes.<\/p>\n

Plus: Check out New York’s 5 funniest comedy clubs<\/em> <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Madison<\/a>

Madison Square Garden, New York<\/p><\/div>\n

1. New York<\/a><\/strong>
\nIt wasn\u2019t so long ago that Jay-Z and Alicia Keys big upped the Big Apple, and with good reason\u2014it\u2019s where some of the most iconic American music originated. Whether you prefer dimly lit Greenwich Village jazz clubs, Carnegie Hall elegance or the mammoth confines of Madison Square Garden, NYC has got it. And, for those looking to preview the next big thing, the annual CMJ Music Marathon fest won’t disappoint. Bonus: New York’s also got the highest density of celebrities, meaning there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll run into Billy Joel at the corner deli.<\/p>\n

\"Amoeba<\/a>

Amoeba music store, Hollywood<\/p><\/div>\n

2. Los Angeles<\/a><\/strong>
\nOkay, no surprise here. Los Angeles is the business hub of the music industry\u2014there\u2019s a reason the Grammy Awards ceremony has been hosted at the Staples Center for the last decade\u2014so of course it\u2019s also great for crate diggers. Amoeba Records on Sunset Boulevard is a must, and for live music hit up the Troubadour or scenic outdoor venues like the Greek Theatre and Hollywood Bowl. Looking for a more intimate experience? Go to Largo, where Fiona Apple\u2019s been known to make a surprise appearance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Green<\/a>

Green Mill, Chicago<\/p><\/div>\n

3. Chicago<\/strong><\/a>
\nFor fans of blues and jazz, a trip to the Windy City is essential. Guitar hero Buddy Guy can still be found wailing in his blues club Legends every January, and former Al Capone hangout the Green Mill remains a world-class jazz destination. Around the corner from the latter are two of the city\u2019s premier rock clubs\u2014Aragon Ballroom and the Riviera Theatre, where you can catch a homecoming gig from Wilco or the Smashing Pumpkins. Plus, every summer brings thousands of eager teens and twenty-somethings to Lollapalooza and the Pitchfork Music Festival.<\/p>\n

\"Grand<\/a>

Grand Ole Opry<\/p><\/div>\n

4. Nashville<\/strong><\/a>
\nAny trip to Music City must include a visit to the Grand Ole Opry, a.k.a. “The Show That Made Country Famous,\u201d where stars like Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton got their start. Country music history buffs will also want to check out historic Music Row and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Snag a table at the Bluebird Caf\u00e9 for a taste of what the city\u2019s contemporary acoustic scene has to offer.<\/p>\n

\"Phantogram<\/a>

Phantogram at SXSW, Austin. CREDIT: Diego Donamaria<\/p><\/div>\n

5. Austin<\/strong><\/a>
\nAustin calls itself the “Live Music Capital of the World\u201d\u2014a pretty bold statement for a city whose other slogan is \u201cKeep Austin Weird.\u201d Most people know the Texas capital as home to the annual South by Southwest festival, a mecca for new artists trying to break out, but the breadth and diversity of the city\u2019s homegrown culture is on display year-round. Top venues include SXSW mainstay Stubb\u2019s and classic haunt the Continental Club, where you can two-step to country and<\/em> western. If you\u2019re smart you\u2019ll fill up on Franklin Barbecue then catch a live taping of Austin City Limits.<\/p>\n

\"OutKast\"<\/a>

OutKast<\/p><\/div>\n

6. Atlanta<\/strong><\/a>
\nATL. Hotlanta. Whatever you want to call it, the Georgia capital has blossomed into a nerve center for contemporary hip-hop and R&B over the last two decades, and more recently metal. See where OutKast, Janelle Mon\u00e1e and Mastodon took inspiration from and take in next gen acts at some of the city\u2019s finest venues like the Tabernacle, a former Baptist church. Or, get the lowdown on rising indie rock at the Earl.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Sub Pop store at Seattle’s SEA-TAC Airport<\/p><\/div>\n

7. Seattle<\/strong><\/a>
\nSure, it\u2019s best known as the place that gave the world grunge, but it\u2019s also where a young Jimi Hendrix first picked up the guitar. More recently the Pacific Northwest city has spit out chart-toppers like Macklemore and Death Cab for Cutie. Stop by the Showbox or the Crocodile, where Gen-Xers once moshed to Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Also, don\u2019t forget to drop by the Sub Pop store when you\u2019re at SeaTac Airport\u2014records and T-shirts make great souvenirs.<\/p>\n

\"blogCTA<\/a>\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Great artists, venues and fests make these cities the nation’s best.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":31423,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4,21,32,33],"tags":[2713],"class_list":["post-31395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-california","category-midwest","category-new-york","category-top-10-lists","tag-holidays-and-events"],"acf":{"api_active":null,"api_title":null,"api_excerpt":null,"api_featured_image":null,"api_lob":null},"posts_api_cpm_point":[{"name":"","description":"","thumbnail":"","address":"United States","latitude":"37.09024","longitude":"-95.71289100000001","icon":"\/images\/icons\/marker.png"}],"yoast_head":"\nThe 7 best music cities in the U.S. | Orbitz<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The seven best music cities in 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