The 7 best U.S. cities for music.

Austin, Texas.

Although it seems like there are a million rooftop bars with live music in Austin, at last count there were 75 live music venues in the city limits. Add in the annual South By Southwest music festival in March, where hundreds of live shows are played every day for five days straight, and Austin is truly a music mecca.

New York, NY.

From Broadway to the jazz clubs of Harlem to the Metropolitan Opera to hip hop shows selling out Madison Square Garden, New York is the city that never sleeps – and never stops listening to music.  There may be other funky musical cities, but none that match the sheer volume of music in NYC.

San Francisco, California.

The Bay Area is where you can let your freak flag fly, and the music scene is a big part of that. A tour around the city is like taking a musical tour of different cultures – with Brazilian samba, Mexican salsa, hippies dancing on Haight street, ravers at 1015 Folsom, and plenty of underground trance, dub, house, and hip hop South of Market. Don’t forget some of the best live music venues in the country – like the Independent – and the annual Outsidelands music festival in Golden Gate Park.

New Orleans, Louisiana.

“N’awleans” is home to Jazz Fest, Mardi Gras, dancing in the street all night on Bourbon Street, marching bands, a rich tradition of Afro Cuban music, Jazz, hip hop, and even its own musical off springs like Bounce. Need I say more?

Nashville, Tennessee.

If paying homage to Elvis isn’t enough, you can check out the best country music in the world at the historic Grand Ole Opry or tour the Musician’s Hall of Fame. Nashville isn’t just about enjoying music, it IS music!

Chicago, Illinois.

The home of the blues, Chi-town offers plenty of music to warm you up even when the weather is brutally cold. But when it’s summertime watch out! Chicagoans love their outdoor concerts, beer festivals with live bands, and of course Lollapalooza in Grant Park.

Denver, Colorado.

As bands tour the country and make their way west toward California, there are a few stops they have to make along the way – and Denver is a must. Venues like the Fox Theater in Denver get just about every band coming through their doors at some time, playing for the Rocky Mountain faithful. Or you can drive up to the nearby Red Rocks amphitheater and see live performances and music festivals at one of the most incredible places on earth.