Hit The Right Note…Holidays For Music Lovers

I love holidays yet I find it hard to switch off on a two week break, especially when there’s nothing to do except laze around all day in a desperate attempt to have that all-important ‘quality time’. The thought of just lying on a beach for a fortnight with nothing but my iPod and sand for company just doesn’t do it for me. After a while, I find myself reaching for the devices to trawl the Internet, catch up on news from home and check (work!) emails. I don’t mind a few days of sun, sea and sangria but mostly I need to be out and about doing things and in particular, visiting places and landmarks that mean something to the things I enjoy most in life. This to me is still relaxation and recreation, so why not combine both for a holiday.

Music is a passion of mine and I’ve discovered that there are some ideal trips out there for music fans of all genres. I loved the new wave sound of the 80s; I love country music yet I also love classical music and opera so my options for a music themed holiday are pretty wide. I also have a sentimental soft spot for the ‘Swinging 60s’, having been introduced to this golden era of pop by my parents.

Anyway, this is a travel site and you might be wondering what I’m banging on about. Allow me to cut to the chase…
Here are some of my suggestions for holidays and special interest trips that are all centered around MUSIC.

The USA

Fancy a holiday where you can throw yourself into some rock n roll, jazz and blues? A tour of America’s music cities is not to be missed and on one of these trips you can pay homage to some of the most famous music stars ever to walk this earth. What a great way of fuelling your passion for music yet enjoying a fascinating and enjoyable holiday at the same time. You could be rocking all the way to Memphis or Nashville, or even take in some Dixieland Jazz in New Orleans. That should definitely tug at your heart (or guitar) strings!

Nashville is an obvious choice for country music fans and the city has enjoyed even greater popularity since the hit TV show of the same name burst onto our screens.

Opryland should be your first port of call if you find yourself in Tennessee’s ‘home of Country music’. This first class resort is also where you will find the famous Grand Ole Opry – originally a church that became a music hall and anyone who is anyone in country music has performed here. It is still seen as something as a holy grail for budding country musicians.

You can also visit the nearby Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which offers a fascinating insight to country music’s origins and its famous inductees, which include the likes of Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline and Elvis Presley.

Check out some of the good USA travel packages available out there.

Speaking of Elvis, you could take a trip to Memphis where you can rock and roll in some of the city’s great live music venues as well as follow in the footsteps of ‘The King’ himself. Stop by the recording studio where he recorded his first song and then drop into his stunning Gracelands mansion. An absolute must.

England

So, back across the pond to the United Kingdom and the birthplace of some of the best bands in the world.
Liverpool has recently been designated a UNESCO City of Music and it’s little wonder.

Some of the best sounds of the 60s came out of Merseyside and no trip would be complete without seeing the historical landmarks made famous by The Fab Four.

The Cavern Club on Mathew Street is where it all began for the John, Paul, George and Ringo.

A must see is The Beatles Story at the city’s Albert Dock and then perhaps round off your expedition with a cool overnight stay in The Hard Day’s Night Hotel. This Beatles’ inspired hotel is right in the heart of the city. The hotel’s Lennon Suite even features a white baby grand piano. Imagine…

There are plenty of great Liverpool city breaks and hotel deals around so your Beatles pilgrimage might not be too pricey either.

Austria

The hills may be alive with the sound of music in Salzburg but Vienna is a hotspot for the classical stuff which is at the heart of the Austrian capital’s appeal and a key part of the city’s allure.

Nestling on the banks of the River Danube, romantic Vienna is a classical music lovers’ paradise and will hit the spot for opera buffs too.
Vienna is to classical music what New Orleans is to jazz!
Visitors can retrace the footsteps of some of Austria’s finest composers who lived, worked and played here, such as Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert, Strauss, Brahms and of course Mozart.

There are private tours available of Vienna’s musical attractions and landmarks which include Mozart’s house and the Vienna State Opera, all with an expert guide.

Italy

Like a good aria? One of the loveliest spots to experience some of the world’s finest operas is underneath the stars in the open-air ampitheatre of Verona. The Arena di Verona hosts a full summer programme of live performances in this historical setting. The 2017 line up includes Nabucco, Aida, Rigoletto, Madama Butterfly and Tosca. This is a truly magical experience even if opera isn’t really your thing. Do it anyway, I too am a convert!

Outside opera season, you can sometimes catch some pop artists at the arena too. I was lucky enough to see Elton John here a few years back.

Throughout summer in Italy, there’s usually always some sort of musical extravaganza going on. The Tuscan city of Lucca hosts a lively annual festival and has seen the likes of Robbie Williams and Lionel Richie grace the stage. Green day and Kasabian are lined up for 2017.

Umbria Jazz festival kicks off in July, along with the Puccini festival in Viareggio. Live performances are common in and around the towns of Lake Garda during the summer months as well the southern hotspots of Sorrento and Amalfi. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it?

I hope I’ve given you some inspiration for this year’s holiday. The two week downtime doesn’t have to be all buckets and spades and you never know, you might teach the kids a thing or two, or at the very least, introduce them to some real music! Happy travels!

Deborah Welsh

I love travel. I’ve been fascinated by other countries and cultures since my first foreign trip in 1985 and I’ve had serious wanderlust ever since.I also love to write about where I’ve been and tripsology lets me indulge that passion. I’m thrilled to be a regular contributor and editor. When I’m not writing I also run my own PR and publicity company.