USA for music lovers: Play the moments, pause the memories

1. Seattle 

Nirvana / Grunge Rock 

There’s something hauntingly beautiful about Seattle – rain-soaked streets, that moody skyline, and a music scene that shaped a generation. This is the city where Kurt Cobain picked up a guitar and grunge found its raw, rebellious voice.

Since the '90s, Seattle’s been the spiritual home of alt-rock – a place of blue torn jeans, flannel shirts and lyrics that hit you right in the heart. You can still feel it in the air.

Pull up a bar stool at The Crocodile in Belltown – one of the most iconic venues in the country. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, REM… they all played here before the world caught on. These days, you’ll still catch everything from indie darlings to soon-to-be superstars under its glowing neon sign.

And if you’re a true Nirvana fan? You can still visit the very spot where they first played Smells Like Teen Spirit. The OK Hotel is now an apartment block, but its lobby gallery opens to the public on the first Thursday of every month – a tiny time capsule for grunge devotees.

2. Memphis 

Elvis Presley/Rock'n'Roll 

As the widely accepted birthplace of rock 'n' roll, Memphis has a compelling argument for its self-appointed title. Many game-changing industry leaders such as Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis and of course, the infamous Elvis Presley debuted their songs here. Sun Studio is where The King recorded his first record and is now littered with nostalgic memorabilia, including a microphone once touched by the superstar himself.

Then there’s the 14-acre estate that Presley bought in 1957, AKA Graceland. Self-guided tours lead through the musician’s undeniably garish abode, from the shag carpeted walls of the ‘Jungle Room’ to the Meditation Garden, where Elvis is now buried. For musicians that are still strumming a beat, Beale Street is the former playground of singers and temptresses; boozers, brothels and above all, mayhem.

A feisty ambience still hangs heavy in the air, albeit to a slightly lesser degree. Try B.B King’s very own Blues Club for house bands and hedonism; soak up the big crowds, loud applause and sling back a Motown Margarita - or three.

3. New Orleans

Louis Armstrong/Jazz 

If New Orleans was a person, it’d be your mad uncle Jack - the one with a pocketful of tricks and a colourful past.

Our point? New Orleans is a batty but spellbinding mix of tap dancing kids and gypsies reading tarot cards, timeworn buildings and jazz played by buskers - on pavements, in clubs and on every gas lamp street corner.

If you’re after a quintessential back alley jazz club, the Candlelight Lounge is an unassuming diamond in the unassuming rough. Located in Tremé (the birthplace of jazz), the exterior is rundown at best, the chairs are scruffy and the tables were probably once new. 

But it’s the sights, sounds and smells that you come for; the in-house Tremé Brass Band and the big pots of red beans and rice, it’s absolutely New Orleans. And when you’re done dancing in backstreet jazz dives, enjoy something a little more modern at Frenchmen Street in Marigny. Home to live music, bars, pubs, clubs and eateries, this flashy entertainment district boasts 20+ establishments all spilling into the street.

4. Chicago

Bill Withers/Blues 

Sure, the blues get bluer the further south you travel. It was, when all said and done, the Mississippi Delta and all those who hitchhiked along it that brought the art form north. But Chicago, in all its mid-western glory, will always be a blues town.

With streets that rumble with the midnight happenings of underground bars and the sound of a sax hovering in the air, Chicago is the city that’s defined by the blues, but with far fewer tourists than its Mississippian cousin. 

Step inside and you’ll fall down the rabbit’s warren into a world of traditional tunes, a cosy ambience and an intimacy you only get in sullen dives. The venue is bijou, the beer’s basic and the food is an afterthought, but this is old school blues at its most authentic. With local talent sitting both on and off the stage, B.L.U.E.S blurs the distinction between performer and audience, so huddle up and sing out your cynicism together.

5. Nashville

Dolly Parton/Country 

You don’t need to own a pair of cowboy boots to fall for Nashville – but you might just leave with some. This is the home of country music and the kind of place where melodies hang in the air like summer heat.

Once home to Dolly, a favourite haunt of Elvis, and even a creative stopover for Bob Dylan, Nashville’s music legacy is as rich as a Southern drawl.

Start your journey at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where you’ll stroll past rhinestone-studded suits, interactive exhibits and Elvis Presley’s Cadillac – shining as brightly as the King himself once did. From here, book a tour of RCA Studio B – the legendary studio where Presley laid down over 200 tracks, and where Roy Orbison and Dolly Parton once shared the mic. The stories in these walls? Goosebumps guaranteed.

Once the sun sets, head to Honky Tonk Highway where the bars are loud, the beer is cold and the bands are always playing. It’s iconic, but it can be a bit hectic – so if you're after something a little more off the beaten track, keep an ear out for a 'writers night'. These intimate café sessions feature everyone from seasoned pros to nervous newbies, sharing songs straight from the heart. It's like peeking into Nashville’s musical soul – raw, real and utterly moving.

6. Coachella Valley

Modern Day Artists/Music Festivals 

Well regarded as the holy grail of music festivals, Coachella is one monster of a three day event. From the 40˚C heat, to flat dry desert, constant sweat and fedora hats, it’s not for the faint-hearted; if you can cope with the remoteness of Coachella Valley, the swathes of people, sleep deprivation and a distinct lack of hydration then buckle in and hold on tight.

For the most part, attendees frequent Coachella for the music, but also the opportunity to share the very same desert dirt with a plethora of A-list celebrities. As well as high rollin ‘ superstars, you’re also in the realm of unprecedented musical talent; ask anyone about Daft Punk’s 2006 performance, widely considered the best set of all time, and they’ll go glassy eyed.

World-class artists pair their performances with big announcements such as worldwide tours and new albums, and then of course, there are the surprise stage appearances. Is that Rihanna about to shimmy on stage next to Calvin Harris? Potentially. Anything goes at Coachella. Anything except a Daft Punk repeat… but we can all live in hope.

Inspired to explore the heart and soul of American music? From the jazz clubs of New Orleans to Nashville’s honky-tonks and the rock ‘n’ roll legacy of Memphis, the USA is a paradise for music lovers. Connect with our USA specialists today and start planning your rhythmic adventure! 🎶