There are very special buildings in cities all over the world that are revered by lovers of classical music – such as Australia’s Sydney Opera House, La Scala opera house in Milan, Italy, and the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. Equally, there are plenty of iconic popular music venues around the world. Here is a quick tour of some of the best in the USA and Europe.
United States
Amphitheaters are proving increasingly cool places to stage concerts and if embarking on a tour in the US head for Red Rocks, Morrison, Colorado. It can be thrilling to be there at sunset for the start of a gig, as the warm light turns the natural arena pink and the amplified sound surrounds you. Only Madison Square Garden has a comparable pedigree with a list of performers that includes such famous names as U2, Arctic Monkeys, Kings of Leon and Pink – Red Rocks has hosted appearances by The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen and many more. Also in Colorado, dance club Beta in Denver is highly regarded – be sure to visit both.
A stop on the east coast will be rewarding as readers of Rolling Stone magazine voted the Bowery Ballroom in New York number one rock club in the top twenty, and a ‘must play’ venue for rising bands. America’s best dance clubs include Output in Brooklyn and Liv in Miami, Florida, and there are many other quality music venues along the east coast.
If the west coast is preferable, then it’s worth paying a visit to The Troubadour in West Hollywood, California; it has hosted performances by many legendary musicians, including Axl Rose and Jim Morrison, and still keeps the live music very much live with bands such as Radiohead and White Stripes.
Europe
There are also fabulous music venues in France, Spain, Germany, Holland and Italy that are regularly packed out by enthusiastic locals and visitors. Moving between the cities is not difficult and may be quickly accomplished by train as well as by flying.
The Art Deco architecture of Le Grand Rex in Paris conceals the largest music venue in the city and has a history of presenting musical giants, including Tom Waits and Tori Amos.
In Barcelona Sala Apolo is the place to be for the ultimate punk experience, while in Berlin Columbia Halle is reckoned to be the king of the many music venues and nightclubs, not least because of its dazzling lightshows and some of the best acoustics on the continent.
For an alternative experience, try Circolo Degli Artisti in Rome, which has multiple performance areas and dance floors, plus gardens and a swimming pool. The club presents both live house/electronica music and DJs spinning sets. In Amsterdam, Paradiso is a huge nightclub in a converted 19th century church. Top pop, rock and electronica performers have played here, including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Metallica. International pop singers include Adele and Lady Gaga.
The hop to London is easiest and shortest from Paris, and among the famous musical landmarks is Abbey Road, where the Beatles recorded the album of the same name. Rising stars can be seen and heard at Koko in Camden, while the O2 Brixton Academy is a stunning venue, home to the kings and queens of today’s rock scene.
Photo credit: guitar
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