According to a recent TripIt survey, 40% of Americans are planning a pop culture-inspired trip in 2024. And of those, more than half are planning a trip for a music event, such as a concert or festival.
Hoping to find out what the hype is all about? Here are five cities in the U.S. with thriving live-music scenes, plus some of the festivals and concerts happening this year to inspire your travel plans.
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
On any trip to New Orleans, you’ll experience jazz music—just walk the streets of the French Quarter, head to Jackson Square, or visit one of the city’s many jazz clubs. The city is the birthplace of the genre, after all.
Want to plan a trip around your affinity for jazz? The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival—Jazz Fest for short—takes place April 25 to May 5, 2024. The annual festival showcases bands and artists big and small (you can check out this year’s line-up here) across two weekends.
Want more trip inspo? Check out our City Break: New Orleans guide.
2. Nashville, Tennessee
Country-music lovers flock to this Tennessee city for all things honky-tonk. The city teems with live-music venues, featuring both up-and-coming artists and big-name stars. One simply has to stroll Broadway Street to catch a performance.
Want to plan a trip to Nashville for a show? Check out this list of upcoming concerts to find and purchase tickets for performances at the city’s many venues, including the iconic Grand Ole Opry House.
Tip: Remember to forward your travel plans to TripIt, including concert tickets, restaurant reservations, and more, so all your bookings are in one place.
3. Austin, Texas
Dubbed the “Live Music Capital of the World” and home to more than 250 live-music venues, Austin offers non-stop reasons to visit. And this year is no different: everyone from Madonna to Justin Timberlake to Green Day to Usher will make concert tour stops in Austin.
You might also want to head to Austin to experience two of the city’s most iconic events: SXSW and Austin City Limits. This year, SXSW takes place March 8-16; ACL spans two weekends, October 4-6 and 11-13.
4. Chicago, Illinois
Gospel. Blues. House. What do these genres have in common? Their roots in Chicago.
The midwestern city has more than just roots, though. Its music scene today is alive and well; travelers can catch a show anywhere from intimate blues and jazz clubs to iconic theaters and music halls.
Lollapalooza, one of the country’s most popular music festivals, takes place in early August right in downtown Chicago. Who will be in attendance? According to TripIt data, younger generations are more likely to travel to music festivals: 60% of millennials and 56% of Gen Zers said they plan to attend a music festival this year.
Related reading: 4 Trends Shaping Pop-Culture Travel in 2024
5. New York, New York
Hip-hop hails from New York City (as you likely already know), but much like the metropolis, today’s music scene is very much a melting pot. Live-music venues cover the five boroughs—from SummerStage in Manhattan’s Central Park to Forest Hills in Queens to Brooklyn Bowl in its namesake. And whether it's small gigs or stadium tours, there’s something for every kind of music-loving traveler.
Also located in Queens—this time, in Flushing Meadows Park—Governors Ball draws crowds each June for a three-day event. This year, GovBall takes place June 7-9, and will feature headliners like Post Malone, Rauw Alejandro, The Killers, 21 Savage, SZA, Peso Pluma, and more.
Electric Zoo—held on Randall’s Island—features some of the world’s best DJs for a three-day electronic music festival. The event takes place each Labor Day weekend.
