Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville’s nickname of Music City is well deserved. Many country music legends have shaped the character of the Tennessee capital, playing everywhere from dive bars to the Grand Ole Opry. Walking around downtown you’ll hear classic tunes emanating from almost every bar.

For a real insider’s experience, visit Third Man Records. Sign up for a private, behind-the-scenes tour to see the backstage lounges where celebrities have been known to hang out, as well as a recording studio and secret boutique concert venue. Sip a cocktail in the exclusive Blue Room Bar, surrounded by some of the most eclectic interior decoration in town.

Another must-see for music-lovers is the hi-tech National Museum of African American Music, which has a dazzling array of interactive exhibits that explore African American music from early spirituals through to modern day R&B and hip-hop.

If you can’t resist Elvis Presley or Johnny Cash, then head to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Private group tours can be booked for a truly bespoke experience. Stories Behind the Songs are presentations by local musicians, while the Inside Tracks session has you writing and recording your very own country song from scratch.

Top-class talent also plays live on Friday and Saturday nights at The Lounge at Blue Aster at Conrad Nashville. Enjoy the musical stylings as you sip a craft cocktail in the lounge’s sumptuous surroundings before a delicious dinner at the Blue Aster Restaurant, or a cutting-edge concoction with a nightcap at the hotel’s Thistle & Rye cocktail bar.

New Orleans

One thing you’ll notice in the Crescent City is that music is everywhere. There’s a near-constant soundtrack as you move around the city, and buskers are more likely to be full brass bands than one person with a guitar. You’ll probably want to find some jazz, though, and you can easily discover a showcase of local talent at any of the authentic clubs on Frenchmen Street.

Take in one of several daily shows at Preservation Hall, a charming and historical music venue. Book ahead for the front two rows to be treated to some of the city’s most revered musical talent playing Dixieland classics right in front of you.

The climate in New Orleans is usually quite amenable, and an al-fresco jazz brunch blends the city’s best elements: music and food. The Court of Two Sisters has an elegant courtyard, and their daily live jazz brunch buffet is a civilized way to start your day. You can savor Cajun and Creole delicacies such as turtle soup and shrimp etouffee while the house band strikes up a tune on the sun-dappled patio.

The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, has a storied musical history: All the jazz greats have played in the legendary Blue Room, now a sophisticated ballroom for private events. You can sip a Sazerac cocktail at The Sazerac Bar as you listen to modern-day greats, and there’s a live band in the hotel’s stylish Fountain Room most weekends. Best of all, you can walk from the hotel to some of New Orleans’ best jazz clubs, including Fritzel’s European Jazz Club on Bourbon Street and Palm Court Jazz Cafe on Decatur Street.

Paul Oswell is a British award-winning journalist and published travel author based in New Orleans, Louisiana in the United States. His books include Bucket List North America and The Great American Road Trip, as well as New Orleans' Historic Hotels. He has also been an editor of and contributor to several guide books/editions published by Dorling Kindersley (owned by Penguin), including New Orleans, Florida, Orlando, Los Angeles, California and The United States. His work has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure (both of which he has written multiple online travel guides for) and The Guardian, as well as dozens of international newspaper and magazine titles, and inflight magazines for major airlines.