{"id":91,"date":"2013-07-07T06:46:29","date_gmt":"2013-07-07T06:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/live-and-local-music-in-new-york\/"},"modified":"2022-08-08T23:18:30","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T23:18:30","slug":"live-and-local-music-in-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/live-and-local-music-in-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Live and Local: Music in New York"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a music blogger I spend a large portion of my life going to gigs. And when I say \u201clarge portion\u201d, I really mean every spare minute. Most people are surprised to hear that when I take a holiday, the last thing on my mind is exploring the local music scene. For me a holiday means a break from everything \u2013 home, work, hobbies and blogging.<\/p>\n

When I\u2019m out in the world travelling I have to remind myself the reason I see so much live music at home, and write about it, is because I love it. And if I find myself in a city or country renowned for its music scene and I don\u2019t go and see anything, I\u2019ll definitely regret it later. I have to make sure in between the sightseeing, relaxing, eating and drinking that I track down a music venue and catch something live and local.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s exactly what I did in New York, a city where there\u2019s always too much to do, so I thought I\u2019d share with you a couple of tips on how to get the balance of a holiday and music just right.<\/p>\n

1. Stay Somewhere Central<\/h2>\n

This probably sounds like practical advice for any holiday to a big city but it\u2019s even more important if you want to include music. Most cities have an area that\u2019s particularly rich in venues (think Fortitude Valley in Brisbane or Melbourne\u2019s inner-North) and it\u2019s usually easily accessible from the centre of town. Lower Manhattan is a good base \u2013 you\u2019re only a taxi or subway ride away from all the major music venues. Expedia\u2019s Aussie travellers absolutely love New York \u2013 we usually stay for five days so it\u2019s worth having a good base for your adventure. Check out Expedia\u2019s New York\u00a0Travel Guide<\/a> for some more tips.<\/p>\n

2. Familiarise Yourself With Local Listings<\/h2>\n

Most cities will have street press, local magazines or online listings for gigs. They won\u2019t cover everything but there\u2019ll be a fairly decent cross-section to work with. Time Out is usually available in most hotels. I\u2019m pretty particular about my music. I like to try and find nights or venues that suit my tastes – Oh My Rockness<\/a> is perfect for indie music lovers like me.<\/p>\n

3. Don\u2019t be Afraid to Ask Around<\/h2>\n

Sometimes the best gigs are the ones that aren\u2019t advertised. Ask bartenders, hotel receptionists and wait staff where to see live music – you\u2019ll be surprised by the recommendations. If it wasn\u2019t for the bartender at The Gaslight in New York\u2019s Meatpacking District, I never would have found a really cool jazz bar on the Lower East Side.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

4. Mix Music with A Must-Do Experience<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve got a limited time to see and do everything when you\u2019re on holiday. Instead of sacrifice sightseeing for music, try combining the two. Head along to an event in an historic venue, eat at a famous restaurant near the club where a band is playing or plan a walking trip that ends with a music venue. Catching a show at New York\u2019s\u00a0Mercury Lounge<\/a>\u00a0was the perfect excuse to grab a bite to eat at the iconic\u00a0Katz\u2019s Delicatessen<\/a>\u00a0beforehand.<\/p>\n

\u00a05. Keep It Local<\/h2>\n

As tempting as it is to see the latest big band or touring superstar, it\u2019s unlikely you\u2019ll have an experience unique to the city you\u2019re in. Instead find a band that\u2019s local – the crowd will be local and you\u2019ll hear something you might not find anywhere else. I had to convince myself I didn\u2019t need to see Gotye in New York City as he plays regularly enough in Australia – my time and money was better spent on a local.<\/p>\n

\u00a06. Have Fun<\/h2>\n

Most of all you want to make sure you have a great time. You\u2019re in a foreign city where you (probably) don\u2019t know anyone – use the opportunity to really let your hair down and dance like no one is watching.<\/p>\n

Mercury Lounge images by Adam Macchia<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New York is a city where there\u2019s always too much to do. Here’s a couple of tips on how to get the balance of a holiday and music just right.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,2,3,20],"tags":[31,51],"authors":[],"class_list":["post-91","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-destination","category-experiences","category-explore","category-usa","tag-music","tag-new-york","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLive and Local: Music in New York - Expedia AU Stories<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"New York is a city where there\u2019s always too much to do. 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