Europe has always maintained a thriving music scene, from classical times to today. Discover the origins of the British Invasion, Swedish disco sensations and Irish folk music inspirations. Don’t miss the amazing European music festivals in the summer, either.
The sun never sets on the British Empire. Today, the world can’t listen to the radio without hearing a British tune. From the Beatles to One Direction, British stars have been making the radio waves rock and roll. Instead of just listening to the tunes, go and experience where the Fab Four came from in Liverpool. Visit the Beatles Museum to see old footage and other memorabilia.
Don’t forget to cross the street at Abbey Road in London. Let your friends and family know when you will be crossing so they can watch you cross on the live camera. After touring England, hop on a jet to Prague, Czech Republic, to leave your mark on the John Lennon wall.
Another European sensation that rocked the world was ABBA. All Dancing Queen fans need to visit Stockholm to make a pilgrimage to the ABBA Museum. It is a permanent part of the Swedish Music Hall of Fame. After looking through rare concert footage and checking out stage costumes, look through the other exhibits to learn about more Swedish music.
Ireland is also the home to some great rock stars. To really get a feel for the great bands that have come from Ireland, visit a pub to listen to some traditional Irish music. This folk music helped inspire bands and artists such as U2 and Thin Lizzy.
Europe also has great summer music festivals. Grab a tent and camp out at Glastonbury in Somerset, England, in late June. At the beginning of July, during the day, attend the famous San Fermín Fiestas, with bulls running through the streets, in Pamplona, Spain, and then take a bus to Bilbao to attend the Bilbao BBK Festival at night. Eurockéennes Festival in France is a great place to spend an all-nighter by a beautiful lake with contemporary artists.
