Whether you’re into luxurious locations or edgy, big stadiums, there is something for everyone. The venue really changes the atmosphere, so choose wisely! Take in the energy and the incredible music in the world’s best music venues…
The O2 Arena, London, UK
The O2 Arena is an impressive music venue on the Greenwich Peninsula in southeast London. It is one of England’s biggest landmarks, and construction finished in 2007. It is part of the O2 entertainment complex that was built at the turn of the millennium. The venue is popular amongst tourists, as it is so easy to access via public transport. It is the second largest entertainment space in the UK after Manchester Arena. Like this arena, the O2 Arena was engineered so that the seating could be altered according to the event. It has also been designed to reduce echoing, which is a general problem with music venues. As you can tell, it’s a very technologically advanced music venue. In the entertainment space, you can go ice skating and many movie premieres have taken place here.
If this location looks familiar, you may have spotted it during the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games which took place in London. It can seat over 20,000 people, although this can fluctuate depending on the band’s stage, lighting and special effects.
Once known as the “Millenium Dome”, it was more of an exhibition space before becoming known for its sell-out concerts. At the time of its construction, it was deemed an embarrassment and an over-the-top expense. It caused great controversy, costing over £600 million! Now it is known for hosting the concerts of the likes of Cher, Prince and Elton John but to name a few. It is even bigger and more famous than Madison Square Garden in New York! In 2015, it was the world’s most visited venue for the eighth year in a row. And fun fact – over that time they served more than 600,000 pints of beer!
Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia
The concert hall in Sydney Opera House is the largest music venue in the building. It is one of the world’s most distinctive buildings with its iconic white architecture. The building was constructed during the 20th century, and was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon. It was then taken over by an Australian architectural team headed by Peter Hall. The opera house holds over 1500 performances annually, attracting more than 1.2 million a year!
The concert hall can seat over 2000 people, and is renowned for its high ceilings and striking surroundings. Many famous names have performed here such as Janet Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald and Kanye West. Its artists have declared this to be the “greatest indoor performance space on Earth”. It is also the home to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, who you can see live from one of the 6 other musical venues that have been opened inside of the Opera ouse.
More recently, the concert hall has been undergoing renovations to improve its acoustics. This will really enhance your musical experience. This should be completed by the end of 2021-early 2022.
Radio City Music Hall, New York City, US
The Radio City Music Hall is located within the iconic Rockefeller Center, at 1260 Avenue of the Americas. It is a spectacular music venue! It was designed in the Art Deco style, making for a stunning location. The Music Hall opened back in 1932, as part of the Rockefeller Center, and at the time its auditorium was the largest in the world. Unfortunately, the venue faced financial difficulty in the 70s, and almost closed. It was declared a New York City landmark in 1978, and it soon got back in business!
It is really part of New York culture, and it is also the home to the dance troop, the Radio City Rockettes. They put on a Christmas spectacular which has been performed every year since 1932 (except in 2020, due to the pandemic).
The Radio City Music Hall is the largest indoor theater in the world. The Great Stage is 48 meters long, and is 25 meters high. Plus, it can seat over 5900 seats! It is a very impressive venue for the world’s best artists to come and play. Some of the greats have graced its stages over the decades, such as Stevie Wonder, BB King and Barry Manilow. It is also where Frank Sinatra sang “New York, New York” for the very first time! It truly is an iconic space!
Arena of Nîmes, Nîmes, France
The Arena of Nîmes is an open-air music venue that is truly impressive due to its Roman influences. It was built in around 70 CE, and is a huge part of Nîmes’ landscape. It was constructed at that time to be the home of epic shows, and that still is the case today! The venue is one of the few arenas from that period to be so well preserved, and still in use. The music venue can accommodate 20,000 people around the central ring, and there are 126 staircases. Try not to get lost!
It has been the setting for many concerts and movies too! Many bands have played concerts and filmed footage here, such as Dire Straits, Metallica and Depeche Mode. The venue is still undergoing restoration work dating back to 2009, but you can still visit the interior!
Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, US
The Red Rocks Amphitheater is also an incredible outdoor music venue. Situated in Morrison, Colorado, you can see the moon rising over Denver in the night time all while jamming out to your concert. The space is the ideal concert venue for rock’n’roll fans! It is edgy, and the views are just stunning and unique! The land was discovered in 1820 and was first known as the Garden of Angels, and then the Garden of Titans. The city of Denver purchased the area of Red Rocks and construction began in 1936, naming it the Red Rocks Amphitheater. The location’s giant sandstones are taller than Niagra Falls, and are part of the geological Fountain Formation.
The venue is famous for its incredible outdoor acoustics and one-of-a-kind ambiance. So many international stars have graced the stage here – from the Beatles to One Republic. The place has so much musical history for you to learn about. It really is a dream venue for artists for its insane views and its natural beauty.
During the summer months, they also project movies here on a big screen while you kick back and relax. If you’re here to explore, after checking out the amphitheater, you can try out the hiking and biking trails. In terms of accommodation, there are local camping sites nearby for you to set up base.
Musikverein, Vienna, Austria
Musikverein is a concert hall in Innere Stadt, a borough of Vienna, Austria. The decadent venue was inaugurated by Emperor Franz Joseph in 1870. The music venue could be built thanks to a decree passed by the Emperor in 1857 to remove the city’s walls. This was so a modern boulevard, now known as the Ringstraße could be created. It was then that the Emperor decided to move the old Musikverein (then known as the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde) in the center of the city to this brand new location. The striking decor was designed by Theophil Hansen, who, under the pressure of being up against some of the country’s finest architects, tried out a completely new style. There are Greek influences throughout the building that can be seen through the columns and the temple roof of the Brahms Saal. Even the color scheme is inspired by ancient Greece!
The Great Hall is the most famous part of the Musikverein, and it is known and loved by music fanatics all over the world. In fact, it is considered to be one of the finest concert halls in the world. The hall can seat 1744 guests and has standing room for 300 people. The building has barely changed since it was opened during the 19th century, and has been beautifully preserved to ensure it keeps its charm. Musikverein is the home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, who put on an amazing performance for New Year’s Eve every year. So upon your travels, make sure you don’t miss this incredible event!
About Author
