There are only so many places our pre-scripted plans can take us. When our travel experiences start to bleed into each other and look the same regardless of where we go, music may be the key to unlocking new discoveries.

Inspired by the lively, unpredictable, and spontaneous pulse of jazz, we can think about travel as an opportunity to be more instinctive — to follow a sound, strike up a conversation, or change our plans when something unexpected catches our attention.

If, like jazz, you thrive on the tension between structure and freedom, your itinerary can be a helpful suggestion rather than an absolute order.

Music connects travellers across cultures and languages

A diverse group of musicians playing acoustic instruments outdoors during an informal community gathering.
Uniting people across borders and languages through the universal, shared rhythm of outdoor musical performances. (Image by Juan Ordone)

The beauty of music is that you do not need to be an expert in it to be able to enjoy it. Music is a universal language that we can all connect to. The next time you’re on a trip, keep an eye out for what’s on in the local music scene. Music is so deeply ingrained in the fabric of so many cultures and communities across the world that you are more than likely to stumble across it while travelling. From the warmth of a traditional Irish music session in an Irish pub to the gritty energy of a street busker in a big city, or the thrilling rhythm of a New Orleans second-line parade, these moments uniquely connect us through the power of rhythm and sound.

Live music creates shared experiences with locals and other travellers

People dancing outdoors on a public street in Norwich, UK, surrounded by an appreciative audience.
Fostering spontaneous connection and joy among locals and visitors through live street dancing and community music in Norwich, UK. (Image by Barney Goodman)

If you have been privileged to travel a lot, you may sometimes approach it with a nonchalance that can hinder genuine connection. When the novelty wears off, we tend to forget that part of the rich experience in travel is the gift of making friends around the world. Here is where live music can act as a bridge to enjoying a shared experience with locals and other travellers. Whether it’s through stomping your feet along in participation, clapping your hands, or joining a line dance, music has a way of bringing people from all walks of life together. This is especially true of communal music experiences, where you can take part without needing to know anyone beforehand.

Let music lead you beyond the travel itinerary

Three older men playing acoustic guitars and a tambura on a city sidewalk in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Slowing down to follow the sound of a street fiddle in the French Quarter of New Orleans, stepping beyond standard sightseeing routes. (Image by William Recinos)

History, famous landmarks, adventure, shopping, and food tend to take precedence over our travel itineraries in the planning process. It is for that reason that local music culture tends to be the hidden experience we miss out on. Diversifying our travel experiences from the visual and tactile to exploring sound can reveal a lot about a place. Music can offer insight into parts of a culture that we cannot learn about through tour guides or read about in a magazine. They have to be experienced first-hand. So when you stumble across a music performance on your journey, don’t be afraid to slow down and perhaps alter your plans so you can follow the sound and let it lead you to an experience you wouldn’t otherwise have.

Some travel moments are meant to be unrepeatable

Shoppers browsing vinyl records in cardboard crates inside an independent record and vintage clothing shop.
Stumbling upon unscripted, unrepeatable moments as local musicians play traditional acoustic instruments on a sidewalk in Novi Sad, Serbia. (Image by Aleksandar Popovski)

It’s nice to know that in a world that often chases the next viral trend, there are some adventures that are completely unreplicable. I remember a moment I had while travelling in Europe some years ago. While waiting for our train at an open-air station, we heard the faintest sound of music playing, only to turn around and see what looked like old friends, possibly in their 60s or 70s, singing around a bonfire outside a cafe. They were laughing while keeping in tune with one another to what I later realised through Shazam was a Swedish song. It wasn’t some big, viral moment I could share on Instagram. But for the time in which we were cold and waiting for the train to arrive, their singing put a smile on our faces. Music has a way of bypassing our travel expectations and giving us simple pleasures that remind us why we fell in love with travel in the first place.

Music opens the door to local subcultures

Unlocking local subcultures, history, and underground music scenes by exploring local vinyl record shops. (Image by Curated Lifestyle)

The more I travel, the more I realise how little I know about the world. There are nuances to the places we visit and fall in love with. Music can sometimes unlock a cultural gateway to lesser-known history, underground art scenes, and unique destinations that mainstream tourism often misses. There is a whole network of people, traditions, daily rituals, and values that make up the social fabric of a place. If live music or impromptu dancing is not up your street, try going to an old record shop and talking to the owner about the albums and local artists, or visit a music-focused museum such as Troldhaugen, the Edvard Grieg Museum in Norway, or Audeum Audio Museum in South Korea to learn more about how music influences these places. There is more than one way to use music as your key navigator while discovering a new place.

A song overheard in a cafe, a band playing in a backstreet bar, or strangers singing beside a train platform can be enough to make you look up and stay awhile. Sometimes, all it takes is hearing something you weren’t looking for.