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With a little time and music knowledge, it can be pretty easy to name a band or two that came from each major city throughout the United States. Every city seems to have their musical acts, but which cities are really known for having their music as a deep part of their identity? To the surprise of some, many of the cities that sound like that are in the midwest.
Planning a roadtrip centered around this idea is perfect for those looking to get out and explore the midwest but weren’t sure how to have a more concrete plan than that. While not every city is going to be a chart topping hit in your eyes, depending on your taste, here’s a few to consider as you are traveling throughout the midwest.
Detroit, Michigan
The Motor City is known for more than just being the place that kick-started the American obsession with cars. It’s also the home of Motown Music. While Motown also isn’t what it once was in terms of popularity, it’s a staple of American music and has widely influenced today’s popular music.
For those who aren’t familiar with the likes of Marvin Gaye or Smokey Robinson, they owe those greats a visit to the Motown Museum as they are passing through Michigan. Detroit is also home to plenty of other major American acts such as The White Stripes, Eminem, and Alice Cooper.
Chicago, Illinois
Jazz heads aren’t going to want to pass by Chicago without a stop to see one of the many homes of Jazz and Bluegrass. Each year there’s the Chicago Jazz Fest, so why not make the pilgrimage, like thousands of others, see the celebration of the passion that drives you. One venue that’s a must see is The Green Mill which today serves as a popular stop for contemporary jazz acts and what was once a popular hangout for the likes of Al Capone.
The musical spirit of Chicago is most alive through the small venues and record stores that are easy to miss. With a keen eye and an open mind, by blindly walking into either place music lovers can easily find their new obsession by someone playing live or by deep-diving into the record bins.
Cleveland, Ohio
There’s no one single home to rock and roll, but Cleveland deserves the title of the city that can claim the term. It was first coined in the 1950s by Alan Freed and his Moondog Rock and Roll Radio Hour. From Alan’s work, the city quickly became a staple for the biggest acts throughout the early years of rock and roll. The early history is what made it the perfect home for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, cementing it as a major place in the history of American Rock Music. For the diehards, there might not be a midwestern city better than this and once you spend a few days here, you’ll be searching through Cleveland apartments for rent so you never have to miss another show at the city’s best venues like the House of Blues and Beachland Ballroom.
