I was browsing the web the other day to see if there are any lists out there on the best indie music scenes. I came across a list posted by TripAdvisor, a travel guide and research website that offers reviews from other fellow travelers to help you plan your vacation. Back in 2006, TripAdvisor posted a review of the “Top Ten Alternative/Indie Music Cities in the World.” The list was put together by Guzzle a music journalist based in Vancouver who apparently loves to travel. He’s been to 117 destinations. Guzzle based this list on the “cities with the best indie music scenes, birthplaces of top indie bands and best places to catch an alternative band.”

And here are the top 10 cities…

1. Glasgow
2. Austin
3. Seattle
4. New York
5. London
6. San Fran
7. Dublin
8. Portland
9. LA
10. Chi-town

(it’s unclear whether these are ranked but I have a feeling since the author is a self-identified Belle & Sebastian fan that this list is from his most favorite on down..)

Although I can’t speak from personal experience about many of these cities, the list seems pretty comprehensive to me, even though it seems to be biased to cities west of the GMT time zone. But I guess that is mostly because the indie music scene has its roots in the US and Great Britain. I can’t say I can speak to the indie music scenes of Barcelona, Paris, Dubai or Shanghai. I’ll be traveling to Dublin later this summer as part of my much needed vacation to Europe. I’ll be sure to write a follow-up post on my thoughts of the Dublin music scene.

Antsy to get on outta here already,

Melina