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Cologne

Vibrant urban music scene

Haven for live music & record stores

Indeed, the city at the river Rhine has been one of the most prominent German music cities since decades. Its music scene is massive, offering more live venues and record stores than you can shake a stick at.

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Record shopping XXL

Sightseeing tour in Cologne

Fancy a souvenir to take back home with you? Why don't gift yourself with some favourite new records. These are the best stores in the heart of Cologne. Perfect tour when combined with a little sightseeing just before heading to a live concert in the evening.

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Featured Experience

Concert time

Gebäude 9

Venues in Cologne

Gebäude 9 is the pilgrimage site for Indie and Alternative fans in Cologne and around. Most of the big names in Rock and Indie business have played here, including LCD Soundsystem, Foo Fighters or Arcade Fire.

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Featured Experience

Landes Arena Cologne

Lanxess Arena

Venues in Cologne

Lanxess Arena is the biggest venue in the city of Cologne when it comes to the major names in music business. Numerous big players from Rock and Pop have graced this stage in recent years.

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Featured Experience

Time for Indie music and a drink

Stereo Wonderland

Bars in Cologne

If you are into tunes ranging from Indie and Alternative to Punk, Rock and Grunge - head to this charming bar in Cologne. Stereo Wonderland is for music lovers instead of hipsters.

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Featured Experience

E-Werk Cologne

E-Werk

Venues in Cologne

Industrial exterior and interior make the special atmosphere of Cologne's E-Werk. Live music for an audience of up to 2.000 people - ranging from Rock and Pop genre up to Metal and Punk.

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Sightseeing inspired by music

Sightseeing inspired by music

subTOURING isn’t about mainstream sightseeing. It is travelling inspired by music. A hand-picked guide from passionate music lovers for enthusiasts of Rock, Indie, Metal, and Punk tunes. Offering a unique music travel experience in Cologne.

Get your authentic music experience in and around Cologne.

EXPLORE THE MUSIC MAPS

Guide around the gig

Guide around the gig

Up for a weekend trip with concert in Cologne? Check out the venue city guides focussing on before and after the concert. Get our best tips for accommodation and day activities including record stores as well as bars and restaurants.

Get the most music out of your trip. Hit the road. Follow your band.

GET YOUR GUIDE

MUSIC MAPS & SIGHTSEEING

Sightseeing inspired by music

In Cologne, be prepared to be spoiled for the choice of live music nights. With small and intimate venues along with huge locations placed within throwing distance of each other, this city’s music scene welcomes the big names as well as newcomers. Be also thrilled by the amount of independent record stores in the heart of this vibrant city.

Explore hidden music gems when on tour. Discover music stories beyond the common sightseeing spots. Where history of Rock is revealed and brought to life again.

Record shopping XXL

Fancy a souvenir to take back home with you? Why don't gift yourself with some favourite new records. These are the best stores in the heart of Cologne. Perfect tour when combined with a little sightseeing just before heading to a live concert in the evening.

EXPLORE

GUIDE AROUND THE GIG

Get your authentic music experience

COLOGNE BANDS, ARTISTS & MUSIC

MUSIC HISTORY

Blending Jazz, Blues, Pop & Rock

Around the 1920s, the Jazz style, which originated from the US southern states and afterwards blending with European music, found its way into the cathedral city.

An important figure in the Cologne history of Jazz in the Rhine city was Gigi Campi who brought numerous big players of the time such as Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, or Dizzy Gillespie to town in the 50s. Especially Cool Jazz was popular in Europe at this time.

Cologne is also rich of elements in Pop, Indie and Rock music history. Many national and international music labels ensure an international exchange of artists and fans. This also applies to developments in local music sung in dialect.

Seeing bands perform before they hit the big stages. Experience authentic live music in intimate venues. Meeting other fans. Being close to the artists. Music clubs are the perfect location for all that. Ever since, Cologne has offered a huge club scene consisting of most diverse, independent places playing any musical genre you can imagine. A scene also highly appreciated on an international basis. Even awarded several times. In some of the venues, music history has been written.

Be taken on a musical bus tour through Cologne with live music examples: try MusikKulTours to learn interesting facts about local music history as well as the respective places in the city. Or check out the sound and walks of #urbanana with interesting stories and facts around Cologne Pop and Rock history.