Travel Topics

Music

 
Detroit Jazz Festival 2024, USA

Detroit Jazz Festival 2024, USA

The largest free jazz festival in the world, the Detroit Jazz Festival has been held over the US Labor Day weekend for more than 40 years. Each year the international jazz festival has upwards…

Humber Street Sesh 2024, Hull

Humber Street Sesh 2024, Hull

The Humber Street Sesh celebrates its 11th anniversary in August 2024. This festival held in the Hull Marina is for the people by the people, and provides a stage for emerging musicians and artists…

The BBC Proms 2023, London

The BBC Proms 2023, London

Judith Schrut previews this summer’s BBC Proms, eight weeks of joyous musical feasting at the Royal Albert Hall and around the UK. For classical music lovers it doesn’t get much…

WOMAD 2023, the World’s Festival

WOMAD 2023, the World’s Festival

Judith Schrut previews the wonderful world of WOMAD 2023. WOMAD stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance and is simply the biggest international music festival on the planet. Happening…

5 Festivals in June 2024

5 Festivals in June 2024

Travel Begins at 40 rounds up the best global festivals in June 2024 from Peru to Colorado, so wherever you are you can join in the celebrations. Cultural Festivals in…

Where to Go in June 2023

Where to Go in June 2023

June is a great month for travelling. Northern Europe sees endless hours of sunshine while southern Europe seems to be exploding with music. There is even plenty to keep you…

Where to Go in May 2023

Where to Go in May 2023

Images from packed airports demonstrate the desire to wander has lost none of its lustre during the last couple of years. If you are looking to go on holiday next…

Surrey Hills Spring Festival 2023, UK

Surrey Hills Spring Festival 2023, UK

Held over a weekend in March at the Rural Life Living Museum, the Surrey Hills Spring Festival will celebrate the arrival of spring and include the finest in Surrey’s cuisine, beverages, artwork and craft…

Interested in Music?

Like travelling, music opens people’s mindsets and is often a great and fun way to experience the richness of foreign cultures and the diversity of ways of life on our planet – which is why at Travel Begins at 40 the world’s melodic traditions take up a special place in our travels.

Music Festivals

Whether you’re into Blues in Wales and Country in Nashville, or Jazz in Chiang Mai and Electronic Dance in Singapore, check out our Festivals section to choose your favourite sounds on your travels whether they be near or far.

News

From Soho Music Month in London to UNESCO’s recognition of Jamaican Reggae, stay tuned in to our News section for the latest updates.

Melodic Travel

Sometimes the best melodic experiences happen unplanned and spontaneously – poignant, old folk songs inside a yurt in Kyrgyzstan or stumbling across the Leipzicher Notenspur, a 5km music trail in Germany – may your travels let you experience the world with your ears as well as your eyes.