8 Great Places to Retire If You Want Access to Live Music

Key Takeaways

• These eight cities stand out for live music, from major touring acts and local venues to festivals, orchestras, and outdoor concerts.

• Retirees can find both big-city music scenes and smaller communities where live performances are part of everyday life.

• Beyond music, the list also weighs factors retirees care about, including cost of living, taxes, healthcare, and recreation.

"Music is the tool to express life – and all that makes a difference," according to jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock. If music is an important part of your ideal retirement, you may be looking for a place where you can discover local musicians, catch touring acts, or attend outdoor concerts and festivals.

Earlier this year, Investopedia identified the 100 Best Places to Retire based on factors including community amenities, cost of living, and healthcare access. For retirees who want plenty of live music nearby, these eight places stand out.

Big Cities for Retirees Who Love Live Music

Nashville, Tennessee

Few places in America offer more opportunities to hear live music than Nashville . Known as Music City, it has more than 250 venues spanning country, rock, bluegrass, jazz, hip-hop, folk, classical, and more. Smaller spots include Rudy's Jazz Room, Station Inn, and the Bluebird Cafe, while larger, well-known venues include the Grand Ole Opry House and Ryman Auditorium. Centennial Park hosts music festivals and outdoor concerts, and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center features classical performances as well as collaborations with popular artists.

Nashville, Tennessee's capital, is home to more than 720,000 people. Beyond its vibrant music, arts, and creative scene, the city has deep ties to education and Civil War history. Popular attractions include the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the National Museum of African American Music, and the full-scale replica of the Parthenon.

Miami, Florida

Miami is home to one of the nation's most diverse music scenes, with strong Latin, jazz, electronic, and contemporary offerings. Major touring acts regularly stop at large venues, while smaller clubs and outdoor stages include the Fillmore Miami Beach, Gramps, Ball & Chain, the Miami Beach Bandshell, and the FPL Solar Amphitheater at Bayfront Park. Events such as the Calle Ocho Music Festival and South Beach Jazz Festival add to the city's year-round lineup of live music.

Home to about 500,000 people, with a metro area more than 10 times that size, Miami also offers plenty of options for outdoor recreation, including golf, water sports, and beach-going. Arts and culture are another draw, with attractions such as Wynwood Walls, the Pérez Art Museum Miami, and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. The trade-off is cost: Miami has a higher-than-average cost of living, though Florida does not levy a state individual income tax.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh offers a wide range of concert halls, theaters, jazz venues, and summer music festivals. Major touring acts stop at venues such as PPG Paints Arena, while smaller shows can be found at Stage AE, Mr. Smalls Theatre, the Benedum Center, Thunderbird Café and Music Hall, and Bottlerocket Social Hall. The city also hosts free outdoor concerts in its parks during the summer, along with events such as the Millvale Music Festival, Northside Music Festival, Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, and Three Rivers Arts Festival.

Known as the "Steel City," Pittsburgh offers plenty to do beyond music, from outdoor recreation to arts and culture. Its location at the confluence of three rivers gives the city of about 307,000 plenty of natural scenery, along with rolling hills, bridges, parks, and extensive trail systems. Pittsburgh is known for both its industrial past and its sports culture, with professional baseball, football, and hockey teams. Retirees may also benefit from relatively affordable housing and a retiree-friendly tax structure: no tax on Social Security or retirement income, including 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions.

Smaller Cities With Strong Live Music Scenes

Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville has a strong live music scene, with major festivals, university performances, and easy access to Appalachian music traditions. Touring and local acts perform at venues such as the Tennessee Theatre, Bijou Theatre, Food City Center, and The Mill & Mine. Market Square hosts free outdoor concerts during the summer, along with Jazz Tuesdays and performances spanning a range of genres. The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra performs year-round, and the city is also home to the well-known Big Ears Festival.

This eastern Tennessee city, home to about 200,000 people, is popular for fishing, boating , and other outdoor recreation, in part because of its proximity to the Smoky Mountains. Residents also have access to college-town amenities, including theater, sports, downtown events, and healthcare. Knoxville's cost of living is below the national average, with lower costs for utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare. Tennessee does not levy a state individual income tax, so Social Security benefits, pension income, and 401(k) and IRA distributions are not subject to state income tax.

Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines is home to an active music scene, with everything from touring acts and local performances to festivals and venues of all sizes. Casey's Center and Hoyt Sherman Center host touring musicians, while Noce and Wooly's offer smaller settings for live music. Outdoor summer concerts take place at venues such as Water Works Park, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, and the Iowa State Capitol. The Des Moines Symphony adds year-round performances, while the 80/35 Music Festival and PorchFest DSM are among the city's notable music events.

Des Moines, Iowa's capital, has about 200,000 residents. The area offers more than 800 miles of scenic trails, providing plenty of options for outdoor recreation. Beyond music, the city has a strong arts and culture scene, with attractions such as Living History Farms, the Jordan House Museum, and the Des Moines Art Center. Des Moines also has several sports teams, including the Iowa Wild, Iowa Barnstormers, and Iowa Cubs, along with a relatively affordable lifestyle and a smaller-city feel.

Spokane, Washington

Located in eastern Washington near the Idaho border, Spokane offers live music in a variety of settings. The Numerica Veterans Arena, Knitting Factory, and Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox are among the area's larger venues, while smaller spaces provide more intimate performances. The Gesa Credit Union Pavilion in Riverfront Park hosts outdoor concerts along the Spokane River. Area music festivals include Boomjam and the Blessing in Disguise Music Festival.

Home to about 230,000 people, Spokane offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation, thanks to the area's parks, forests, and lakes. Its walkable downtown includes numerous arts and entertainment venues. Washington has no state individual income tax, and the state's capital gains tax does not apply to retirement accounts.

Coastal Cities for Retirement and Live Music

Pensacola, Florida

Pensacola hosts live music year-round, from larger acts at the Pensacola Bay Center to local performers at Seville Quarter, Vinyl Music Hall, and other venues around the city. In summer, free outdoor concerts take place downtown and at Pensacola Beach's Gulfside Pavilion. Area music festivals include the Gulf Coast Jazz Festival, Foo Foo Festival, and Frank Brown Songwriters Festival.

Along with its white-sand beaches and year-round outdoor recreation, Pensacola is known for its long and diverse history. The westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle, home to about 54,000 people, was founded in 1559 and has a walkable Historic District featuring Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial architecture. Other attractions include the National Naval Aviation Museum and Pensacola Lighthouse. Naval Air Station Pensacola, established in 1914 as the first permanent naval air station, is known as the "Cradle of Naval Aviation." Florida's lack of a state individual income tax is another benefit for retirees.

Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota has a year-round live-music scene, with jazz, folk, rock, classical, and other performances at venues throughout the area. Mild weather also makes it easy to enjoy music outdoors, including Friday Night Live concerts at Wellen Park. Rocktoberfest, the Sarasota Jazz Festival, and the Winter Opera Festival are among the area's annual music events.

Located across the state from Pensacola, Sarasota offers a thriving arts community, numerous museums, walkable areas, and easy access to beaches. Home to about 58,000 people, the city also offers access to healthcare, though waterfront housing and insurance can be more expensive than in other parts of Florida. Retirees may also benefit from the state's lack of an individual income tax.

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