Charming little bookshop filled to the ceiling with hard to find scores and music books. Don't be fooled by its size, they even host a grand piano. The back room is both a cafè serving gourmet coffee drinks and wine, and a miniature concert hall displaying the work of local artists. Also noticed for their one-of-a-kind recycled and handpainted furnitures and off-beat concerts with a cult following. Concerts draw the attraction of hundreds including famous personalities from the neighbourhood, despite the shop seating about 50 people. Located in Trastevere and not hard to find, just look for the crowd gathering on the doorsteps and listening to live music from street at night.

Via di San Francesco a Ripa, 60
Trastevere, Rome
Tel. +39.06.45422111
www.myspace.com/daseiamusicbookshop

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An independent cultural and nightlife website, with its ear to the ground.

www.thehub.hu

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The concert hall in Bruges is a beautiful, contemporary venue with an impressive seasonal calendar of events. The performance I attended was a highlight of my trip. There are a range of tiny restaurants opposite the entrance where you can enjoy a pre-theatre meal - accompanied by a beer of course!

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The medieval Latvian city of Sigulda is celebrating 800 years this summer.

If you are in Latvia this weekend then get yourself to Sigulda for its official 800-year birthday party celebrations, which will include a celebration by Latvia's top band - Brainstorm

www.sigulda.lv/public/eng/sigulda_800/

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This is the unofficial heart of the pedestrian zone, surrounded by lots of restaurants and street cafés. It is the place where everybody meets, especially in summer. The bandstand has concerts every summer evening by visiting bands. Every second and fourth Saturday, a brocante (antiques/flea) market fills the square.

Place d'Armes is in the centre of Luxembourg City, between Neuve Rue Phillipe & Rue de Cure;
www.luxembourg.co.uk/pless.html

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This elaborately decorated, art nouveau (modernista in Catalan) concert hall is an absolute must see. It's exciting enough looking at it outside, but the whole of the inside is exhilarating with a riot of sparkling stained glass and swirling forms. There’s a huge expression of colour and light, especially in the auditorium itself with its stunning, golden-brown, stained-glass ceiling - a highlight in every sense. Guided tours only, some in English, last just under an hour, and it's best to book in advance. Don't be put off - this is really one to remember.

Calle Sant Francesc de Paula, 2; tel: 902 442 882; nearest metro: Urquinaona

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This is the best live music venue in Amsterdam. It used to be a church so the sound is always great. A good place to see new bands just after they've toured the UK.

Weteringschans 6-8
1017 SG Amsterdam
020 - 626 45 21
www.paradiso.nl

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A great gig venue. It's small and intimate with people just dancing round, smiling and having fun. There's lots of atmosphere. I saw Femi Kuti there last November. It was an amazing show, with fantastic supporting act, the friendliest staff ever and such a wide mix of ages for a concert. A great gig in a great venue.

Lijnbaansgracht ...

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The music department of the University of Rio (UniRio) hosts weekly free concerts, usually of chamber music, in the entrance hall of the nearby Museu de Ciências da Terra do DNPM. And the Federal University (UFRJ) hosts weekly free concerts just down the street at the Salão Dourado of the Forum de Ciência e Cultura da UFRJ.

UniRio
Avenida Pasteur, 404, Urca (the avenue that leads to Sugarloaf).
Mondays, at 6:30 PM during term (March-June, August-November).
URRJ
Av. Pasteur, 250, Urca, Thursdays, at 7 PM.
Bus Service from the Botafogo Metro Station.

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String quartet in residence at the University of Manchester; these Brussels-based musicians give some of the most exciting concerts around, from classics (Beethoven, Schubert) to twentieth century and contemporary composers you won't hear anywhere else in this country. They're also doing a complete Shostakovich cycle in November.

www.arts.manchester.ac.uk/martinharriscentre/danels.php

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We visited Prague a couple of weeks ago and were lucky enough to get tickets to one of the concerts in the Prague Spring season at the Municipal House. Although the acoustics are not brilliant, the atmosphere was amazing and the orchestra excellent. A word of advice though - the Czechs take their music seriously and were all dressed very smartly. My boyfriend, who was in smart trousers and shirt, commented that he wished he'd worn a jacket to the concert. On the plus side, tickets were £10 each for a box seat.

Municipal House (Obecni Dum): a.s., nám. Republiky 5;
tel: (+42) 0 222 002 101;
email: info@obecni-dum.cz;
www.obecni-dum.cz;
www.prague.cz/prague-spring.asp

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