If you have ever been in love, then you know that love and music are one and the same. Whether you poured your heart out in a song you wrote, or borrowed other (more famous) people's words and melodies to craft the perfect mix-tape playlist, you are clearly one of those (like us) that believe that even the coldest heart can be melted with the right melody.
This year the stars have aligned and Valentine's day happens to fall on a Friday. So what better way to celebrate love than taking your special one on a suprise weekend trip to see some great live music and discover a new city together (or ignore it completely and spend the weekend in bed!)?
GigsGuide is full of great concerts for all tastes, so here is just a tiny selection of suggestions to get you in the right mood.
You can then search the perfect one for you and your darling directly on the GigsGuide website (pro tip: if you leave the destination field empty and just select origin and travel dates, we'll show hundreds of great gigs and help you compare flights and accommodation options on the fly. Be warned, it can easily get addictive!)
And if you are single, there is no need to feel left out. Take our suggestions as a gentle "kick in the butt" to get out more and meet someone new and amazing (and with an excellent music taste).
Sophie Zelmani in Freiburg (Germany)
When: Friday the 14th (more info)
Maybe it's because it was one of the first Swedish artists I discovered when I moved here, but Sophie Zelmani has always had a special place in my musical heart. I have seen her live a couple of times and her shows are always very warm and intimate, so definitely worth catching one of her performances if you can.
Freiburg is a cute little town with a lot of history and interesting things to discover together on a romantic weekend. It is easily accessible by plane (through the nearby Basel airport) and by train, so it's the perfect destination for a weekend getaway.
The Darkness in Copenhagen
When: Friday the 14th (more info)
Whether you "believe in a thing for love" or you are coming out of a bad break-up and think that "love is only a feeling", there is no doubt that this is a band that knows how to put on a crazy show that you will not forget.
Copenhagen might be a bit chilly in mid-February (which could also be a great excuse to never leave your hotel room) but has lots to offer to its visitors, from Michelin-starred restaurants to cute little shops to one of Europe's leading modern art museums (Louisiana, one of my favourite spots!).
Carly Rae Jepsen in Cologne
When: Saturday the 15th (more info)
Let's be honest, most of us have in some way or form tried to be cheeky and cute using "Call me maybe" to make our interest clear to someone we fancied. If you are one of the few that managed to "seal the deal" with it, then here is your chance to sing it out loud together with your love (ideally... the same love ;)).
Cologne is a big city where it isn't hard to find something fun and entertaining to see or do. If you are lucky with the weather, then climbing the 533 steps to the top of the Cathedral will give you access to a view that takes your breath away (unless the climb did that first).
Moonchild in Paris
When: Saturday the 15th (more info)
I know what you are thinking, "isn't Paris on Valentine's day a bit clichè?".
And you'd be wrong! Paris is wonderful and there are always plenty of reasons to visit as often as you possibly can. But if you do need an "excuse", then the superb blend of jazz, R&B and hip-hop sounds that is "Moonchild" is probably one of the best you could find right now.
If you need more ideas to fill your Parisian days, one of my favourite activities in Paris is spending the day at the Musee D'Orsay, enjoying the amazing art and having a lovely lunch in the restaurant behind the big clock 😉.
Milow in Antwerp
When: Saturday the 15th (more info)
Belgium is one of my absolute favourite countries in the world (and also one of the most under-rated!). So laid back and yet with so much to offer: great history, amazing beer, tasty food and incredible music.
So why not experience some great Belgian-made music in one of the coolest cities in Europe?
James Blunt in Manchester
When: Saturday the 15th (link)
I know what you are thinking, but hear me out. This is actually the perfect Valentine's suggestion for 2 completely different "use cases".
If "You're Beautiful" is the song they played at your wedding and hearing it brings tears of joy to your eyes, then this is serious business and you simply need to be there (and you have probably already bought the VIP Meet&Greet package anyway).
The other way of looking at it is that you have been desperately trying to break up with your current partner, you don't have the courage to do it and he/she/they is not getting any the hints you have been casually dropping. In this case, taking him/her/them to see James Blunt live might just be the gentle push that your relationship needs (off the cliff).
To be fair, I am being cheeky (so I hope James and his fans can take a bit of friendly banter) and James Blunt is on a proper, massive world tour (i.e. they don't just take him out of the freezer once a year for Valentine's day!).
And if this gig is not your cup of tea, Manchester is still pretty cool and there is loads of other great events going on. For instance, electronic music lovers might be thrilled to know that Faithless are playing a benefit show on Friday the 14th.
Flying on the wings of love...
(Don't worry, year 2000 Eurovision Song Contest's winners Olsen Brothers are not on the list 🤣)
No matter where you are taking your sweetheart for Valentine's Day weekend, we hope you are going to have an amazing time full of great music together (among other things 😉).
If you are looking for more gigs and inspiration for a great musical adventure (this time and any other time), don't forget to check out GigsGuide, the only place where music and travel make sweet sweet love to each other 😙.
p.s. All the events listed in the article had tickets available at the time of writing. Obviously, don't wait too long to make up your mind 😉.
