Music fans can rock out all the way from Budapest airport to city with a shuttle tour of the area's hot and happening music hotspots. As both an airport shuttle driver and music fan I thought I'd share a few of my favourite places in the city. So buckle up your seatbelt and let's get ready to rock and roll.
Frank Zappa was a huge fan of Budapest and the city was luckily enough to house one of his last ever concerts back in 1991. I remember the day like it was yesterday, although I was only a young university student at the time. He was playing a concert to commemorate the removal of Soviet troops from Hungary, and with the town mayor present it was certainly an historic occasion. What made it even more fantastic was that he joined some local gipsy bands on stage and started jamming with them. My friend, Czigany, plays accordion in one of these bands and nearly 20 years later she still talks about the day that she jammed with Zappa on stage.
As Frank Zappa commemorated such an important occasion in our city's history we like to commemorate him in return, and what better way to do this than with the Zappa Cafe. I've taken many tourists here on my Budapest airport to city runs and whilst it may be popular, every rocker worth their weight in salt knows that it is the place to start an evening. I'd recommend sampling the hearty beef stew, but if you're just here for the beer then make like the locals and try the plum palinska. But be warned it isn't for the faint-hearted!
The underground hall in the Zappa Cafe has its own stage and usually has its own live music on a weeknight. Just recently we had a Hungarian band called the Magic Cats playing and these were a big hit with the locals. If there's no music on at the Zappa Cafe then we'll head over to Rocktogon, known for its acoustic sessions and chilled out atmosphere. When live bands are not playing, the atmosphere shifts and the DJ can often be found putting on loud punk music and heavy rock and roll which is guaranteed to have the crowd moshing until the early hours. If that all sounds a little too hardcore for you, then you can sway along to lighter rock at the disco sessions that take place regularly between 8pm and 11.30pm.
My shuttle rounds aren't always from Budapest airport to city and I have been known to drive a bit further afield. The Raday is located slightly out of town but I'd definitely recommend it to anyone with a love of music. It's more of a pub than a bustling nightclub, but it's great place to enjoy a couple of beers whilst sticking a tune on the old juke box.
If my Budapest airport to city passengers ask, I won't hesitate to recommend them some great Hungarian rock music. The punk band, CPG are a particular favourite of mine and were one of the first bands in Hungary to be arrested for rock-related subversion, spending two years in prison for political incitement. The prog rock band, Panta Rhei, and metal group, Fallenintoashes are also very good. But don't take my word for it; book a trip to Hungary and you'll be able to experience the fantastic scene for yourself.
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