Music is the lifeblood of New Orleans and is heard all night long. In the French Quarter the live music is (sadly) mostly rock cover bands, although the House of Blues (225 Decatur Street, LA 70116, +15045292624, www.hob.com) has a constant stream of big-name talent with local musicians in its auxiliary room, the Parish. The cool music scene that most visitors expect to find on Bourbon Street is actually a couple of blocks outside of the Quarter on Frenchmen Street in the Marigny where Snug Harbor (626, LA 70116, +15049490696, www.snugjazz.com) has groovy jazz and Café Brasil has Latin-salsa (2100 Chartres Street, LA 70116, +15049490851).

Heading Uptown you’ll find two of the city’s best music clubs, Tipitina’s and the Maple Leaf. Tip’s (501 Napoleon Avenue, LA 70130, +15048958477, www.tipitinas.com), is a legend in the music world, with an affinity for New Orleans funk and Delta blues, while the Maple Leaf Bar (8316 Oak Street, LA 70118, +15048669359) is where the city’s top brass, funk, R&B and zydeco bands play late into the night.

The gay club scene here is vibrant with a heavy concentration along St Ann and Bourbon streets. Bourbon Pub & Parade Dance Club (801 Bourbon Street, LA 70116, +15045292107, www.bourbonclub.com) is one of the most popular haunts in town.

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