Cologne, Germany, has a vibrant alternative scene, with live music flowing through some of the city’s most character-filled venues. From major tours to raw underground gigs, places like LANXESS Arena, Blue Shell, and Gebäude 9 keep the amps buzzing. Record hunters and gearheads will feel right at home at Good Mood Records and the Music Store Professional. Cologne might not be the most obvious stop on the rock map, but it has musical soul to spare. And just a few kilometers away is Bonn, the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven — the classical genius whose intensity has inspired generations of rock musicians.