Belfast

The city's remarkable economic and cultural renaissance over the last few years is now being mirrored in the fecundity of its music scene. Inspired by veterans Ash and Snow Patrol, legions of exciting new acts are flooding the local venues, from screamo indie-kids Fighting With Wire, Ash-associates Oppenheimer, and Modest Mouse-brand alt.rockers Panama Kings. Alumni: The Undertones, Van Morrison, Therapy? Pub fact: C S Lewis, Christian intellectual and writer of the hugely popular children's stories was born in East Belfast.