You may still be recovering from last weekend, but the folks at Germany’s Munich Airport are already planning next weekend’s activities.

On July 19^th and 20^th, the covered, open-air Munich Airport Center Forum is hosting openairport, “the first rock and pop festival ever to be staged at a major European airport.” Admission will be free and the music will include everything from hip-hop and funk to ska and reggae.

Here’s a link for more details and information about the bands.

Maybe this is what US airports can do with all those big open terminal spaces if the airlines keep cutting back on flights.

Photo courtesy Munich Airport

Each weekend during cruise season (November – April), the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) fills with hundreds of travelers who have nowhere else to go.

During a cruise, it’s all about “Sit back, relax, take a swim, have a drink.” But when the cruise is over, passengers are rushed ashore early in the morning so the ship can be readied for the next wave of guests, who begin boarding mid-afternoon.

That leaves thousands of passengers with lots of time between getting off the ship and getting on a plane home. And while some people use that time to go to the beach or tour the city, most just head straight to the airport and hang around.

In most parts of FLL, travelers aren’t allowed to pass through security until shortly before their flights. So it’s no wonder that the airport’s tropically-themed Corona Beach Bar, pre-security in the baggage claim area of Terminal 1, has gotten so popular.

There are umbrella-topped tables, palm trees just outside the window and, during cruise season, live music. Off-season it seems to draw plenty of locals and frequent travelers: according to an airport spokesperson, the bartenders know the regulars by name.

Next time you travel through O’Hare International Airport, Chicago’s Midway International Airport or the O’Hare Air Transit System (ATS), listen up.

The Department of Aviation just launched a re-vamped overhead music program – Terminal Tunes – that features instrumental versions of songs by blues, jazz, country and classical artists who are either from the Chicago area or record for Chicago-based record labels.

That’s great news. As I wrote in a recent USATODAY.com column, there are just a few airports where local music is front and center.

Chicago’s new overhead music program replaces and old one which dated back to the early 1990′s. The new program includes a high-tech twist: artist and album information, audio samples and play list logs will be posted on the Chicago Airport System’s website, www.flychicago.com.

So if you hear a catchy tune while rushing to catch a plane, you can go on-line and track down the music. Soon, you’ll also be able to purchase Terminal Tunes CDs from shops in the airports as well.

On Wednesday, April 23rd, Chicago’s O’Hare Airport is celebrating the launch of its new overhead music program with a free live music showcase featuring four nationally-known Chicago-area musicians:

Blues singer and guitarist Lonnie Brooks

Polka artist Eddie Blazonczyk, Jr.

Singer-songwriter Kelly Hogan

Classical violinist Rachel Barton-Pine

The concert will take place between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. airside in Terminal 2, in the main corridor connecting Terminals 1 and 2.

Photo: courtesy Lonnie Brooks Web site

Traveling to or through Houston’s George Bush International Airport (IAH) today (March 20^th)? Don’t be alarmed if you see Russian Cossacks and Lion Dancers wandering about the terminals.

From 9:30 in the morning until 11 pm at night the airport is celebrating Singapore Airlines’ new service to Moscow and Singapore with music and dance performances by the Linh Son Temple Lion Dancers, the Uzori Russian Dance Ensemble, and others.

Alabama’s Huntsville International Airport hopes its snappy “Fly Huntsville” jingle will lure travelers away from other airports in the region.

Germany’s Frankfurt Airport adopted its perky theme song to promote the fact that the airport isn’t just an airport, but “a full-fledged city for business, innovations, ideas, shopping, leisure, etc…”

Give a listen to these and other airport theme songs in my column posted today on USATODAY.com. Maybe you’ll want to sing along.

During the music, film and media extravaganza known as the South by Southwest festival, or SXSW, pretty much every venue in Austin, Texas is pressed into service as a showcase for music from around the world.

This year’s festival runs from March 7th to the 16^th. Much of the action is centered in downtown Austin, but some of the coolest events are only open to badge-wearing registrants. (Crashing isn’t that easy; I’ve been trying…)

But out at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, all concerts are free; all the time.

Each weekday throughout the year there are live performances on all four stages inside the terminal. During SXSW, the schedule shifts into high gear.

So weary travelers may be surprised to find themselves being entertained by some of Austin’s best musicians – and hoping for a flight delay.

If cities can have theme songs, why can’t airports have theme songs?

Some airports do.

Los Angeles International Airport traces its theme song back to a country music hit from the 1970s. The song, L.A. International Airport, was written by Leanne Scott and sung by Susan Raye. But when LAX made it the airport’s official song in 2003, they had someone rewrite the words. Give a listen to the old version, the new version, and a karaoke version.

I’m having a little too much fun researching a column about airport theme songs. I’m finding everything from jingles to “real” songs that have found their way onto the charts.

One example – the theme song for Germany’s Cologne-Bonn Airport. Written by the Cologne-based band plus49. The song is included in their album “All the beautiful things.”

Give a listen and let me know what you think. (Click on “music” at the bottom of the page).