Most fun / sociable / memorable youth hostels in Europe?

Hello travelers,

I need your tips on the nicest, coolest, funnest youth hostels in Europe! Where do the cool people go, where do they hang out and meet other cool people?

For my interrail trip this year I'm focusing on France, Spain and perhaps Italy but I'm open to persuasion . So if you think 'you've GOT to experience this scene!', speak up!

Since I'm a musician (singer-songwriter, to be precise) and will be bringing along my guitar I'm especially interested in places where you have witnessed musical gatherings... Not super essential but nice to know about anyway.

Thanks a lot,

Doesn't go well with 'cool' style, but an amazing place is the YH in Glen Affric, Scotland. You can only get there on foot, (7 miles from the nearest road) and when I stayed there (long time ago), the warden had taken the trouble to steal a 'Danger, Road Works Ahead' sign and plonk it in the middle of the trail! Then it was primitive but wonderful - everyone sat round a fragrant peat fire and nattered into the wee small hours.

A US visitor made her way there one day and asked the warden where the bathroom was. He looked at her and said'There's the hill, and here's the spade'.
http://www.syha.org.uk/pages/hostel_pages_ibs/ glenaffric.html

Keith Bristol