For music lovers nothing can beat the thrill and excitement of live music. When you listen to a live band performance, there is an instant connection of the music with your soul. It’s literally a blessing to the ears and also gives an adrenaline rush like none other. In India, the live music scene has evolved greatly over the past few years and taken the country by storm. Keeping this in mind, several venues are opening their doors to artists and bands across the nation. A good physical space is what changes a normal performance into an unmatchable experience. There are tons of great live music venues in India starting from the North to all the way down to the south. So here’s a curated list of some of the best that India has to offer.
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Enjoy Soulful Music At The Top 8 Live Music Venues In India
Be it jazz or blues, classics or plain old rock ‘n’ roll, India’s live music scene has a way of seeping into just about anyone’s heart. Indians love going out for a meal; how about taking the normal dining experience to a new level with some great live music? Check out these live music places in India that offer a whole new dining experience.
The Piano Man Jazz Club, Delhi
Location: Safdarjung: B-6 Commercial Complex, opposite Deer Park, Block B6, Humayunpur, Safdarjung Enclave
Piano Man is a live music venue in town that offers soulful jazz band performances by various artists throughout the day. Sit back and enjoy a scrumptious meal with a first-of-its-kind musical supper theater experience. The fancy yet casual dining restaurant offers Asian, European and Italian delicacies to savor along with the live jazz music and stand-up comedy shows. Its vintage vibe is what makes the place instantly likable by one and all.
SinQ, Goa
Location: Tivai Vaddo, Opposite Taj Holiday Village, Candolim
Live music and good food are a big part of Goan culture and bringing these two together under one roof is what SinQ does. There are many live music venues but SinQ is the most popular place for live music bands and dancing. Performing artists across genres come here to entertain audiences who are responsive to all kinds of music. World’s finest DJs and musicians perform here which is nothing less than a larger-than-life experience. This property is a combination of nightclub, poolside deck, lounge and a contemporary Goan Tavern that creates an ultimate party venue. The warm earthy tones of minimalist furniture gives an upbeat and chill vibes all over. One has to be physically present here to experience the vibes of this beautiful place.
Indigo Live Music Bar, Bangalore
Location: 6th Block, 71-72, Jyoti Nivas College Rd, 5th Block, Koramangala
Indigo live music bar, Bangalore’s first music bar is one of the most happening places in Bangalore. The interiors put together by international graffiti artists Sickboy and Ben Allen are colorful, fascinating and innovative. Even the menu card which is in the form of a CD gives one a true feeling of a musical bar. This place has a packed calendar of events from Wednesday through Sunday. Starting from Indigo Rock Nights on Wednesdays, Karaoke Nights on Thursdays, Bollywood Nights on Fridays, Vibes Night on Saturday and Comedy Nights or Jazz and Blues Nights on Sunday. Don’t miss out on the free drinks for ladies on Wednesdays. Wow! Isn’t that great!
Someplace Else, Kolkata
Location: 17, Park St, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal
Someplace Else, set in the heart of Kolkata’s heritage spot is a popular venue for music performers. This half British-style pub is more like an institution than a meeting place for independent musicians. It’s from here that people have been falling in love with rock and roll and the blues for more than two decades without stepping out of the city. This place has hosted some of India’s finest bands like the Indian Ocean, Skinny Alley, Lou Majaw, Prestorika, Hip Pocket and some International bands too. Apart from the nine hours of live music concerts every day, Someplace Else also offers various types of drinks, lunch and dinner. To this day live music venues in India continue to nurture young talent by giving it the much needed platform.
Raasta Café, Mumbai
Location: Rohan Plaza, Ram Krishan Nagar, Road No. 5, Khar, Mumbai
Truly one of our favorite live music venues that adds a dash of fun to every meal. One can enjoy some independent reggae music, legendary hip-hop music on Saturday nights, an in-house DJ and a karaoke session. This recent addition to live music venues, Raasta rooftop has been the perfect stage for a lot of first time rappers and DJs. With some mouth-watering Italian, Continental, Mexican cuisine and drinks, Raasta is a great place to enjoy the music gigs night with family and friends. Its cool and casual ambiance paired with an amazing outdoor seating, well-stocked bar and live performances are what attracts people to this place.
Shisha Jazz Cafe, Pune
Location: 35/36 Abc Farms Mundhwa Road, Near Westin Hotel, Koregaon Park
If you are looking for a place that has a great ambiance, some delicious food/drinks and cool live music, this is the place to be! Shisha live music cafe is a cool café with a classy ambiance that has comfortable outdoor seating as well. The place is generally crowded on Thursdays because of free live music performances by some popular bands. The garden feel of the café and the soulful music brings about a romantic atmosphere to this place. They serve some great Iranian breakfast in the morning but the sweet Jazz at night is what makes the experience worth it. This is a must-visit café to enjoy some foot-tapping live music and for delectable food in vegetarian and vegan options.
Tabula Rasa, Hyderabad
Location: 624-B, Rd Number 35, Guttala_Begumpet, Kavuri Hills, Jubilee Hills, Telangana
Tabula Rasa Café and Bar has the most happening Live Music Venue and Lounge in Hyderabad. The place is exclusively designed to host live music events, live sports screenings, dance floor with DJ and sumptuous offerings that guarantees a pleasant and relaxing time. Highlight of this place is to experience the chills of a live performance while hanging out with your friends or colleagues. Its low-lit outdoor space, lively yet cozy interiors, great food, amazing cocktails, prompt service and a live Telugu and Bollywood duo makes this a perfect place for people looking for live music and feasting.
Hard Rock Café, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, Gurgaon
There are very few live music venues that are famous throughout the world and Hard Rock Café is one of them. In India, Hard Rock Cafes are spread across seven happening cities. It is a go-to place for people who are passionate about rock music. Each café is just like all the Hard Rock Cafes except for the different collections of iconic pieces displayed on walls. The perfect rock and roll interiors, amazing live music and lip-smacking American dishes makes this place stand out from the rest. Whether you live in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Gurgaon, Pune or any part of the country, a visit to this live music café is a must.
Bonus Place
NCPA-National Center for the Performing Arts, Mumbai
Location: WRG9+3VH, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point, Mumbai
If you are looking for a more sophisticated live music experience, then look no further, NCPA is the place for you. It is one of the city’s first music venues and is considered a western classical hub of musical performances. The National Center for the Performing Arts is a great platform for both local and international artists. From music to dance, theater to film, literature to photography, one can showcase their talent here. Great personalities like Zubin Mehta, Zakir Hussain and Shivkumar Sharma have all performed here. The multi-genre cultural venue has also hosted quite a few annual music festivals. It includes Aadi Anant that happens every January and Bandish every July.
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India’s live music scene is slowly and steadily recovering after a painful break due to the pandemic. With so many venues offering live music spaces, there is a transformation in the consumption of music on the live front. Head out and jam along with the live music venues that this country has to offer. If we have missed out your favorite music places, do mention them in the comment section below.
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