Delhi's Vibrant Live Music Scenes, Let The Music Play

The live music scene in the capital started on a slow note decades ago and, over time, the tempo kicked in, the beats got louder and the venues snazzier. We take you on a journey through Delhi as the music rises to a crescendo. Sing along.

- Harini Sriram

In a dimly lit corner of a smoky bar, a tall man with an impeccable beard strums his guitar. It’s a little over 11 pm on a rainy Wednesday, and people continue to trickle in, unperturbed by the downpour. Amid a flurry of whisky sours and dirty martinis, the crowd swings to the music; some sway to the rhythm, drink in hand, while some sing along, completely out of tune. The energy is palpable, and the singer starts taking in requests. “Sing a song from Rock On!!” “The Doors.” “A Sufi song.” “The Beatles.” He decides to ignore everything, and picks “Thinking Out Loud,” an Ed Sheeran track, instead. The crowd doesn’t mind. It’s almost midnight, and everyone’s pretty much on a high, thanks to the dizzying cocktails and the music. This could be any bar in any city, but then, this is how a typical evening pans out for a large section of pub-hopping music-lovers in Delhi.

The capital’s live music scene is seeing a resurgence of sorts; weekdays are packed with gigs at most bars and restaurants across the city and its suburbs. Even a cursory glance at the Events section on the Facebook pages of these bars reveals an interesting line-up of live acts through the week—ranging from rock, jazz and Sufi to electronic, metal and folk. There’s the odd international act too. And, of course, the inevitable Bollywood night. Quite an eclectic mix, really. So, if you’re planning a night out on the town, all you have to do is scan the social media pages of your favourite bars or artistes. And with at least 30 gigs in the city on any given day, you’ll be spoiled for choice.