Ed Sheeran to Major Lazer, India's live music scene hits a crescendo

Pitch-high demand is bringing mega bands and legendary musicians to the country DUOTO.

- RISHIKA AGARWAL

India's live music scene is on fire. Last year, the country hosted over 20 events, with global megastars like Imagine Dragons, Backstreet Boys, Westlife, Deep Purple, 50 Cent, John Legend and Anne-Marie rocking the stage across cities. This year, the anticipation is off the charts, with Ed Sheeran, Marshmello and Illenium scheduled to perform in the country.

Lollapalooza 2024 has already set the beat. The two-day bonanza at the Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai on January 27 and 28 showcased a lineup featuring American pop-rock bands such as The Jonas Brothers and OneRepublic, South Korean indie-rock band The Rose, and musicians like Halsey, Lauv and Sting.

The music festival made its India debut last January, marking its eighth international destination and the first in Asia. Its inaugural edition, which featured performances by Imagine Dragons, The Strokes, Diplo, Jackson Wang, Alec Benjamin and others, drew 60,000 attendees over two days.

"Live entertainment and music performances are seeing a massive resurgence in India," says Owen Roncon, chief of business Live Events, BookMyShow. "This is not a one-time phenomenon, but something we are witnessing over a vast spectrum, from smaller capacity and intimate concert gatherings to large-scale, stadium-sized gigs and music festivals."