A new trend sweeping cafe culture: Coffee shops become the new hub for gigs
Blending the energy of music with the kick of coffee, many DJs are taking over coffee shops to give a ‘club’ feel minus the alcohol, one gig at a time!
Have you ever thought of groovin’ and vibin’ with a hot cuppa? Several DJs in India, inspired by international gigs in LA, New York and other locations, are now hosting small-scale gigs with cosy gatherings inside coffee shops.
DJ Tanishq, who jammed at Corridor Seven Coffee Roasters in Nagpur on December 8, is among the first Indian DJs to explore this concept. Talking about the gig, the 23-year-old shares, “It was the first time I had seen a coffee shop with bouncers. [The turnout was so good that] despite a full house, people were still standing outside the cafe to get in. For a tier-2 city like Nagpur, it’s unimaginable. So now, we’re doing a 10-city tour!”
Unwind hour
He also took to Instagram to share a Reel from the event, which became an instant hit and managed to gain close to 2M likes. Talking about his intention behind hosting such an event, he continues, “I thought of turning a coffee shop into a nightclub. However, it was not a late-night event. We hosted it in the evening, from 6pm to 7pm, when people usually like to unwind and come for coffee dates.”
Alcohol-free gig
Nida, who also attempted the same concept and played at Nandan Coffee in Mumbai on a weekday, says she experienced a “good response”.
“Patrick Topping, a UK-based DJ, first came up with this concept six months ago, which deviates from the usual nightclub culture,” she says.
She further adds, “The event was aimed at bringing people together after work. It was catered to people who don’t necessarily want to consume alcohol but also unwind after work. So, we also saw many walk-ins as there was no entry fee. Following the success of the event, I’ve received a lot of inquiries from coffee shops across Jaipur, Mumbai and Delhi.”
For the choice of music, she states, “It was mostly House genre at the show in Mumbai. Even for people walking in, I feel the music was not electronic forward. Everyone could listen to it. Moreover, we played music all the way from Taylor Swift to Doja Cat. I generally play electronic music but for such shows, we're keeping it slightly more commercial.”
POV on tiny concerts
Yahvi and Parthivi Mariwala who run Nandan Coffee that hosted the mini-concert with Nida share, “We opened our place two months ago with the idea of an immersive experience, and wanted to combine the idea of music and coffee. Almost 60 people turned up after RSVP, and there were a lot of walk-ins, from the neighbourhood, as well.”
Aavika Chhawchharia, founder, Honey & Dough, who will also be hosting one such gig this month in New Delhi, further informs about the idea: “I have seen it in Reels from the US, and always thought something like this would work in India because of the Gen Z crowd, especially because of their choice of music. The vibe has shifted — with jazz and House, instead of Bollywood, dominating the coffee shop playlists.”
She continues, “If it goes well, we might start doing it regularly. While the coffee will definitely be served, food will be available depending on the turnout.”
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