The best ways to discover music offline in Delhi

What is it: Intimate baithaks in small rooms

Why go: Delhi's amazing classical music scene suffers from an image problem: gatekept, intimidating, heard from the back of an auditorium packed with, well, other classical musicians. 

Sukanya and Tejas are trying to tackle this, one hypnotic baithak in an intimately small, low-lit room at a time. Artists walk you through it all: how an instrument is made, what a raag actually means, why any of the notes matter. Unabashed claps and ‘waah’s are permitted mid-performance, snacks and meals are there if you want them; a stand-out is the personality that comes out in the musicians’ work. Watch the sparkle in collaborators’ eyes as they find the right taal. 

Time Out tip: We especially recommend their weekend-long immersives, which are aimed at the curious, and come with a mix of conversations and performances. They’re paced well, with an exceptional mindfulness of timing. You will absolutely end up talking to strangers. When I went for the first time, I soon found myself unconsciously nodding the same way I do with my hiphop playlists.

How to book: Look out for their baithak announcements on Instagram (@upstairswithus)

Price: Around ₹2,500, can vary

Address: Check for each gig.

What is it: Live gigs in the middle of a basement-housed art exhibit

Why go: Combine the Defence Colony offshoot of a famed experimental art gallery with an online radio station dedicated to alternative music, and gain new ways of experiencing both forms. Method and Boxout.fm’s partnership, which emerged from a chance meeting at the India Art Fair, means you can literally attend a gig at an art gallery. The organisers are quick to tell you that this isn’t a club night (because a gallery is the last place to be careless). Instead, expect thoughtfully picked contemporary indie artists that challenge you to expand your playlist. I added two Hindi acts to my radar from my last gig here.

Time Out tip: My favourite thing about this is that thanks to Method Delhi’s setup, you can sit on the elevated platform towards the back and get the perfect view of any set. Besides live gigs, they also plan to spotlight upcoming artists through listening sessions and host select tour shows.

How to book: Keep your eyes peeled for shared posts by @boxout.fm and @methoddelhi on Instagram.

Price: Around ₹799-₹1,000

Address: D Block, Basement, D-59, Block D, Defence Colony, New Delhi, Delhi 110024

What is it: Dedicated live jazz programming accompanied by food and drink – though they’ve been known to include other genres regularly too

Why go: Everyone in Delhi knows about Piano Man! True. There is something stubborn about Piano Man's continued existence since 2013. But here’s something else to know: it’s not all high-stakes frills and bills. Dig into their website and you'll find three venues (Safdarjung, Gurgaon, Saket), a rotating cast of genres and rather charming artists – including international acts – and ticket prices at the Saket branch that you can make a perfectly casual evening out of. A rich meal and good liquor in the middle of basically a recreation of the orchestra, down to actual attention to acoustics? Solid.

Time Out tip:  Don’t forget to reserve a table on busy nights – mostly Friday and Saturday.

How to book:  Visit their website at www.thepianoman.in.

Price: If dining, around ₹3,000 for two. If not, ticket prices, which usually start at ₹199 – and end widely.

Address: Multiple addresses across Safdarjung, Malviya Nagar, and Gurugram
Timings: 1pm-1am. Sun-Mon. Evenings recommended.

What is it: A live-arts space in the Dhan Mill that’s been a cherished spot for small artists with loyal following

Why go: Their archives alone tell you how far the fan following ranges: jazz-inflected quartet gigs, communal folk circles, Carnatic percussion with modular synth improvisation, to name a few. What they do best is resisting the narrative that someone who loves an art-and-culture-experience or performance must be an absolute connoisseur of it. They trust artists to make it enjoyable in a sensory way. In a white-bricked theatre designed for around 100 attendees, that can often feel like a personal concert – refreshing if you’re tired of long line-ups and want a little more balance in predictability and newness.

How to book: Check out their website.

Price: Varies depending on the artist.

Address: The Dhan Mill Compound, 100 Feet Road, SSN Marg, Chhatarpur, New Delhi 110074, India

What is it: A self-proclaimed ‘yellow-tinted basement’ hosting edgy listening sessions and punk gigs  

Why go: Trying to go as niche as possible? Attending a gig here will result in you telling your friends you experienced ‘the real underground’. This is not for the family-friendly or the ‘politically neutral’, or if you’re looking too hard for a curated, dainty evening. Going here is the closest I’ve personally gotten to feeling like the 90s MTV cartoon character-led band fever dream I routinely crave. Scan their Instagram for their gigs (among other very interesting workshops and exhibits), which are typically announced with very short notice. 

How to book: Usually, you don’t have to. Entry’s often free. To keep up with their gigs, check their Instagram @moolisamoolword.

Address: B-17, Basement, South Extension II, Block B, New Delhi, Delhi 110049

What is it: Two centres known for hosting cultural events, including music concerts

Why go: Even though you’ve likely heard of these two if you’ve even had the beginning of a thought of doing a cultural evening in Delhi, they’re still not as well known as venues for music. Besides their regular year-long programming, the India Habitat Centre has annual festival-themed concerts, Lok Sangeet Sammelan, and IHC morning ragas. 

Nearby, the India International Centre has acts, some of which that I wouldn’t have even believed India would host. Both of these range from regional and even lecture-accompanied tribal folk music to Western classical piano recitals. A good choice if you like to have historical context before you experience art and want a calm, uninterrupted sit-down. 

How to book: Check their programming calendars for concerts at indiahabitat.org and iicdelhi.in. Getting there early is usually more important than prebooking. Entry is usually either free or at a nominal price.

Address: Lodhi Road, Near Airforce Bal Bharati School, New Delhi - 110003 (IHC)

40, Max Mueller Marg, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi, Delhi 110003 (IIC)