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: 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: A discreet studio and international record label for ambient and contemporary electronic heads

Why go: Many of Delhi’s electronic music conversations collapse into mega-festivals of big names or clubs. Reset Networks, by contrast, is sandwiched between shops on a Malviya Nagar street near the metro. Identifiable by its stickered door and dim set-up of a hall and a bar with a few drinks (do pre-game), it’s deeply intentional with sound design, hosting deep-listening sessions, intimate showcases, and production workshops where you nerd out before the drop. They host gigs by international artists and DJs, and perhaps it’s not a coincidence that the acts I’ve enjoyed most have been from Berlin…

How to book: Watch for announcements via @reset.networks on Instagram

Price: Varies by session.

Address: 45, 1st Floor, Corner Market, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi 110017

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: An artist-run basement studio and screening room in Lado Sarai for experimental sound and improvisation

Why go: Operated by W.I.P Labs, this Lado Sarai basement is where you go when you want your expectations thoroughly dismantled. There is zero commercial pretence here. While the floor hosts everything from film nights to rehearsals, the one to go is, without a doubt, the Dilli Improvisers Orchestra. You never quite know if you’re walking into a modular synth jam, a free-jazz collision, or a cross-disciplinary performance art piece. You might laugh or stare at the ceiling in awe or both. It’s a host of people figuring out what to do for the next beat on the spot armed with curiosity as much as talent.

Time Out tip: W.I.P Labs also hosts live coding sessions for music and musical theatre.

How to book: Keep tabs on @wiplabs on Instagram for last-minute gig drops and open sessions.

Price: Usually donation-based or a nominal cover.

Address: A, Basement, F 301, Nai Basti, Lado Sarai, New Delhi, Delhi 110030

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: 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 could literally attend a gig at an art gallery. Now, the gallery's expanded to a host of thoughtfully picked contemporary indie gigs that challenge you to expand your playlist. I added two Hindi acts to my radar from my last gig here.

Time Out tip: Thanks to Method Delhi’s setup, you can sit on the elevated platform towards the back and get the perfect view of any set. 

How to book: Keep your eyes peeled for shared posts by @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: A 1930s heritage landmark playing host to open-air candlelight concerts and acoustic showcases

Why go: Sure, a grand heritage bungalow near Copernicus Marg sounds like the exact opposite of ‘underground,’ yet Travancore Palace has become one of the most atmospheric settings in the city to experience live music outside a traditional auditorium. It's true that it's mostly known for art, but when the historic lawns and open-air amphitheatre light up for classical tributes, ambient sets, or acoustic evenings, the architecture does half the work, and the other half’s done by their festivals which bring in acts from all over the country.

How to book: Keep an eye on @travancorepalace.newdelhi on Instagram.

Price: Varies depending on the performance.

Address: Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Near Copernicus Marg, New Delhi

What is it: A tech and pop culture think-tank-turned-curator

Why go: If you’re tired of inflated cover charges, bottle-service tables, and DJs playing the exact same beat-matched chart toppers every weekend, The Warp Core is the antidote – they actually host in bars. The Warp Core Breach team started out as a monthly underground house party in a basement, and had thrown 32 of them by its third anniversary in 2018. It’s actually a think tank founded by technology journalist Sahil Mohan Gupta, with co-founder Hoax also on the decks. Over the years the nights have moved from that basement to venues like Auro Kitchen & Bar and the Hong Kong Club, with international guests along the way. Locations often stay guarded until the last minute, keeping the dancefloor strictly limited to people who are there just for the music, which ranges from rap to metal.

How to book: Keep up on @warp_core on Instagram.

Price: Varies

Address: Rotating locations across Delhi-NCR

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)