Coffee Raves: The New Concept Transforming Cafes Into Vibrant Venues For Underground Music – CoffeeTalk

Coffee shops are becoming the new way to party, hosting underground events that invite music lovers to come by, groove, and discover new artists. The trend began in Amsterdam, London, New York, and now extends to Mumbai, Delhi, Surat, Nagpur, Lucknow, Hyderabad, and Indore among other Indian cities. Tanishq, a DJ and producer, has been touring and transforming coffee bar counters into his DJ booth, performing in Indore and Gurugram. His first-ever coffee rave was in his hometown, Nagpur, where the coffee bar became the DJ booth, and the cafe’s employees made coffee around him, offering him a coffee shot in the middle of his set.

For coffee shops playing host, coffee raves mean a chance to offer customers a unique experience. Corridor Seven Coffee Roasters in Nagpur has opened the floor to coffee gigs in the city, but founder Mithilesh Vazalwar says this format did not work at the time. He believes people are looking for alternate spaces now, and Gen Z is open to hanging out at new spaces. The coffee shop also saw DJ Nikhil Chinappa perform a set after wrapping up a gig in Nagpur. Hidden Elements, an entertainment company run by Himanshoo Govindani and Karan Jaiswal, brought Chinappa over, inviting people and promoting the gig for only six or seven hours before it happened.

Post Tanishq’s viral video, the idea of coffee raves seems appealing to many, as social media could fuel the fear of missing out. However, for artists, this brings good news, as smaller artists get a push and such gigs may lead to bigger gigs. Dhiraaj Doriwala, co-founder of Crab Culture, has been hosting such gigs in Surat since October 2023, with examples including DJ Sindhi Curry playing a set in the morning at Livestream Coffee in Surat and Gen Z attending at Moonstruck Cafe.

Dhiraaj Doriwala believes that the trend will die in the next six to eight months, but he believes that these gigs have given more opportunities to DJs and artists. The size of the industry has increased, but once people experience it, they will move on to something new. The audio quality that EDM gigs need cannot be achieved at coffee shops, and after the gig, it is an “okay” experience.

Coffee shops and kitchens are not designed for electronic music gigs, but they can still provide a unique experience for customers. The Kitchen Rave at Baykery in Bhandup, founded by Harshith Bangera and Chef Siddharth Shetty in 2023, is a prime example of this. The event, which started as an invite-only event, has evolved over time to include collaborations with restaurants and chefs to create a unique experience. The event features a multi-course menu, an open kitchen, and a DJ playing a set. The idea is to have an informal chef’s table along with an artist, allowing people to explore food and discover artists.

The Kitchen Rave has hosted various events, such as a 10-course meal with Chef Amninder Sandhu at Bawri and a 17-course meal at Slink & Bardot. Each edition features a different genre of EDM, allowing people to explore food and discover artists. While permissions for alcohol at events are still an issue, the new concept makes selling tickets less challenging. The popularity of these raves is likely tied to the sober curious movement and the desire to build an internet community.

In conclusion, coffee raves offer a unique and engaging experience for customers, allowing them to explore new things and connect with others.

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