Explore 7 modern Indian music festivals celebrating indie, electronic, experimental, Jazz and genre-blending sounds.
For those drawn to modern and contemporary sounds, Indian music scene pulses with innovation and experimentation. Festivals dedicated to indie, electronic, techno, hip-hop, and other alternative genres are reimagining the live music experience in fresh, bold formats. Set in dramatic outdoor spaces or urban hubs, these events blend music with digital art, fashion, and immersive design. With younger audiences leading the charge, these gatherings offer a creative playground where tradition meets technology and global trends meet local expression.
NH7 Weekender
NH7 Weekender, often hailed as “The Happiest Musical Event,” is a multi-genre event, taking place in multiple cities, most notably Pune and Meghalaya, typically between November and December. The festival is hosted by Nodwin Gaming, one of the biggest online gaming organisers in India. As the country’s longest-running indie music event, NH7 Weekender has become a cultural phenomenon, drawing crowds with its infectious energy and commitment to musical diversity.
NH7 Weekender is known for its star-studded lineups, featuring an impressive mix of international and Indian artists. Over the years, the festival has hosted global icons like The Lumineers, Megadeth, Mark Ronson, and Flying Lotus, alongside Indian superstars such as A R Rahman, Nucleya, Divine, and Prateek Kuhad. This blend of established names and fresh talent ensures that every edition offers something new and exciting for music lovers.
The festival’s atmosphere is electric, with multiple stages hosting simultaneous performances, a giant Ferris wheel, curated food stalls, art installations, and a bustling bazaar. The experience goes beyond music, with a strong comedy lineup and interactive spaces that create a complete cultural celebration. NH7 Weekender is also recognised for its commitment to discovery and diversity, providing a platform for emerging artists from across India, including the vibrant music scenes of the Northeast.
About the Venue:
The Pune edition of NH7 Weekender is typically held at expansive open-air venues like Mahalakshmi Lawns or Teerth Fields, both located on the outskirts of the city. These venues are well-equipped to handle large crowds, with ample parking, multiple stages, and dedicated food and activity zones. They offer a spacious, festival-friendly environment that enhances the overall experience.
How to Reach
To reach the venue in Pune, visitors can use taxis, auto-rickshaws, or app-based cab services from anywhere in the city. The venues are usually 10–15 kilometres from Pune Railway Station and about 20 kilometres from Pune International Airport, making them accessible for both local and out-of-town attendees.
For those attending the Meghalaya edition, the festival is often hosted in the scenic town of Bhoirymbong, about 40 kilometres from Shillong. Travellers can fly into Shillong Airport or Guwahati Airport and then hire a taxi or use festival-organised shuttle services for the final leg.
Ziro Festival of Music (Arunachal Pradesh)
The Ziro Festival of Music held every September in the breathtaking Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, is a four-day celebration that seamlessly blends music with the serenity of nature. Hosted by the Apatani tribe, the festival was founded in 2012 by Bobby Hano and Anup Kutty. It is renowned for its stunning location, lush paddy fields, misty hills, and a landscape that feels almost untouched by time.
Ziro Festival is especially celebrated for its focus on emerging talent from Northeast India, while also featuring acts from across the country and the world. The lineup is a vibrant mix of indie, folk, and alternative music, making it a platform for discovery and cultural exchange. The festival’s eco-friendly ethos is central to its identity: organisers and attendees alike are committed to sustainability, practising waste reduction, using bamboo structures, and fostering a close-knit, community-driven vibe.
What truly sets Ziro apart is the experience it offers. Festival-goers camp under the stars, surrounded by the valley’s natural beauty, and spend their days and nights immersed in live music. The combination of outdoor adventure, cultural immersion, and grassroots organisation creates an atmosphere unlike any other festival in India, one that appeals to music lovers, nature enthusiasts, and anyone seeking an authentic, offbeat experience.
About the Venue:
The festival grounds are set among expansive paddy fields and rolling hills, with designated camping areas for attendees. Festival organisers provide basic amenities, eco-friendly toilets, and a marketplace featuring local crafts and food. The entire venue is designed to minimise environmental impact while maximising the sense of community and connection to nature.
How to Reach
Reaching Ziro Valley requires a bit of planning. The nearest airport is in Lilabari, Assam, about 100 kilometres away. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a shared vehicle to Ziro. Alternatively, you can fly into Guwahati and take a train or overnight bus to Naharlagun, the closest railway station to Ziro, followed by a scenic drive through the hills.
Whether you’re a seasoned festival-goer or a first-time visitor to India’s Northeast, the Ziro Festival of Music promises an unforgettable blend of music, adventure, and sustainable living in one of the country’s most picturesque settings.
Mahindra Blues Festival (Mumbai)
The Mahindra Blues Festival, held every February at the historic Mehboob Studios in Mumbai, is Asia’s largest gathering dedicated to blues music. Since its inception in 2011, the festival has attracted some of the world’s finest blues artists, creating a vibrant and thriving blues community in the region. It has become a landmark event for blues enthusiasts, offering a rare opportunity to experience the genre’s legends and rising stars in an intimate setting.
The festival boasts an impressive international lineup, having hosted icons like Buddy Guy, John Mayall, Charlie Musselwhite, and Joss Stone. Alongside these global stars, the Mahindra Blues Festival actively supports Indian blues talent through its Mahindra Blues Band Hunt, providing a platform for emerging bands to showcase their skills and gain recognition.
Mehboob Studios, with its vintage charm and rich cinematic history, serves as the perfect backdrop for the festival. The venue’s unique spaces, such as the Polka Dot Parlour and Soul Strat Saloon stages, add to the festival’s distinctive ambience, creating an immersive experience that blends music, culture, and nostalgia.
About the Venue:
Mehboob Studios is located in Bandra West, one of Mumbai’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. It is easily accessible by taxi, auto-rickshaw, or app-based cab services from anywhere in the city.
How to Reach
The venue is approximately 15 kilometres from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and about 12 kilometres from Mumbai Central Railway Station, making it convenient for both local and out-of-town visitors.
Bandra West itself is well-connected by local trains and buses, and the studio’s central location means attendees can also explore the area’s cafes, shops, and seaside promenades before or after the concerts. The historic studio complex offers a cosy, atmospheric environment that enhances the live music experience, making the Mahindra Blues Festival a must-visit for anyone passionate about blues and live performances.
Jazz India Circuit
The Jazz India Circuit is a vibrant celebration of jazz and fusion music, typically unfolding across various Indian cities during the winter months. Dedicated to reviving and promoting jazz, the festival brings together an impressive lineup of both Indian and international artists, making it a true melting pot of musical talent and innovation. Its programming is known for its experimental edge, featuring not just performances but also collaborative projects, interactive workshops, and lively jam sessions. This makes the festival a dynamic hub for musicians, aficionados, and anyone curious about the evolving landscape of jazz in India.
Venue
Hosted in urban centres such as Delhi, Goa, and Bangalore, the Jazz India Circuit is easily accessible and attracts a cosmopolitan crowd. The choice of venues, ranging from open-air amphitheatres to chic city spaces, adds to the festival’s modern, inclusive vibe. For jazz enthusiasts and newcomers alike, attending the Jazz India Circuit is an opportunity to experience world-class performances and witness the innovative spirit that is shaping the genre’s future in India.
Sunburn Festival (Goa)
Sunburn, held every December on the sun-kissed shores of Vagator Beach in Goa, is Asia’s largest electronic dance music (EDM) festival and one of the most anticipated events on India’s music calendar. Often compared to global giants like Tomorrowland, Sunburn draws tens of thousands of dance music fans from around the world, creating an electrifying atmosphere that pulses with energy and excitement.
The festival is known for its star-studded lineups, featuring top international DJs and producers, massive stages with cutting-edge production, and an immersive audiovisual experience that sets new benchmarks each year. Beyond the music, Sunburn offers a true beach party vibe, complete with after-parties, workshops, and a range of engaging activities, making it a non-stop celebration on Goa’s iconic coastline. For those who love EDM, big crowds, and the festive spirit of the beach, Sunburn is the ultimate party destination in India.
Venue
The festival takes place at Vagator Beach. The venue is transformed into a sprawling festival ground, with multiple stages, food and beverage zones, art installations, and chill-out areas all set against the backdrop of the Arabian Sea. The open-air setting, swaying palm trees, and panoramic ocean views add to the festival’s unique character, making every performance feel like a celebration in paradise. The venue is equipped with modern amenities, security, and medical facilities to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees.
How to Reach
Vagator Beach is located in North Goa, about 45 kilometres from Goa’s Dabolim International Airport. The easiest way to reach the festival is to fly into Dabolim or the new Manohar International Airport (Mopa), both of which are well-connected to major Indian cities. From the airport, taxis and app-based cab services are readily available to take you directly to Vagator.
If arriving by train, the nearest major railway station is Thivim, about 18 kilometres from Vagator, with frequent connections from Mumbai, Pune, and other cities.
Goa is also accessible by bus and car from neighbouring states. Once in North Goa, local taxis, scooters, and bike rentals make it easy to reach the festival grounds and explore the surrounding beaches and vibrant nightlife.
Control ALT Delete (Mumbai & Goa)
Control ALT Delete (CAD) is India’s pioneering crowdfunded music festival, founded in 2011 by a group of passionate friends, including Nikhil Udupa and Himanshu Vaswani. Emerging from a desire to create a truly independent, grassroots platform for alternative music, CAD operates without any corporate sponsorship, relying entirely on contributions from its audience through a unique “Pay What You Want” model. This approach ensures inclusivity and accessibility, allowing attendees to contribute any amount they wish, starting from as little as a rupee, with all proceeds transparently distributed among the performing artists.
Over its 13 editions spanning more than a decade, CAD has nurtured over 180 Indian artists across genres such as indie, hip-hop, metal, electronica, alternative-pop, and jazz. The festival has been a launchpad for now-prominent names like MC Stan, Emiway, Divine, and Naezy, alongside numerous emerging talents. The event typically features around 45 artists performing over multiple stages, including genre-themed stages like “Electric Jungle” and “Synths & Strings,” showcasing a rich diversity of sound and styles.
Venues and How to Reach
In Mumbai, CAD comes alive at Roaring Farm, a lush six-acre open-air venue in Malad West, nestled along Madh Road and right opposite Bageecha Swagath Restaurant. Roaring Farm offers plenty of space for multi-genre stages, on-site camping, art installations, and impromptu jam sessions under the stars. The vibe is deliberately DIY but deeply immersive, more community gathering than commercial spectacle.
Getting there is easy, hop off the local train at Malad Station, then take an auto-rickshaw, taxi, or app-based cab straight to the venue. Multiple bus routes also pass nearby, and there’s on-site parking for those driving in. For out-of-towners, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is just 20 km away, with direct cab access making the journey seamless.
The Goa edition is usually conducted around Vagator or Ozran Beach Road. These laid-back, open-air venues blend CAD’s alternative energy with Goa’s coastal soul. Here, bass-heavy beats spill into the sea breeze, and jam sessions roll into the night by fire pits and food stalls. The Goa editions keep the same Pay-What-You-Want ethos, often drawing travellers, artists, and music lovers from across the country and beyond.
Vagator is easily accessible via road from Panaji or Mapusa, and only a short ride from Mopa International Airport or Thivim Railway Station. Whether you ride in on a rented scooter, shared cab, or beach bike, the journey is as much a part of the experience as the music itself.
Echoes of Earth (Bengaluru)
Echoes of Earth, founded by Roshan Netalkar in 2016, stands out as India’s first eco-conscious music event, renowned for seamlessly blending music, art, and sustainability. The festival is celebrated for its commitment to environmental awareness, with every edition featuring innovative stage designs and installations crafted from recycled and upcycled materials.
Echoes of Earth brings together a diverse lineup of over 40 international and Indian artists, spanning genres such as electronic, experimental, jazz, and world music. Notable performers have included Acid Pauli, FKJ, Glass Beams, Satori, Dualist Inquiry, and ((( O ))), among others. Other notable performers have included Indian-origin singer Sid Sriram, Tuareg desert blues band Tinariwen, German DJ-producer Len Faki, Canadian artist Modern Biology, fusion band Thaikkudam Bridge, jazz ensembles like Ari Roland Jazz Quartet, and electronic acts such as Nabihah Iqbal and Parra For Cuva. The festival also features prominent Indian artists like Prateek Kuhad, Blot, Kutle Khan, and Mohini Dey, making it a vibrant confluence of global and local talent.
The festival’s theme changes annually, with the 2024 edition titled “Symphony of Seasons,” celebrating nature’s cycles and resilience through seasonal zones and innovative waste-to-art installations. Beyond music, the festival hosts workshops, flea markets, and home-grown brand exhibitions, creating a holistic lifestyle experience. It draws an audience of around 20,000 people over two days, who come not only for the music but also to engage with the festival’s message of environmental consciousness and cultural celebration.
Venue
The festival is traditionally held at the Embassy International Riding School on the outskirts of Bengaluru, a vast green campus that provides an immersive, open-air setting surrounded by nature. The venue’s expansive grounds allow for multiple stages, interactive art installations, and sustainability zones, enhancing the festival’s eco-friendly ethos. In recent years, Echoes of Earth has also hosted editions in Chopdem, Goa, bringing its unique blend of music and environmental consciousness to new audiences in a coastal setting.
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