Bengaluru’s indie music revival comes with a steeper price tag | Events Movie News

— Evelyn Ann AbrahamThe crowds have returned to Bengaluru’s live music venues, bringing fresh energy to a gig scene that struggled through the pandemic years. But while independent music is thriving again, the era of the affordable gig may be over. As costs rise for promoters, venues and artists alike, fans are finding that a night of live music now comes with a much bigger bill.‘The affordable gig is gone’“The Rs 200 gig is dead,” says Suhas, who has been organising live music events in Bengaluru for over a decade. “Back in 2010-12, tickets were between Rs 100 and Rs 300. Right before Covid, they were around Rs 500 to Rs 700. Today, the same show starts at Rs 800. Cheap gigs are never coming back. The minimum is Rs 500 for a club,” he says. For many music lovers, the cost climbs even higher once platform fees, GST and venue cover charges are added. The impact is being felt most by younger audiences who helped shape Bengaluru’s independent music culture. Jenoah, vocalist of metalcore band Backrooms, says ticket prices are becoming difficult to justify for the audience his band attracts. “More than Rs 500 doesn’t seem like what we would pay for something like this. The people who come to these shows are mostly college students,” he says.

‘Inflation is hitting artistes, promoters and audiences’Promoters say rising ticket prices reflect the growing costs involved in staging live events. Artiste fees have increased, venue rentals are higher, and travel, accommodation and logistics for touring musicians add further pressure. “If a band is flying in from another city, somebody has to pay for the flight, hotel and local transport. Eventually, that cost reaches the audience,” says Suhas.Bands are earning more than they did a few years ago, but audiences are also paying significantly more. Backrooms earned around Rs 20,000 for its first gig. Today, the band regularly draws crowds of 200 to 300 people and earns upwards of Rs 40,000 a night. Yet a ticket priced at Rs 500 can end up costing fans close to Rs 800 after additional charges.For many musicians, performing is still far from lucrative. Akhilesh, vocalist of One Girl Shy, recalls spending Rs 25,000 from his own pocket to fly equipment into Bengaluru for an anniversary show, only for the original venue to cancel because of poor advance sales. “It was a huge financial hit,” he says.The experience is not uncommon. Derek of Derek and the Cats says the band spent years touring before seeing any financial return. “Our first two tours went at a loss. It was only on the third tour that we finally made some profit,” he says.

‘The crowd is changing with the cost of entry’Musicians say rising ticket prices are reshaping Bengaluru’s gig-going audience. Derek believes younger fans are increasingly being priced out of the scene.“When I was in college, I used to go to a lot of gigs. If I were in college now, I wouldn’t attend as many. The music scene is built on young people showing up, but ticket prices make it harder for them to attend regularly,” he says.Longtime gig-goer Surya, who has been attending shows since 2011, sees a similar shift. “The generation that regularly supported independent gigs is getting older and has other commitments now,” he says. As promoters try to balance rising costs with audience expectations, many believe the challenge lies in keeping live music accessible without making events financially unsustainable.