Live Music in Hyderabad: Where to Listen and Where to Play

Hyderabad has a busy live music scene, and it is easier to enjoy once you know where to look. On a typical weekend you might hear a rock tribute act in Banjara Hills, a Telugu band in Jubilee Hills, an indie set in a courtyard and a singer-songwriter in a café, all on the same night.

This guide is for two kinds of reader. If you want to listen, it covers the kinds of places that host live music in Hyderabad and how to find what is on. If you play, it covers where musicians in the city get started and how to find paid gigs.

Where to hear live music in Hyderabad

Venues change their programming often, so treat this as a map of the scene, not a schedule. Confirm the night with the venue before you go.

Bars and pubs with live bands

Hard Rock Cafe. With outlets in Banjara Hills and Hitech City, Hard Rock Cafe is built around a stage and is known for band nights and tribute acts covering well-known rock artists.

Tabula Rasa, Jubilee Hills. A courtyard venue with a performance space, known for live acoustic sets and Telugu band nights.

The Moonshine Project, Jubilee Hills. A lounge-style space with a courtyard stage that hosts indie music and live bands, and sometimes stand-up comedy.

Neighbourhood bars across the city. Many bars in Jubilee Hills, Gachibowli and Himayatnagar run a regular live night, often Bollywood covers, Hindi rock or a house band. These are where many of the city's working bands play most often.

Rooftops and larger venues

Odeum, Gachibowli. An open-air arena that hosts live bands and touring artists alongside its club nights.

SKYHY Live, Gachibowli. A rooftop venue with a stage, known for live band performances.

Rooftop bars in Jubilee Hills and Hitech City. Several rooftop bars run cover-band nights at weekends. These suit a group night out more than a close listen.

Cafés and cultural spaces

Smaller rooms are where you are more likely to hear original music.

Lamakaan, Banjara Hills. An open cultural space whose calendar includes concerts, alongside plays, talks and readings.

Cafés with acoustic nights. Cafés around Madhapur, Jubilee Hills and Kondapur host singer-songwriter evenings, jam sessions and open mics. For those, see our guide to open mics in Hyderabad.

How to find live music in Hyderabad tonight

A list of venues only gets you so far, because the line-up is different every week. To find what is actually on:

1. ChecGig'le's Hyderabad page.** It lists upcoming events and open gigs in the city, posted by organisers and venues.
2. Filter thEvents board by Music and Hyderabad** to see only music events.
3. Look at the venue's own page for the date you want. Many announce their week's line-up a few days ahead.
4. Follow the bands. Working bands post where they are playing next, and following two or three is often the quickest way to learn the circuit.

What kind of night are you looking for?

• A loud night out with a group: a rooftop or a larger bar with a cover band or tribute act.
• Dinner with music in the background: a restaurant or lounge with an acoustic set.
• Music in your own language: Telugu and Hindi band nights, which several bars run regularly.
• Original music and a close listen: a café gig, a cultural space or an indie night.
• A chance to perform yourself: an open mic or a jam session.

For musicians: where to play in Hyderabad

If you are a singer, an instrumentalist or a band, the scene above is also where the work is. A common path looks like this.

Start with open mics and jams

Open mics and jam sessions are the easiest stage to get on, and they are where you meet other musicians and the organisers who run nights. If you are new to performing, start with our beginner's guide to open mics.

Build a set a venue can use

Bar and restaurant gigs usually need a set of a fixed length that suits the room. Know how long you can play, what styles you cover and what equipment you need. A short, clear description of your act helps an organiser decide quickly.

Keep recent live clips ready

When an organiser considers you, they want to hear what you sound like live. A few recent performance videos do more than a long description.

Find paid gigs

On Gig'le, organisers and venues post gigs on the Gigs board, each with the craft, location, experience level and pay stated. You can filter by Music and by Hyderabad, press Apply on the ones that suit you, and the organiser is notified and can accept or decline. Pay and details are agreed directly with the organiser. Music gigs and events are also gathered on the music page.

For venues and organisers

If you run a venue or put on music nights in Hyderabad, you can list your events on Gig'le so people in the city can find them, and post a gig when you need a musician or a band. See how Gig'le works for organisers.

Before you head out

• Confirm the night. Line-ups, days and timings change. Check on the day.
• Ask about cover charges. Some venues charge entry on band nights or for ticketed shows.
• Reserve at weekends. Popular band nights fill up.
• Plan for traffic. Evening travel across the city can take longer than you expect.

Join Gig'le to follow what is on in Hyderabad, or to share your own music.