BLR Echoes - March'25
What we talk about when we talk about Bengaluru.
Guns ‘N’ Roses is NOT Coming to Bengaluru. Here’s Why:
This is the second part of our three-part series exploring Bengaluru’s rock music journey through the decades. In this piece, we’re talking about why Guns ‘N’ Roses has chosen Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Grounds as the venue for their World Tour, and why Bengaluru has been snubbed, despite their India debut being at the iconic Palace Grounds in 2012.
Bangalore is India’s Rock Capital — or is it?
Lately, Mahalaxmi Racecourse has been all the rage for artists to hold concerts and performances of a global scale — from Green Day to Guns ‘N’ Roses to Dua Lipa. Honestly, Mumbai’s racking up an impressive roster of international artists that are scheduled to grace the city’s turf in the coming year, and at the same time, the music scene that Bengaluru has prided itself on over the last decade or two, is down in the dumps.
When Cigarettes After Sex cancelled their long awaited Bengaluru concert in January, netizens were quick to take to X and lament about the ‘good old days’ of the city’s music scene when Roger Waters, Aerosmith and Metallica had performed at Palace Grounds — the same spot where the humble Freedom Jam had taken root:
I did some digging around and got to talking with Subhash Rao, the founder of Gravity Talent and Media — a media and entertainment agency in Bengaluru responsible for bringing a host of international and local artists to the city, with an impressive list of artists on their roster from Girish and the Chronicles to Chris Adler and Pineapple Express.
If you were wondering why Slash and Axl Rose have conveniently skipped past your favourite city on their World Tour — here are some reasons why:
Infrastructure: The city has massive infrastructural challenges — dearth of venues that are central, easy to access, and well connected to public transport facilities. Traffic congestion and limited access to venues make it difficult to manage large crowds. Why we don’t have a Lollapalooza in Bengaluru? I asked Subhash. "You’d essentially spend more time in Bangalore traffic and getting in and out of the venue than you would at Lolla.” And then, of course, you’ve got …
Licenses! Permissions! The never ending list of bureaucratic requirements:
Take Ed Sheeran’s impromptu Church Street gig for example.
“You think you’ve got all these permissions in place, but most of the times, someone shows up and is unaware that you’ve procured licenses for the show. Ed Sheeran busking... they probably did procure a license, as quoted by Ed, but at the end of the day we still had a police officer going and pulling out the cables,” says Subhash. “Government support is critical in streamlining the permissions and licensing processes. In the end it's all dependent on them.”
Mumbai has Mahalaxmi and NMACC. Ahmedabad has Narendra Modi Stadium. What about Bengaluru?
If no immediate place comes to mind, that’s for a reason. Bengaluru lacks world class facilities which are built specifically to host musical performances. Less venues = cost per venue going up.
There’s no personal touch (and that hurts!)
As legacy venues like Humming Tree, bFlat and Take Five have shut shop, newer venues have taken their place, but there’s one issue — they lack a personal touch. Audiences, artists and bands are feeling the loss, too.
“To be very honest, Girish and the Chronicles pull a bigger crowd in Europe than they do at this point in Bangalore,” Subhash said, when I asked him about whether artists are keen to continue playing in the city at the moment. “It’s because you just don’t have people doing shows on a regular basis, in spaces like Humming Tree, bFlat and Take 5 any more. Venues who’ve taken their place are more transactional in nature — for them, ticket sales take priority over real investment in nurturing the music scene. It lacks the personal touch. And of course, this has impacted smaller bands to find support in a growingly more fragmented scene.”
BUT.
Are infrastructural challenges and dearth of venues the only reasons why artists aren’t coming to Bengaluru? Seems like there’s more brewing underneath the surface »
For concert-goers, fans of music and those itching to relive the city’s glorious rock ‘n’ roll past, the city has changed drastically, altering its perception for residents and those looking in from the outside.
5. Bengaluru’s rep is seriously tainted: In recent years, Bengaluru has gained a reputation for notorious traffic jams and exorbitant transport fares — a red flag for those aiming to witness the fullest potential of the city’s rock ‘n’ roll culture. Concerts have become less about music and having fun. Frankly, I’d say they’re burdensome. For me, a woman, safety concerns take priority — can I wear what I want and not be harassed? Will I find safe transport home after the main act gets over?
“As a customer, booking a ticket to your favourite show, you want your entire experience to be taken care of. You don't want to miss the last half an hour of the headline act so you're able to get home. If you could grab a bite and relax during your time at the festival, you’d give into the experience a lot more.” — Subhash Rao
It’s not just about the venue or the logistics of getting there. It’s the experience before, during, and after the concert that matters. You can have the best lineup, but if the audience is left frustrated with how they’re treated from start to finish, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Subhash recounts his experience at Ed Sheeran’s concert in February this year:
“Ed Sheeran’s concert, for example, on the side of the stage in their Bengaluru show had two giant LEDs that said to avoid the traffic and grab a bite after the concert until 11:30. This was so people did not have to worry about going to eat in the middle of the concert. The minute the concert ended, everyone was essentially kicked out of the venue. It really got me thinking. It says 11-11:30. Why are you kicking me out at 10:15? And when I was made to leave, I stood amongst thousands of others trying to get into the metro or trying to get a cab or an auto. And when you look back and think about your experience, it’s a bit sour because of the pre and post concert experience,” Subhash recalls.
Similar anecdotes from Subhash, along with my own experiences attending events in the city, came up throughout our conversation and I was left thinking about how Bengaluru, once home to iconic concerts and a thriving music scene, was now a shadow of its former self — grappling with traffic, poor infrastructure, and a lack of proper venues. Meanwhile, other cities have stepped up, addressing the challenges that burgeoning metropolises in India face in the 21st century.
If Bengaluru doesn’t address these issues soon, it may very well be waving goodbye to its rock ‘n’ roll legacy for good, but we don’t want to give up hope just yet.
Are there any long term solutions to the myriad problems we’ve highlighted above? Email us at namaskara@unboxingblr.com and we’ll feature it in upcoming newsletters shortly :)
IPL Season is in FULL swing!
And of course, we’re back, rooting for RCB — not just a team, but a whole emotion.
This time (like every time), we’re bracing ourselves for the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with being an RCB fan — the highs that send us to cloud nine and the lows that have us questioning all our life choices.
If you’re a fan, we’ve got a gift for you. Keep scrolling to check it out and wear your RCB heart on your sleeve 💖 👀
For the Virat Kohli Fan Club 
For your friends who’re struggling to get the perfect match ;) 
And lastly, for the die-hard fans whose loyalty just can’t be changed.
From Code to Culture: A Sneak Peek
Here’s a sneak peek into an episode you’ll see on your screens very soon, featuring Angela F. Williams, the President and CEO of United Way Worldwide. PS: We’ve added a new rapid fire section in our conversations with guests — and it’s turning out to be quite a hit.
Hope you’re just as pumped as we are for the episode to drop!
Annnnnd that’s a wrap for this edition! We’ll be back with more updates and exciting content next month, so look out for our email in your inbox 📨
Until then,
Team UnboxingBLR 💌
BLR Echoes is UnboxingBLR’s newsletter; a monthly curation of Bengaluru events, interesting tidbits, and the many amazing things that we’re up to - all yours to unbox and discover!