Blue Frog Mumbai Confirms Relocation

Thrash/death metallers Inner Sanctum performing at Rolling Stone Metal Awards 2015 held at Blue Frog. Photo: Himanshu Rohilla

Much to the dismay of music-lovers and artists alike, popular live music venue and former recording studio Blue Frog will reportedly be closing its South Mumbai address this August. The venue’s national programming head Ruchika Tiku confirmed that the franchise will be shutting down its operations at their Lower Parel venue in central Mumbai. While this turn of events follows the company’s decision to close down their New Delhi venue in 2015 and exit the city, Tiku is quick to assure that the same does not apply to Mumbai. “We surely would continue to function in Mumbai,” she told RadioAndMusic.com. “Along with Pune and Bengaluru, Blue Frog will continue to exist in Mumbai. But I cannot provide further details.”

A prominent part of the music scene since its opening in 2007, the venue has hosted established as well as upcoming artists from India and abroad. The list ranges from American rockers Mutemath to Indian rock frontrunners such as Indian Ocean and electronica artists like the erstwhile Bay Beat Collective. Recent increases in rent has forced the club’s management to move out of Lower Parel. With a surge of competitors cropping up in suburban areas of the city –including Khar and Andheri — it’s possible Blue Frog could be looking at venues in suburban locations.

Managing director Sumer Vaswani told The Times of India, “We have envisioned two concepts in two different parts of the city and are currently in talks with franchise partners,” While it’s hard to know what exactly the next chapter entails, Vaswani added that Blue Frog will stay true to its core strength of managing music while also exploring newer options such as outdoor gigs.

Blue Frog will bring the curtain down with a gig series titled ‘The Last Set’, starting July 30^th featuring all day performances until its closing weekend of August 27^th-28^th. This final month of performances will also include the last edition of Blue Frog’s legendary Metal Nights which was stopped nearly two years ago. Toit, a microbrewery from Bengaluru, will take over the space and will open doors in December.