Gig Preview: Shut Up and Dance, An Indie Fellowship Night

How many of you remember Mumbai’s Saturday gymkhana nights? You were surrounded by your favorite people; there was a lavish food menu to choose from, spirits flowed throughout the evening and more importantly, you got grooving to a band busting out some fun jive numbers. If you don’t, worry not as city-based travel/event company Vagabond Experiences is here to recreate it in the form of their new gig series Shut Up and Dance: An Indie Fellowship Night on September 22nd at Mumbai’s Above The Habitat.

Vagabond Experiences co-founder Nihar Nair says, “A lot of people never got acquainted with this whole scene [gymkhana nights]. There are a lot fewer gigs for such dance scenes nowadays, and even if they happen, they’re mostly restricted to the few gymkhanas that host them.”

On the lineup is Pune indie rock band Coffee for Giraffes, Mumbai-based singer-songwriters Abhinab Dan and Vernon Noronha and oldies/Konkani band The Vindaloos.

Drummer for The Vindaloos Kristofor Mendonca (previously of Mumbai rockers The Mavyns) says, “My dad [Vindaloos vocalist Agnelo Mendonca] was in a band when he was younger and he often spoke about the gymkhana nights he performed at and how much fun it was.” He adds, “I’m really ecstatic that this event will hopefully bring back the gymkhana nights culture and people will come out to have fun and dance as they used to in the ‘good old days.’”

Before the musicians take to the stage, Vagabond Experiences have also organized a dance workshop for the folks attending the event. Nair says, “For all those who are kind of shy or have two left feet, no more excuses. Just shut up and dance.”

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