India’s Festival Phenomenon: Hamza Kazi Explores Growth, Global Recognition, And 2025 Potential

The year is 2002, and I’m fresh out of school, ready to attend my first-ever live show—the legendary Independence Rock at Rang Bhavan! Imagine my frustration when I fell sick on the very day of the show, forcing me to wait another four months to experience a live concert at its next-of-kin event, Mood Indigo at IIT Mumbai. That show, however, was nothing short of exhilarating. Partly because it was my first live experience and partly due to the energy of 5,000 students living in moments they would cherish for life. I still vividly recall the vocalist of the winning band, Acquired Funk Syndrome, wearing orange overalls like the members of Slipknot, one of the biggest metal bands in the world. For a few minutes, I wondered what it would be like to attend a Slipknot show, but I brushed it off, thinking, "I live in India; that’s never really going to happen."

Back then, Mood Indigo was the most prestigious college rock competition in India, but it was still just a college event—until 2008, when Ensiferum, a Finnish extreme metal band, performed at the festival, surprising everyone! It marked a turning point in India’s live performance history. IIT Mumbai went on to bring in some of my favorite international bands like Porcupine Tree, Katatonia, and Karnivool. Other IITs, not wanting to be outdone, began hosting bands like Opeth and Textures, putting India on the map for rock and metal acts. This rock and metal culture paved the way for festivals like Bangalore Open Air, the Indian subsidiary of Wacken Open Air—one of the biggest music festivals in the world, drawing nearly 100,000 metalheads. And the rest, as they say, is history!

Today, India is home to numerous homegrown festivals and concert tours like Sunburn, NH7 Weekender, The Lil Flea, Bollywood Music Project, BMW Joytown, Hornbill Festival, Mahindra Blues Festival, and Independence Rock, to name a few. International properties like Lollapalooza, Global Citizen, and Boiler Room have also cemented India as a music festival destination. If someone had told me in 2002 that Green Day would perform in India, I would’ve laughed it off. But now, with the tickets in my hands, I’m eagerly counting down the days to their gig!

It won’t be long before festivals like Coachella, Rolling Loud, Knotfest, Rock in Rio, Mad Cool, Burning Man, and others start their Indian versions, bringing down international acts that otherwise wouldn’t tour India.

During COVID-19, the live industry took a massive hit, and it seemed like the end of live performances globally. Yet, almost five years later, live entertainment has come back with unprecedented force, even surpassing its pre-COVID stats and figures. It has taken a huge share from the movie industry, as audiences crave more experiential events, breaking records for ticket sales. Minutes after Coldplay’s show announcement, my waitlist queue number was over 700,000—a clear indication of the live entertainment industry’s upward trajectory.

Concert tours are now announced every week, with artists like Armaan Malik, Diljit Dosanjh, Karan Aujla, Anirudh, Anuv Jain, and Prateek Kuhad selling out stadiums within minutes. Demand for Karan Aujla was so high in Delhi that the promoter had to announce second and third shows at the same venue, which also sold out on the day of their announcement. Diljit’s tour sales were so extraordinary that he partnered with an airline for concert branding and promotion on the aircraft, reminiscent of Ed Force One—the official airline of Iron Maiden, one of the biggest metal bands in the world. These are all indicators of the Indian live music scene’s transformation, showcasing an unstoppable upward trend!

The following insights hint at what 2025 might look like for music festivals:

• After a steep drop in 2020, global live music revenues are on track to hit $30 billion in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels (Statista).
• Major festivals like Coachella saw record-breaking attendance in 2023, with over 125,000 attendees per day, reflecting strong demand (Pollstar).
• Virtual access to festivals continues to thrive, with events like Global Citizen Live reaching 23 million online viewers in 2021 (Global Citizen).
• 72% of Gen Z and 62% of Millennials prefer live music experiences, making younger generations a key driver in the festival comeback (Nielsen).
• AR and VR integrations are expanding, with 12% of major festivals offering immersive tech experiences in 2022 (Eventbrite).
• Smaller, niche festivals are growing in popularity, with some seeing 30-40% attendance growth post-pandemic (Live Nation).
• More festivals are prioritizing eco-friendly initiatives, with 51% of festival-goers considering sustainability when choosing events (Eventbrite).
• Global touring revenue for major artists rose by 25% in 2023, with top tours like Ed Sheeran’s "Mathematics" grossing $93 million (Billboard).
• 67% of Gen Z discover new music on platforms like TikTok, directly influencing festival lineups and ticket sales (Nielsen).
• 50% of major festivals in 2023 featured diverse artists, up from 20% in 2019, reflecting a shift toward more inclusive lineups (Feminist Frequency).

These insights point toward substantial growth in the live entertainment space in 2025, driven by technology, sustainability, and inclusivity. As the industry evolves, it promises more vibrant, diverse, and memorable experiences for fans worldwide—with India poised for exponential growth in comparison.