Entertainment
Goodbye Modak season—the spell of September has set in. While August was powered by certain Wednesday ragebaits and some hit-and-miss engagement rings, one can only hope September brings forth a much-needed momentary but eventful pause before the festive season frenzy takes over the country. Be it busting out your best air guitar licks or witnessing a 24-hour-long performing arts festival from metro stations, this edition of Side Quests has it all.
Waking you up before September ends, gear up for some of the coolest detours with these Side Quests—Rolling Stone India’s new series spotlighting the most offbeat, uniquely curated events around the country.
Air Guitar Championship
Where: AntiSOCIAL, Mumbai
If you’ve ever managed to pull in an audience simply by mimicking iconic guitar performances at a house party, gear up—you’re the prime contender this event is looking for. AntiSOCIAL Mumbai is hosting the first-ever edition of its Air Guitar Championship, inviting rock aficionados to battle it out, aerial style. All those hour-long shower concerts and relentless nights of headbanging to transcendental riffs is going to come full circle. Consider this your one shot to channel your inner best Eddie Van Halen or Slash impressions.
Two Extra Lives: Upcycling Workshop And Pop Up
When: Sept. 6, 2025
Where: Two Extra Lives store, Mumbai
Having a midlife and a wardrobe crisis? Fear not, because Two Extra Lives is hosting an upcycling workshop. For all DIY enthusiasts looking to spruce up their clothing, the workshop is a testament to mending, reviving, and repairing. The workshop is going to be a coven of experimentation, with scrap materials, trinkets, and eclectic fabric. All you’ve got to do is show up with a piece of clothing that feels outdated or worn out as your canvas.
The Pheraas Tour: Taylor Weds Travis Sangeet Party
When: Sept. 13, 14, 21 and 22, 2025
Where: Multiple venues (Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore)
Celebrations are in order, as our close and personal friend Taylor Swift is finally embarking on her fairytale love story with American footballer Travis Kelce. Blondie’s love story is set to be a global phenomenon, and Indian Swifties are already two steps ahead. Saddi Galli, the Indian fake sangeet party collective, is throwing a Swiftie sangeet, spanning Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. Promising a complimentary drink, wedding-style decor, and photobooths, it’s a desi iteration that feels like the perfect post-meta ironic statement to make in a wedding-obsessed market like ours. Expect everything from the singer’s iconic tracks to desi bangers and wedding anthems alongside DJOnePlusOne. And if it wasn’t obvious already, ensure your lehengas and sherwanis are head-to-toe Eras Tour-coded. Or should we say, “pheraas” coded?
ಬೆಂಗಳೂರುlinear (Bangalore Linear) Festival
When: Sept. 13 and 14, 2025
Where: Bengaluru
This Bengaluru-based festival has cracked the code to beat the city’s abhorrent traffic. Positioned along the Green Metro Line, Linear Festivals, Bengaluru’s youngest performing arts collective, is set to launch its debut edition of ಬೆಂಗಳೂರುlinear (Bangalore Linear), a unique 24-hour festival running from 3 PM on September 13 to 3 PM on September 14. The acts, ranging from hip-hop and shadow puppetry to experimental electronic music, come from beyond urban centers to celebrate contemporary expression at its finest. Festival directors Vishruti Bandal and Bharavi also had interesting insights to add. “With Linear, we’re building a space where discovery is built into the experience,” Bharavi states. Likewise, Vishruti Bindal says, “One of the most exciting things about ಬೆಂಗಳೂರುlinear is that I can attend the entire festival without having to drive! We’ve planned everything around the Green Metro Line so audiences (and I!) can easily travel between venues, grab a bite between shows, and actually enjoy the city while doing it.”
The Stranger’s Choir
When: Sept. 7, 13, 20, 21, 27, and 28, 2025
Where: Multiple cities (Goa, Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru)
You’ve probably dined, dated, or gone on impromptu trips with strangers. Now, you can also sing with them. While pop-up choirs are gaining traction globally, India, too, is catching up to the craze. Hosted by vocal coach Medha Sahi, “The Stranger’s Choir” is a three-hour-long choral workshop that requires no prior vocal training or expertise. Open to ages 10 and above, you’ll get to witness yourself learning an entire song, harmonies and all, all in one sitting. A celebration of community, the workshops aim to bring people from all walks of life to hum one cohesive tune.
Yes, And Dragons with Improv Lore
When: Sept. 13, 2025
Where: Underline Center, Bengaluru
Here’s your chance to channel your inner Abed from Community and play a much-awaited round of Dungeons and Dragons—except it’s all improv. Improv Lore, a Bengaluru-based theatre troupe, is set on a mission to bring back the whimsical aspects of spontaneous storytelling via community activities. A group of improvisers, or adventurers, will perform onstage, and you, the audience, control the proceedings of what happens next. With life-sized D20 dice rolls (which you can throw in anytime), surprise character appearances, and unexpected plot twists, be prepared for two hours of chaos, fantasy, and madness to ensue.
Tatva Experience Garba X Monkey Forest
When: Sept. 25 to Oct. 1st, 2025
Where: Monkey Forest, Ahmedabad
In a unique blend of architecture, experimental sound, and nature, a tantalizing jungle escapade awaits. Tatva is set to bring a unique Navratri garba experience in collaboration with Monkey Forest, an eco-luxury project set in Ahmedabad. Helmed by renowned architects Hiren and Anushree Patel, and designed by Vaishali Bhandari, the event has four primary stages: Techno Garba, Shri Yantra, Traditional Revival, and Chill Spot. Be it twirling to traditional showcases or electrifying techno beats, get set to dance with your garba partner under the stars.