Combo Offer: Live bands in Blue Frog add a new flavour (Pic By Subhabrata Das)

But at least Mumbaikars are lucky and can hope to get some more of that if the success of Blue Frog and Hard Rock brings more players into the business.

Needless to say, such clubs are proving to be great havens for Indian rock bands and jazz musicians.

Following in the footsteps of the Hard Rock pub in Worli, Mumbai — Blue Frog was set up last year with an added attraction — a delectable cuisine prepared in its open-air kitchen. Both play live music at least three days a week.

Blue frog is also a record label, which helps amateur bands record their music. Avial, a Malayalee rock band, was virtually born out of this label. The restaurant-cum-concert lounge has also slashed its cover charges from Rs 2,000 to Rs 500 to attract music aficionados. Those who don’t want to shell out the greenbucks can just walk-in before the entry bar is in place at 9 p.m. and wait till the concert begins.

From guitar gods such as John McLaughlin to Indian guitarists such as Amit Dutta and Dhruv Ganekar, everyone has taken a dip at Blue Frog.

The food-with-music trend is here to stay; now it is time for the foodies, to tune in.

(Businessworld Issue 17-23 Feb 2009)