Who ever said traffic has to be boring? The Traffic Jam, is a concert taking place in Bengaluru on June 21. Organised by Indie Sound Trail, a non profit organisation and artist ecosystem supporting independent music, the event has a concert bus moving through the city and performing live music.

As a part of World Music Day celebrations, the moving concert venue will travel through major neighbourhoods and bus stops including Koramangala, Indiranagar, MG Road, Cubbon Park and Lalbagh. Every 45 minutes, a different independent artiste will board the bus, bringing along fans, friends, and listeners for an intimate performance inside a bus. The entry to the event is free, but you have to register for the acts you want to see. You can hop on the bus during the time slot for that artiste.

The idea was born, funnily enough, in traffic.

Supporting the arts

Founded by Joel Austin and Carol Pinto, Indie Sound Trail focuses on discovering and supporting independent artistes through thoughtfully curated experiences. Rather than chasing follower counts or popularity metrics, the platform prioritises indie musicians whose work leaves a lasting impression. Discovery, intentional curation and creative concepts are the backbone of this initiative. 

The Traffic Jam emerged from a conversation about World Music Day and how to make music more accessible across the city. Inspired by the French origins of celebration, where musicians performed in public spaces, the team began searching for a format that could work within Bengaluru’s realities. The answer arrived in the form of a passing bus. 

What followed was an unexpected discovery. During trial runs, the closed nature of a bus created an unusually immersive listening experience. Without the distractions of a bar, café or a loud crowd, the focus remained firmly on the music and the stories behind it. 

Who is playing

The line-up is a direct reflection of the initiative’s larger philosophy. On stage are acts DAYVE, Megan, Praveen Alva and Dirty Ricky & Walterbrown.

Singer-songwriter David Emmanuel goes by DAVYE and is known for his emotionally driven acoustic performances and introspective songwriting. He was first discovered nearly three years ago during a Sunday karaoke evening at Guérilla Bar. What began as a chance encounter eventually led to his inclusion in the project. “The best part of performing is watching a stranger find a piece of themselves in a song. If someone steps off this bus feeling seen, understood, or curious enough to keep listening, that’s a beautiful thing,” he says.

Megan Rakesh, the teenage powerhouse behind the band Meg and the Miracles, was spotted earlier this year during a Valentine’s Day performance at The Raft. Armed with a guitar and a commanding stage presence, the young performer has steadily built a reputation for her piercing vocals and rock-infused sound. 

Praveen Alva’s journey onto the bus was even more serendipitous. A day before the trial run, Carol Pinto, one of the founders, heard a voice singing in Tulu at an event in the city. Drawn in by both the language and performance, she discovered the musician behind the voice was Praveen, whose work has become known for blending regional identity with contemporary independent music. “Music travels further than language. If a Tulu song can spark curiosity, create wonder, and leave someone carrying a story from home long after the journey ends, that’s the magic I hope to share,” he says.

Joining them are the band Dirty Ricky and Walterbrown. The act is lead by Anusha Sreekumar Methil, and the band is a familiar name within Bengaluru’s independent music circuit through live performances and collaborative projects. 

At its heart, The Traffic Jam is less about the bus itself and more about the possibility of discovering something unexpected. In an era where algorithms are increasingly shaping our listening habits, this project offers something refreshing instead — a chance to stumble upon an artiste you might never otherwise encounter. 

So for one evening, Bengaluru’s traffic won’t be something you want to escape. 

On June 21, from 4pm. The concert will begin near Bob’s Bar in Koramangala. For more details head to Indie Sound Trails’ Instagram page