Explore Chennai’s unique music experiences at this cafe that hosts intimate concerts

Artistes across genres have been frequenting Vinyl and Brew cafe to play music ranging from Jazz to Exotica. A community that loves the idea of coffee and collective listening has hence come to be

Maarten Visser, a legend in the Chennai jazz scene, believes that the city has always loved its music. “But today, it feels like it is craving a community,” he says.

When he played a concert full of pixie jazz (an experiment by the duo envisioning music enjoyed by pixies), to a packed audience at Vinyl and Brew, a cafe in Alwarpet with his frequent collaborator Holger Jetter on March 8, one could hear the occasional clank of cutlery. That is how focussed and quiet the audience was. “What we played was not mainstream even within the jazz genre. The audience was cross-generational and cross-societal. Most importantly, they were an audience that was willing to receive,” he says.

Vinyl and Brew has been the venue for several intimate performances like that of Marteen’s since they opened in 2024. Besides concerts, there are listening sessions held of interesting bands with vast musicality. One day, the cafe has an event where MS Subbulakshmi’s favourite songs are being discussed. On another, they attempt to decipher Exotica — a genre that transports people to whole different, mythical worlds. The aura changes for each such gig. However, on most occasions, the lights are dim; chairs are pointed in the direction of the artiste; phones are silent; and even creaking chairs elicit disapproval. There is only space for claps, hoots, knowing nods and sways to the music.

Ragu, who runs the coffee shop, says that while coffee is the mainstay here, the establishment has been taking a music-forward approach because he likes listening to good music. “Today, music comes from the pocket but the sound from an LP and a vinyl record player is vastly different. Look at how beautiful it is,” he says as we listen to Fleetwood Mac and Miles Davis during the interview.

Vinyl and Brew’s audience is different from the one that attends the coffee shop raves. The crowd here is more older millennial. It is one that seeks the quiet of a musical experience. There are overlaps too though — many young folk frequent the cafe as vinyls have been making quite the comeback recently. A listening experience with several other people who have similar interests, is the biggest take away of the experience. Ragu says that many people who attend the listening sessions start off timidly, sitting in a corner. During subsequent meetings, they open up and soon become part of a community.

Vivek Ayer, one of the four founders of Alternation that hosted Maarten’s gig on Saturday says that he has also noticed that people at this venue are willing to pay to listen to good music. He hopes that many more venues come up in the city to support artistes from here. For now though, the fact that the venue exists is enough.

Maarten says that the March 8 event is a reminder. “Music is a collective experience. One is often carried by the audience. The divide falls off at some point and they are just as much a part of the set as I am,” he says. “It is nice to be in a place where musicians are seen,” he says.