On any given evening at Tavern-Behind-Trincas / @TavernBehindTrincas, walk through a heavy wooden door into what feels like a capsule to another world. A stage bathed in warm light, plush royal blue velvet and gold trim set the mood. A setlist that moves effortlessly from Rabindra Sangeet classics to the unmistakable riff of Bangla rock. The audience, caught somewhere between nostalgia and exhilaration, finds itself singing along.
It is a scene that might seem commonplace in a city often defined by its artistic leanings. And yet, for all its musical inclinations, Kolkata has long lacked a dedicated space for Bengali live music every single night. That silence is now being filled at @TavernBehindTrincas, a venue that, until recently, remained overshadowed by its more famous sibling, Trincas. But in the last few months, TBT has quietly emerged as the city’s most vital space for a resurgent Bengali soundscape.
A Soundtrack for the Bengali New Year
As Poila Boishakh approaches, marking the beginning of the Bengali calendar, the cultural significance of such a space feels particularly pronounced. Poila Baishakh has always been more than just a date; it is a moment of reflection and reinvention, a time when Bengal revisits its artistic past while making space for the present.
Tavern-ér-Taal, the in-house band that anchors the space, embodies this very duality. On some nights, their music recalls the golden era of Bengali melodies—the poetry of Tagore, the undying charm of Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. On others, it channels the restless energy of Bangla rock, a sound that defined the early 2000s with bands like Fossils, Lakhichhara, and Chandrabindoo—some of whom once played at Trincas itself. The ensemble, featuring a variety of artists including Ushoshi (ex-Indian Idol), Suprabhat, Deep Chakravarty, Rahul, and Amitabha, brings with it a versatility that reflects the many moods of Bengal itself.
A Space That Holds Time in Its Walls
If music is the soul of Park Street, Kolkata’s most famous thoroughfare, Trincas has been its beating heart. Tavern-Behind-Trincas was carved out of the old Trincas laundry room in 1972 as a hidden room and speakeasy. In recent months, the venue has undergone an aesthetic transformation— an indulgent blue-velvet enclave lined with medieval shields and calligraphic signage. The setting is intimate, almost conspiratorial. It is not the kind of place where one comes merely to eat. It is a space that invites immersion.
And perhaps that is why, on any given evening, the lines between performer and audience dissolve so easily. Social media clips from the venue show the entire room breaking into song, as the audience sways and sings along to the familiar lyrics that feel like home. The setting, the music, and the audience become indistinguishable from one another—a rare thing, even in a city that prides itself on artistic communion.
A Must See/Do/Feel
With the band tuning up daily at 7:30 PM and playing a 3 hour set, one is inclined to visit at their own leisure. But be sure that the intimate space often fills up suddenly. It’s no surprise that the food is great (all Trincas’ classic dishes are available here) but what is a surprise are the sudden appearances that some of the biggest and most exciting names in Bengali music make.
Sidhu (Siddhartha Sankar Ray) of the legendary Bangla Rock band Cactus fully endorsed Tavern-behind-Trincas in a heartfelt speech calling it “the most happening thing in the city” after a rapturous cameo on the mic. Gaboo (Gourab Chatterjee) and Rajiv Mitra of Lakhichhara dropped in and were treated to a mini tribute. Cizzy, the hottest thing in Benglai Rap is dropping his new album at TBT and is excited to finally find a mainstream venue that supports homegrown talent on a regular basis.
This Poila Baisakh at Tavern-Behind-Trincas there will be a festival called “Taal Baisakhi” a twist on the Bengali “Kaal Baisakhi” which refers to the flash storms that bring the hope and excitement of good weather to Bengal.
The host band Tavern ‘er Taal will present Cizzy and Banglar Thek on the 9th of April, Karaoke with KolkataPride.org on the 10th, Paloma & Adil on the 11th, and a special Poila Jam on the 12th. Performances will begin by 7:30.
Poila Boishakh at Tavern: A New Tradition in the Making
Poila Boishakh is both a return and a beginning. And as the first chords strike at Tavern this April 15, there is a sense that something old and essential is being restored to Kolkata’s cultural landscape.
In the glowing lights of Tavern, amid the echoes of melodies, a new and exciting Bengali New Year awaits!
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