Open Mic in Kasauli : Every Sunday at Hangout
Come, sing, recite a poem, or play flute and guitar with us at Open Mic, our weekly Jam Session at Hangout. Every Sunday from 7 to 11 pm, musicians gather for Live Music. However, performers usually start trickling in around 6-7 pm. After all, an Open Mic is not a ticketed concert bound by strict timings. Musicians, poets and artists arrive at their own comfort, and the evening builds up naturally. Jam sessions follow after 11 pm, because most musicians love to stay late.
Hangout is on the rooftop of Hotel Kasauli Regency. Started by Rajesh Dogar, this is the first-ever Open Mic in Kasauli — and the only Open Mic in India that has run continuously every week for more than 5 years.
#1 of 72 Restaurants in Kasauli
Open Mic, Live Music in Kasauli, Late Night Jam Sessions
What began as a small Sunday gathering has grown into one of the most loved music events in the region. Every week, new faces join familiar ones, creating an evening where experienced musicians, first-time performers and music lovers all feel at home. Artists who had their first performance only a few weeks ago have started singing really well, and watching that progress is one of the most rewarding parts of running this event. Unlike competitive music events, the applause here is genuine, the audience is supportive, and everyone is welcome regardless of experience. *Free Entry always*
▶ Watch an Open Mic Highlight: Jasbir Live
Local Talent Meets Travellers
Every Sunday brings together an interesting mix of local musicians and visitors. Artists from Kasauli, Dharampur, Solan, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab often plan their weekends around the event, while travellers staying in the area frequently discover the Open Mic by chance and decide to perform before continuing their journey. This blend of local talent and travelling musicians keeps the atmosphere fresh — no two evenings are ever the same.
Regular Artists at Open Mic
Aastha Ray, a legal professional and founder, has been a regular at Kasauli’s Open Mic sessions. She first picked up the ukulele before moving on to the guitar, with the Open and the jam sessions significantly sharpening her musical skills. She also runsRuah Kasauli, an upscale stay offering A-frame cabins in Shil Village, near Kasauli. Veda, Kritika (Mitthu) and Saloni from Sanawar sing well on most Sundays. Skand Sharma, Udhav Attri, Gautam, Aryan Rajput, Rajneesh, Paras, Sanchit Saklani and Vineet Sharma are regular musicians of top quality who return week after week. Siddharth Kundal and Sidharth Garg, two guys on Workation from Delhi, have also started singing well since settling in Kasauli; Kundal is now part of a band called Fiddle Craft. Other hotels in Kasauli support our Open Mic and offer discounted rooms to performing musicians.
Sanchit Saklani, a singer-songwriter and live looping artist from Kasauli, now organizes and hosts Hangout’s Open Mic — the very stage where he began performing professionally five years ago. He has since released several original songs on Spotify, including his latest single Zindagi, a collaboration with fellow Kasauli artist Skand Sharma. However, my personal favourite remains their earlier song Dil Hare. Skand Sharma is an amazing singer with a very good command over classical and Carnatic music. Follow Sanchit on Instagram and listen to his music on Spotify.
Music Has Changed Kasauli
When I started learning guitar a few years ago, I couldn’t find a single teacher in town. Today the picture is very different: at least 10 people in Kasauli have a solid command over different musical instruments, and a growing community of young musicians practises together, performs together and encourages others to learn. Paras and Shaurya Chopra are excellent on the Cajon, while Dr. Abhinav Raina occasionally joins with his mouth harp whenever his schedule allows — he has even performed at a live music event on a boat cruise in Vietnam. Watching this musical culture develop in this town of British Colonial era has been one of the greatest achievements of our Sunday evenings.
Celebrated Artists at Hangout
Over the years, well-known musicians like Bollywood singer Shilpa Rao, storyteller Neelesh Misra, folk-rock icon Raghu Dixit, The Project, Gaurav Rudra and Jasbir Qawwal have visited and performed at Hangout, making it an important destination for music lovers visiting Kasauli.
Tanya Khanijow’s Video on Hotel Kasauli Regency
How I Discovered the Open Mic Culture
Travelling abroad, and a trip to Goa in particular, first introduced me — Rajesh Dogar — to Open Mics and Live Music. In small cafés and bars, anyone could walk onto the stage and perform: sing, play an instrument, recite poetry or do stand-up comedy. There was no pressure to be perfect. I never used to sing before discovering this concept, but Open Mic pulled me into the world of music. While travelling through Pai, a small town in North Thailand, I ended up singing 5-6 Hindi songs to an audience of nearly 200 — with not a single Indian among them, yet everyone listened with enthusiasm. That experience convinced me that music connects people beyond language, and that a hill station like Kasauli deserved a place where local artists and travellers could meet through music. That is how Open Mic at Hangout was born.
A Stage for Every Kind of Talent
Although singing is the most common performance, every form of creativity is welcome: guitar, ukulele, flute, harmonica, Cajon, Dholak, poetry, storytelling, stand-up comedy, folk music and original compositions. Visitors have even introduced our audience to rare instruments like the Didgeridoo, Handpan, Persian Setar, Ektara and Mouth Harp. You don’t have to be a professional — many of our most memorable performances have come from people who had never appeared on a stage before.
Veda’s Take on Open Mic
Open Mic is an event where the stage is open to anybody. You can come and share a piece of yourself by singing, playing an instrument, reciting poetry, performing a dance, doing stand-up comedy, or anything else you’d like the audience to see. Live Music in Kasauli is rare, but at Hangout Rooftop Bar and Lounge we host this event every Sunday evening, and the energy keeps building week after week. We have hosted artists from across India alongside many international participants, heard phenomenal covers and original compositions, and enjoyed some genuinely hilarious stand-up comedy acts too. Because of this Musical Evening at Hangout, more business has come to hotels in Kasauli as a whole.
Check out the photos above, and click here for videos of Open Mic.
Why Guests Love Staying at Hotel Kasauli Regency
Guests staying at Hotel Kasauli Regency enjoy a unique advantage: instead of travelling elsewhere for evening entertainment, they simply take the stairs to Hangout Rooftop Bar and become part of the music. Many visitors book their weekend stay specifically around Open Mic Sunday, Techno Thursday or Retro Friday. After a day of sightseeing and nature walks, nothing compares to ending the evening with live music, delicious food and valley views at one of the finest boutique hotels in Kasauli.
Live Music Throughout the Week
Techno Thursday features energetic DJ sets and electronic beats, while Retro Friday celebrates old-school English classics, disco and timeless hits. Together with Sunday’s Open Mic, these weekly Musical Evenings make Hangout the only place for regular live music in Kasauli. Check out photos, news and videos of Open Mic on YouTube.
More to Explore at Hotel Kasauli Regency
Open Mic Kasauli — Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone participate in the Open Mic?
Yes. Everyone is welcome to perform. Whether you enjoy singing, playing a musical instrument, reciting poetry, storytelling or stand-up comedy, you are invited to take the stage. You do not need to be a professional performer.
Is there an entry fee?
No. Entry is completely FREE for both performers and visitors. Simply arrive at Hangout Rooftop Bar, enjoy the evening and participate if you wish.
Do I need to register before performing?
Advance registration is usually not required. Just speak to the host after you arrive, and your name will be added to the performance list. As the evening is relaxed and informal, performers are called one by one as the programme progresses.
Do I need to bring my own musical instrument?
You are welcome to bring your own instrument if you prefer. However, Hangout also has Guitars, Cajon, Ukulele, Harmonica, Dholak, Didgeridoo and several other instruments that performers may use, depending on availability.
Can beginners perform?
Absolutely. One of the main purposes of Open Mic is to encourage new talent. Many musicians performed here for the very first time and have become regular performers over the years.
What time does the Open Mic begin?
The event starts at 7:00 PM every Sunday, although many musicians begin arriving between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Performances continue until around 11:00 PM, followed by informal jam sessions that often continue late into the night.
Where is the Open Mic held?
The event takes place at Hangout Rooftop Bar & Restaurant, on the rooftop of Hotel Kasauli Regency, a boutique hotel in Kasauli with beautiful valley views, great food and a relaxed mountain atmosphere.
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