A throbbing party scene

I love that the fact that pubs are no longer seen as places to be seen and spend money. People are dancing again and to good music.

Is Vizag’s party scene finally evolving? Undoubtedly so. You’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating: a city’s nightlife is a mirror to it. From a sleepy city about a decade ago where darkness shrouded the streets by 9 p.m., the city has been a changing. This is the city which has gradually thrown open its doors to beach parties, swimming pool plunges, drinking games, swinging music and psychedelic lights.

There’s a distinct revival happening in the party scene: after years of fascination with Bollywood music where parties simply meant a stylish DJ churning out filmy music behind the consoles, Vizag has seen a new wave of entertainment creep in.

Parties and nightlife today involve many more elements and the music has gone beyond Bollywood to include varied musical genres and also embracing the old favourites.

So we now have EDM nights and live rock band evenings interspersed with themes like frat parties or sundown parties – giving an all-new definition to partying and nightlife.

“Not everyone turns up for a party to enjoy the music. There are people who come for drinks or just to meet new people. That is where themes like frat parties have much to offer,” says Rahul Kedia, who has floated his new event management company Noc Noc that focuses on cocktail parties. Introducing the concept of frat parties to the city, Noc Noc will be hosting the event ‘Summer Jam’ at Hotel Novotel on Saturday. The event will also see India’s leading flair bartender Amy Shroff present some spectacular stunts. .

Frat Night

A frat night is simply a way to network and meet new people and in the process enjoy some fun with ice breaking games. Says Hyderabad-based Aradhana Reddy, who will be hosting the frat night: “Partygoers will get to meet new like-minded people as they engage themselves in a round of fun healthy ice breaking games. The games I host are to get people together and get conversations flowing. I have actually seen people come together post meeting over a game of beer pong or Flip cup or beer bowling, whether it is two strangers becoming friends or two people striking it off as a couple and even striking business deals.” The dress code in frat parties is casual meaning strictly flip-flops, shorts and tees as they say.

Sundown Party

If starting early, relaxing by the beach and enjoying some laid-back music is your idea of having fun, head to Sunday’s Sundown Parties at The Park, another new concept that has been introduced in the party scene recently. “People want something new these days. With Vizag’s USP being its beautiful coastline, the concept of Sundown Parties cashes in on this. So you have music like reggae and tropical house which gives a happy-happy kind of feel and you can just come, relax and enjoy the evening by the beachside,” says DJ Bob, who plays at Sunday’s Sundown Parties at the beachside venue.

Bob, who has also been playing at various private parties in the city, says that there has been a marked shift from Bollywood music-centric parties to those involving multiple musical genres with EDM being the latest craze. Also activity-based parties which have other entertainment segments like flair bartenders, live bands, magicians and singers are in.

“This has opened up the city’s nightlife and now you can see many new faces in the parties,” he adds.

Concurring with him, Rahul says: “The party scene in the city is indeed bouncing back. Also, the number of long-stay expatriates in the city has been growing and this has also led the trend of newer party themes.”

“I love that the fact that pubs are no longer seen as places to be seen and spend money. People are dancing again and to good music. At least, there’s music to choose from and a good dose of other events to stay involved,” says Vipasana Reddy, a 24-year-old partygoer. Indeed, choice of themes and activities seems to be the new trend.

As young people in Vizag choose to do different things professionally, they carry that over to the after hours. Street magician Gowtham Shola, who performs at plush hotel parties, says: “There is enough room for performers like magicians or tattoo artistes in parties now. I love to spring a surprise by simply mingling with people and showing them some tricks while they enjoy their drinks and the music.”