SOMEPLACE ELSE- A MUSICAL EDEN IN THE HEART OF THE CITY OF JOY
Someplace Else- a British style pub at the heart of the ‘City of Joy’ has been successfully drowning the music crazy crowds for more than 17-years now. One of the oldest and hottest nightspots of the city located at The Park is adorned with regular performances by live bands and renowned national and international musicians. Celebrated as the meeting point of the best musical talents, this hub, with a seating capacity of 40 persons & standing capacity of 150 persons, has been the launch pad of many new rock bands and musicians, who have gone on to make their presence felt in the national music scenario over the period of time. As vocalist, poet and Emcee, EPR from Underground Authority correctly states, “The stage is magical and has given many artists their break!”

RJ Supriya, who is not very regular at band shows, happily narrated her experience at this enchanting lounge and quotes, “This one day, it was just a sudden plan along with the gang to go to this place, popular within us as 'Some-P'. I joined in for a change to catch a band performance with them (which I would otherwise never go for), but totally a great idea. The music, the people, the beer, all of it happening together- it is a different high altogether. So if you've had a bad day, this might just be the place to be!”

Just like RJ Supriya, many people in the city have had their share of fondest memories with the pub. The reason behind this is that the people behind this pub have made sure that every evening at Someplace Else dons a new colour with a well-planned musical agenda for each day of the week. As Hem Dhillon, Associate Director (Events & Public Relations of Someplace Else) proudly says, “Being with Someplace Else for 3 years, I can say with utmost pride that Kolkattans simply love Someplace Else!”

The week starts off keeping an open mind with different genres of music from Jazz to Blues with regional, national and even international guest bands while Tuesdays bring on a new hue with one of the hottest bands in the city, Krosswindz taking on this pristine stage. Wednesdays are devoted to the immensely popular rock & roll band Hip Pocket featuring Nondon Bagchi followed by Pseudonym. Span hits the place with their attitude and panache on Thursday while Friday basks in the glory of jazz inspired sound with Insomnia on the stage. Weekends at this place sets off on a soulful note as The Saturday Night Blues Band, regales their fans every Saturday, featuring Jayanta Dasgupta performing everlasting blues hits while Sundays dance to the vibrant Salsa tunes of the only percussion band in India- Orient Express, playing the traditional Latin instruments. Crystal Grass winds up the weekly musical agenda at this pub.

As Rashmi, a 27-year old regular visitor of this lounge claims, “Someplace Else entirely has a different flavour to it. Its music, its décor and the kind of audience at this place is totally a class apart from the city’s other joints.”

To add to the musical treats, the predominant woodwork décor of this lounge, coupled with the stained glass ceiling and the brick walls blend in beautifully with the theme of the lounge and adds to the ecstatic experience of the visitors.

As band music fanatic and a regular visitor at Someplace Else, Saptarshi puts it, “A visit to Someplace Else, to me, is a way to relax my strained nerves after an entire week of slogging and sweating it out at the workplace. The music along with the elegant décor and drinks at the bar makes it an enchanting experience altogether.”

Due to the overall appeal of this pub, it is always an extraordinary pleasure for the bands to perform at this platform. As Guitarist Vikramjit ‘Tuki’ Banerjee of Krosswindz expresses, “Someplace Else to me is like an oasis in a huge desert of run of the mill music venues. Someplace Else has been like a musical haven to me and my band Krosswindz for over a decade and we cherish our regular weekly Tuesday slot at the pub. Someplace Else has a unique liberating quality to its atmosphere and it has been a catalyst to many of our musical experiments. I find myself and my band playing at the edge of our capabilities and often conjuring up impossible musical passages which we would rarely attempt in any other situation.”

“Someplace else is the exactly the Mecca of music in Kolkata. I'm pretty sure every band from the city dreams to be up there performing at The Park! And as far as UA is concerned - performing at SPE gives us the comfort of performing at home!” says EPR from the new sensational band of the city, Underground Authority.

Apart from being the consistent platform for regular live shows, Someplace Else also organizes the most exciting event nights almost every other weekend with celebrity performers like Louiz Banks, Jonas Hellborg, Gary Husband, Shawn Lane, Andreas Marsechini, Ehsaan and Loy, Gary Lawyer among others, jam with the performing bands whenever they are in the city. The most remembered events of recent times have been Ehsaan and Loy with Skinny Alley, Bob Dylan’s Anniversary with Lou Majaw, Amit Heri, Mukul Dore and Ravindra Chari with a unique fusion sound and of course the annual Music Fest in April and The Someplace Else Anniversary Celebrations in August every year. This year Someplace Else celebrates its anniversary with a month-long celebration- a salute to the true spirit of music!

Drummer and Vocalist, Gaurab Chatterjee (popular as ‘Gabu’) from Lakkhichara exclaims, “I have always enjoyed performing at Someplace Else. I love the audience and the whole vibe of the place. Whenever I am out with my friends more often than not I end up going there. It is great to have a place which has live music 7 days a week. I enjoy watching most of the regular bands there.”

From patronizing up-coming talent to bringing in new musical influences, Someplace Else has always been the invincible leader. A revered name amidst the ever-changing musical scenario, Someplace Else has successfully recreated the Sixties live entertainment on Park Street over the years!