A good Christmas party needs a good band. Musicians, who have been entertaining Mumbaikars every season, say that the secret is to play songs that give comfort
For The Timestamps, Christmas is their busiest and most rewarding season where the crowds are lively, familiar, and almost familial. PIC/NIMESH DAVE
By the time December rolls in, live music in the city begins to sound different. There’s a softness to it, a familiar jingle in the background, a sense that the year is loosening its grip. Christmas gigs arrive not just as performances, but as gatherings where strangers sway together, families linger longer, and musicians slip easily into the role of hosts. For bands, this season is about creating the atmosphere filled with warmth over perfection, joy over polish.
Across Mumbai, stages transform into living rooms dressed in fairy lights. Setlists stretch and bend, weaving retro classics, Konkani favourites and pop singalongs into something that feels shared rather than staged. The barrier between performer and listener thins, sometimes disappearing altogether.
What ties these performances together is a shared understanding of what the season asks for. In a month defined by return of families, memories, and familiar melodies, these bands become the soundtrack to celebration.
‘Our audience feels like family’
The Timestamps
For The Timestamps, Christmas isn’t just a date on the calendar — it’s a full-bodied mood they slip into with practiced ease. Pianist Kenn D’Souza describes the band as “versatile by instinct,” a group that’s been playing together for nearly five years, even though the name The Timestamps is only six months old. That long, unofficial history shows on stage. There’s comfort, chemistry, and a sense that the band knows exactly where the other is headed musically.
Their sound moves fluidly across rock, pop, reggae, Konkani music and hints of jazz, making them a natural fit for the year-end rush. Christmas, D’Souza says, is their busiest and most rewarding season. “The audience feels like family,” he explains, a feeling amplified during December gigs.
What sets their Christmas performances apart is atmosphere. D’Souza consciously weaves in festive textures with subtle bell tones, a shimmer of sparkle to gently signal the season without overpowering the song. Though primarily a cover band, The Timestamps resist playing things straight. Each song is reimagined live, stretched and reshaped with the band’s own elements, turning familiar melodies into something personal. “We like to add our own sparkle to the music here and there,” D’Souza grins.
Their Christmas set list leans heavily into Goan and Konkani music, a choice shaped by demand and Mumbai’s strong Goan cultural presence. These songs resonate deeply with local audiences, especially at weddings, corporate parties and community festivals where the band performs most often. Still, when it comes to festive favourites, Last Christmas stands out. For D’Souza, it’s the perfect Christmas song — one that gives every band member a moment to shine, mirroring the collective spirit The Timestamps bring to the season.
‘People want warmth on Christmas’
No Strings Attached
As a vocalist of the six-member band No Strings Attached, Petula Rodericks describes Christmas as their most spirited time of the year both musically and emotionally. Active since 2019, the band brings together two keyboardists, a drummer, a bassist and a lead guitarist, creating a full, layered sound that leans heavily into retro nostalgia. “Our identity has always been retro,” Rodericks says. “We mix old English and Hindi classics, and that blend really comes alive during Christmas.”
Petula Rodericks talks about how the year-ender season makes everything feel like an intimate houseparty on the stage
The festive season shapes their setlist in a very specific way. “At Christmas, people want familiarity and warmth,” she explains. Songs like Let It Snow, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, Jingle Bell Rock, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and White Christmas are staples, drawing in audiences across age groups. “These songs instantly set the mood,” Rodericks adds. “You see people smiling before the first chorus even ends.”
No Strings Attached perform across formats and budgets, sometimes scaling down to duo setups when needed. “Not everyone can afford a full band, so we adapt,” she says. “We play birthdays, weddings, housewarmings so December is usually packed.” One of their annual highlights is their Christmas show at the NCPA, a tradition Rodericks looks forward to each year.
For her, Christmas gigs feel less like formal performances and more like shared celebrations. “Everything feels like a huge house party on stage,” she says. While she acknowledges that the season’s commercialisation brings steady work, she feels a twinge of conflict. “It’s great for musicians, but Christmas is also meant to be slow and chilled.” What makes it special, she says, is seeing families return home and show up together. “That’s when the music really feels complete.”
‘It’s all about reading the room’
Tammy And Roy
Tamara Fernandes, known on stage as Tammy, and her longtime friend and music partner Roy Dsa, simply Roy to their audiences, make up the Goa-based duo Tammy and Roy. For over eight years, the pair have been bringing retro and old-school music to life, building a reputation for feel-good, dance-driven sets that thrive on nostalgia and crowd connection. “We love retro music since it’s timeless,” Tammy says. “But if the crowd is younger, we’re happy to switch it up with Ed Sheeran or Shanaya. It’s all about reading the room.”
Tammy (left) and Roy (right)
She credits their growth to consistency and an unexpected boost during the lockdown. “That’s when things really took off for us,” she says. “People were discovering our music online, and suddenly we were getting requests from different countries to come play for them.”
While they’re firmly rooted in Goa, Mumbai has become a second home. “Mumbai is our biggest fanbase in India,” Tammy says. “We’re performing here on ther 26th and 31st December. The city has the best crowd to play for. Mumbaikars have a vibe you don’t get anywhere else. They’re always ready to dance and since we’re known for dance music, it just clicks.”
The duo recently performed at Olly Fest in Bandra, a reminder of how familiar their presence has become in the city. “People now walk into restaurants we’re playing at just to say hi,” Tammy says, smiling. “At Christmas, they’re not fans anymore. They’re family.” For Tammy and Roy, that warmth is the season’s real magic.
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