Watching live music in India usually means crowded bars, diners making a racket, and a sea of smartphones taking selfies. Now, imagine seeing a gig without all these distractions, at an office or a living room near you.It’s part of a movement that began in London in 2009, and has been brought to 13 Indian cities by Sofar Sounds, an international music event management company. Sofar gigs are unique—not only do they keep secret who the three musicians performing are until you show up, there are no tickets. You apply for an invite online; and the location is disclosed only if you get one. After the show, you pay what you want. Phones have to be put away.Tanya Nath, Sofar Sounds’ Delhi leader, says the aim is to bring people who are passionate about music together. “Most concerts in India take place in bars and restaurants that are full of distractions and people aren’t paying attention to the music. Here, the music is at the centre.”The shows happen once a month in major metros as well as cities like Goa, Kochi Shillong and Jaipur. The venues are offbeat and deliberately small, from offices to cramped bookstores or a stranger’s living-room. A selection committee of five chooses the performers, usually ‘stripped back acts’ that perform original music. From rappers to bluegrass bands, singer-songwriters to all-female acapella groups, they look for quality over fame. Musicians are compensated—they can either opt for one-fourth of the night’s earnings, or for well-produced recordings of their performance.Saby, a Chandigarh-based indie folk musician who has performed at four Sofar gigs, loves the element of surprise. “Even as performers, none of us know who else is playing there. Sometimes it’s friends or at other times, you meet artistes from different genres. You get to interact with the people attending in a way that’s more personal,” he says.Sofar regular Madhav Khemka has attended nine shows in Delhi. He says, “I love that it isn’t commercialised. The musicians sit with us on the floor when other people are performing. You see talented and new artistes before they become famous. It’s become so popular in the city that the last time I tried to apply, it was sold out within hours.”An international community has been formed around the events, and travellers seek out Sofar shows wherever they go. Spaniard Irene Arredondo has attended shows in South Africa and India, and even hosted one in Poland. “Shows in different countries mysteriously feel similar. They have an identity of their own that’s become universal,” she says.For musicians, the experience is important. Musician Amira Gill performed with her band Amira Gill and Friends in Delhi earlier this year. “The intimacy of the show was amazing. The people watching you have come for the music and the audience knows the musicians are there to provide it to them. That specific night, it was raining cats and dogs so it was a huge honour to have a packed house,” she says.