Sound Box begins a series on music hot spots across the length If I Tell My Ex I Am Over If He Come Back and breadth of the country
Bengaluru based pub and restaurant Opus is a hot spot among music lovers who swear by its two branches – Opus Restaurant at Palace Cross road and Opus in the Creek at Brookefields. The story of Opus began in the Ulsoor home of its founder-couple, Gina and Carlton Braganza. Always a hospitable and entertaining couple who had friends over at their house almost every other day, they dreamt of running a place where they themselves would want to go ‘every night of the week’ and not get bored.
Stepping stones
Opus derived its name from the overweight but very multifaceted octopus, Opus which in Latin means a ‘piece of work’ of art or music. Thus was Opus the venue born. In December 2003, with their events firm Trump It Events giving them solid years of events experience, the couple envisioned Opus as a place where everyone could ‘Eat, drink and dance under the stars’. Their Goan heritage dictated the obvious choice of cuisine and ambience – coastal and laid back – and the people came, slowly and then in droves, either for the Goan delicacy Sorpotel or for the music or simply because they liked the idea of lounging on mattresses while sipping on a cold beer.
Ambience
As a space, Opus is simple yet classy and certainly inviting. Opus has the stars as its roof, a bricked and pebbled garden as its floor and white cushions with little stone tables fixed into the ground for visitors to laze around. It is a blend of pub, café, restaurant and amphitheatre with an atmosphere that reflects the founders’ passion for music, hospitality and the need to give talent a platform.
Earmarked nights
Over the years, Opus has conceived and developed several concept nights, which have developed as brands and properties and have contributed vastly to the venue becoming a destination for artists or patrons. KroaKnights on Tuesdays has redefined the meaning of karaoke, with the insane energy, the madness and yet the serious singing talent that has come out of there. RC Booze and Clues every Wednesday combine hardcore quizzing with awesome music and high energy fun. Band on Friday has played host across genres to some of the best musicians in the country and has featured some huge international superstars as well.
Saturday Night Fever has the best of dance music stuck in a time warp in the disco era. Some of the country’s best dance bands and DJs keep the magic of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s alive.
Opus has also featured art exhibitions, book readings, stand up comedy, theatre and dance and does a monthly designer flea market labeled O-Show curated by Nimboo Closet. Famous faces Opus has played host to music personalities like Remo Fernandes, Vishal Dadlani, Benny Dayal, Usha Uthup, to name a few. Others include Steve Smith, Spyrogyra, Mike Herting, Ramesh Shottam, Charlie Mariano, Ramamani and TAS Mani, Louis Banks, Sivamani, Raghu Dixit, Gary Lawyer and several others.
Standing tall
Opus never wavered through the ban on music and dance in pubs in Bengaluru in 2008, the crackdown on timings by law and order officials, rising prices and moral policing. In the last two years, Opus has harnessed the incredible talent that it has sown by creating packaged music concerts of different genres. The Opus troupe has performed across the country at pubs and clubs.
Internet radio
The owners of Opus also initiated India’s first internet radio station for international music – www.myopusradio. com with 10 channels dedicated to different genres and the ‘O’Bus has been touring across the country.
Capacity
450 max
Sound facilities:
Opus has a basic sound system with lights across the venue and normally hires stage gear.
Bookings
Organisers can book shows at 9008303330 / 9845244610 for events and shows or email at opus@trumpit.com
