Live sitar for Indian weddings, sangeets, corporate galas and private concerts across the metroplex — played by a sitarist who lives here, so the instrument arrives settled, tuned and ready before your first guest.
Vatsal Dave is a sitarist of the Imdadkhani gharana and a direct disciple of Padma Bhushan Pt. Budhaditya Mukherjee, with over twenty-five years of performance behind him and four released recordings — including Lone Star Sitar, made with Grammy award-winning musician Art Greenhaw. Dallas–Fort Worth is home: the studio is in the northwest of the metroplex, near Flower Mound and Southlake.
North Texas has one of the fastest-growing South Asian communities in the country, and its wedding calendar is full from the cool months of autumn through spring. Across the metroplex, live sitar has become the thread that ties a celebration together — from the first quiet raga at the baraat to the last melody of the reception.
The ceremony asks for music that listens. For the baraat and the welcome, solo sitar — or sitar with tabla — greets your guests as they arrive. Through the varmala and the rituals, ragas are chosen for the hour of the day and played beneath the priest's words, never across them, so the music holds the room in stillness rather than filling it.
Sangeet and mehndi evenings are where the music opens up: an ensemble set with tabla, romantic and rhythmic, moving between classical gats, Sufi melodies and Bollywood-inspired instrumentals. Each set is tuned to the room, not just the PA — an intimate living-room mehndi and a ballroom sangeet call for very different sound.
For cocktail hours and receptions the repertoire turns lighter — film melodies, Sufi pieces and world fusion alongside the classical. For corporate events, galas and cultural evenings, a seated recital format works beautifully, with spoken introductions to each raga for audiences meeting the sitar for the first time. In Dallas, Vatsal has performed for the University of Texas at Dallas Investiture Week "Celebration of Spring" (March 31, 2026).
Sets are tailored to your culture and taste. Special-request pieces can be learned for your day.
Dallas, Fort Worth, Flower Mound, Southlake, Grapevine, Coppell, Irving and Las Colinas, Plano, Frisco, Lewisville, Highland Village, Carrollton and Denton, and the surrounding area.
Typical settings include hotel ballrooms, banquet halls, temples and cultural centres, garden and estate venues, private residences and corporate spaces. A stage of roughly 8 × 4 ft for sitar and tabla is ideal (larger for the ensemble), and a quiet, covered spot if the music is outdoors.
"He played the sitar at my daughter's wedding in January 2026 at the beautiful Union Station venue, and the experience exceeded all expectations. Having live sitar at a wedding is such a unique idea here in the USA; we wanted a traditional, soulful touch and Mr. Dave brought that vision to life perfectly. Our guests are still talking about it."
— Shazia Khan, daughter's wedding at Union Station, Dallas, January 2026
"I am beyond grateful to Vatsal Dave for the amazing sitar, tabla and flute performance at my daughter's sangeet, held at a private residence."
— Radhi Shah, sangeet
"We hired SitarBug to perform at the cocktail hour of our wedding reception, and it was the perfect decision that elevated our entire celebration."
— Sumaiya Khan, wedding reception
Tell me the date, venue and which parts of the day you would like music for, and I will come back within 24 hours with availability and a custom quote.
Check availability Hear the musicIt depends on the format (solo sitar, a sitar & tabla duet or the full Brahma Nada ensemble), how many parts of the day you'd like music for, and the venue. Send your details through the booking form and you'll receive a custom quote within 24 hours.
Serene North Indian classical ragas and devotional pieces for the baraat, varmala and rituals, chosen for the time of day and played beneath the ceremony. The repertoire turns lighter for the cocktail hour and reception, with film melodies, Sufi pieces and world fusion.
Yes. Sangeet and mehndi nights at private residences are a natural fit for sitar with tabla, and the set is tuned to the size of the room.
Yes — corporate events, galas and cultural evenings, often as a seated recital with short spoken introductions to each raga for audiences new to Indian classical music.
Two to six months ahead is ideal, especially for wedding-season weekends. Shorter notice is sometimes possible; send your date and you'll hear back within 24 hours.
Yes — across Texas, including Austin and Houston, and nationwide, including Chicago, New York and New Jersey, Washington DC, the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. Travel is quoted separately.
Also available in Houston, Chicago, New York & New Jersey and Los Angeles — or anywhere else on request. Booking a recital for a concert series or festival? See For Presenters.