The iconic music festival that returned after a nine-year hiatus in 2022 has seen some of India’s biggest rock bands take the stage in the last three years, but it may not be happening this year
The iconic music festival held its 30th edition in 2024. Photo Courtesy: File pic
Amid India’s music concert boom in the last one year, Mumbai has thrived as it has not only hosted some of the biggest Indian artists but also international singers and bands and music festivals. While many of these are visiting artists, the city also has its very own, and among them Mumbai’s iconic Independence Rock music festival.
As many fans in the city soak in the music festival season that has now taken over in full swing, Mumbai has been at the centre of it all not only become the prime venue for most of these performances, but also a city that every artist wants to perform in even while on tour, because of its rich culture of music over the last many decades.
While the city boasts of its jazz and blues music history, rock music has been equally instrumental in shaping the city’s live music experience because of many festivals including the iconic Independence Rock music festival. The festival is a must-visit for many rock fans not only in Mumbai but also from other parts of the country. Also called the 'Woodstock of India', it started in 1986 at Rang Bhavan, and has since then been a stage for some of the country’s biggest rock bands on the rise. Unfortunately, the iconic open theatre was shut down in 2003. In the meantime, the festival was also held at Chitrakoot Grounds. While it was converted into a state cultural centre in 2013, there have been a lot of changes in music venues since then.
While it has faced many challenges since it started out, I-Rock, as it is more popularly known by fans, returned after a nine-year hiatus in 2022, and has been held ever year since then but there has been no buzz around it this year. Many fans are asking about the return of the music festival not only offline but also online while revisiting the 2024 posts on Instagram in the last few weeks. Earlier today, it was revealed that the festival will not be taking place this year.
In the last three years, the festival has seen some of the biggest names in Indian rock music.
The 2022 edition featured a mix of Indian stalwarts and new like Indus Creed, Parikrama, Pentagram, Parikrama, Bloodywood, Parvaaz, ZERO, Avial, Thaikkudam Bridge, The F16s and Aswekeepsearching.
The 2023 edition saw Agam, Girish And The Chronicles, Bhayanak Maut, Gutslit, Mama Tips and the Mamas Bois, Parikrama, Swarathma, T.ill Apes, Tough On Tobacco, Bombay Brass and Underside.
The last edition saw 13AD, About Us, Bloodywood, Bombay Metal Project, Girish And The Chronicles, Indus Creed, Motherjane, Skrat and Swarathma too.
Fans had a lot of hope this year to see some of India's best rock acts, but will have to wait to see what the future of rock music festivals in the city, and India hold.
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