A day after it was confirmed that the iconic Mumbai rock festival will not be returning this year, Wadia shared an emotional post on social media saying it is ‘a bridge too far… but maybe not forever’
Mumbaikar Farhad Wadia started the festival in 1986 with the first edition taking place at Rang Bhavan. Photo Courtesy: File pic
India’s rock fans were in for heartbreak earlier this week, after it was confirmed that Mumbai’s iconic Independence Rock music festival will not be taking place in 2025 because it has been cancelled. It comes less than one month before the festival has been usually happening after it was revived in 2022, as a lot of fans were asking about it on offline and online.
A day after the announcement, the music festival’s founder Farhad Wadia took to social media to share an emotional post. The post on Instagram reads, “A Bridge Too Far… But Maybe Not Forever
It breaks my heart to say this — Independence Rock will not be happening in 2025.
This was one of the toughest calls we've ever had to make. The exit of our main sponsors, Mahindra, has left us without the support needed to make it happen this year.
The last three years had reignited my belief that we might just reach I-Rock 50, a milestone that has lived in my dreams for decades. But without a strong sponsor commitment it's impossible to execute and that goal now feels like a bridge too far.
What truly saddens me is that Independence Rock isn’t just the oldest rock festival in the country — it’s the most loved, and the only stage that has always stood for Indian rock and Indian Bands and nothing else. It has been home to countless bands, fans, and memories that have defined generations over 38 odd years.
Still, I’m not giving up. We will endeavor to bring it back in 2026 if we can find alternate sponsors who believe in the power, passion, and legacy of Indian rock.
So, to all the believers, dreamers, and rockers out there — HEY HEY MY MY ROCK & ROLL CAN NEVER DIE !!!”
The comments reflect a lot of hardcore fans who have been loyalists over the years, and reminisce the past but hope that will continue next year, and maybe if there’s a possibility even have it at Rang Bhavan, the first iconic venue of the festival that was started by Wadia in 1986.
Earlier this week, the cancellation was confirmed to mid-day saying, “After the landmark 30th anniversary edition of Mahindra Independence Rock in 2024, we felt it was the perfect moment to pause, reflect, and reimagine what comes next. I-Rock has always been more than a music festival. It’s been a movement and a gathering of generations. Rather than rush into another edition, the team is taking time to explore how the festival can evolve to reflect today’s soundscape and spirit. This is not goodbye; it’s a moment of recalibration. We’re grateful to everyone who’s kept the flame alive for all these years, and we’re excited for what comes next.”
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