What usually happens with music properties is that the venue first conceives of it to draw patrons in. The programmer of the place then curates a line-up and reaches out to the bands. Dates are fixed. Sound checks are held. And the musicians finally get up on stage hoping to make sure that the audience has a blast.

But this equation was turned on its head for Rock 'n' Rolla, an event that will make its Mumbai debut at an Andheri pub tonight. The genesis of the gig lies in an idea that Anirban Halder, front man of Goa-based act Electric Pulse, had in April this year. He thought, why not take matters into our own hands, conceive a property, and then place it on a silver plate and give it to venues. "So I got in touch with Girish [Pradhan of Bengaluru outfit Girish and the Chronicles], thought of a theme and the name, and took it to a high-end hotel that organised the show," Halder says.