Independence Rock Returns This November To Reclaim Its Relevancy

The news of Independence Rock coming back to host its 28th edition in Mumbai (November 5th and 6th) drew two broad kinds of responses – excitement among everyone in the 28-and-above age bracket for a chance to relive a cherished experience, and passing intrigue from anyone who began attending music festivals in the last five years.

I-Rock isn’t just any other music festival being added to the calendar, though. Sure, it’s come a long way since 1986, fighting off cancellations, trouble from authorities and funding. From Rang Bhavan to Chitrakoot Grounds to now finding a home at Bayview Lawns in the South Mumbai locality of Mazgaon, Independence Rock became the launchpad for rock and metal bands across eras, amidst the customary barrage of bottles hitting the stage. The likes of Parikrama, Indus Creed, Pentagram, Zero and even Indi-pop artists like KK have made I-Rock their proving ground, plus Demonic Resurrection, Blackstratblues, Bhayanak Maut, Dream Out Loud and Inner Sanctum.

Founder and music industry mainstay Farhad Wadia had kept it running until 2013, following which he moved to the U.S. for professional commitments. Despite the distance, there were continual attempts to revive Independence Rock over the years. “We tried to bring it back in 2019 and then the pandemic hit us, so it was shelved,” Wadia says. Finding new partners in Hyperlink Brand Solutions (whose founders include V.G. Jairam, Neale Murray and V.G. Jaishankar, among others, all of whom were part of shaping music festivals such as Mahindra Blues Festival, Johnnie Walker The Journey and others), Wadia says he’s been overwhelmed by the response and messages coming in after the initial announcement. “I think this one is going to be huge,” he adds.

It was a couple of months ago when Jairam spoke to Wadia about reviving I-Rock and they “closed out the paperwork” in a week’s time. While there’s a partnership at play for the festival now, Wadia maintains he has equal control in Independence Rock. He, however, explains, “When you partner with people who are professional and like-minded and as experienced as the Hyperlink team, you can let them take all the decisions and have all the control as they will only make the festival bigger and better, and that is what this is ultimately about – creating a memorable experience for the fans and the bands.”

Wadia also sees relevance, or the lack thereof, across demographics for the festival as a non-issue, given the legacy of Independence Rock. “I never went to Woodstock but if it were to happen today, I would and that’s the same. The kids have all heard about it [Independence Rock] and will now want to experience the magic for themselves,” he adds.

There are only a few hints about the lineup trickling through, but Wadia assures it’s all locked in and will be revealed soon. “I can only tell you that one of the bands that played at the first Independence Rock in 1986 and then, for over 20 [editions] will definitely be performing,” the founder says by way of a clue. For those familiar with the festival’s two-day fête, Wadia might be on stage as well, belting out “Mustang Sally” for a jam as part of a humorously titled act called Dinosaurs Of Rock. He says about the possibility, “Dinos are extinct creatures but who knows, just like the Jurassic Park movies they might always make a comeback!”

Independence Rock XXVIII takes place on November 5th and 6th at Bayview Lawns, Mazgaon in Mumbai. Get details here.