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Rock on!
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The oldest rock festival of the country is back
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The Airtel Independence Rock Concert, now in its 23rd year, will move to Chennai, Hyderabad and Kochi next year. Started as one-city two-day event, it is now held in Kolkata, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore and Mumbai. The festival has two phases. The first
is the Pub competition, where bands compete in pubs. This is followed by the Victory Lap, where the winners perform at large city venues. The festival has been the launching pad for major Indian rock bands such as Brahma, Zero, Pentagram, Agni, etc.
Farhad Wadia, founder of Independence Rock, , is right now excited about taking the festival for the first time to Kolkata and Pune. He says, “Kolkata has a massive rock audience. The Bengalis know their music. And Pune has a huge student population. So, it was a logical progression to take the festival there.”
Having seen the festival grow from the beginning, what are the changes it has undergone? Says Wadia, “Previously, bands used to do many covers. Today there is more original music. The bands are dedicated, there’s a lot of talent out there. I feel the scene is certainly improving.”
Wadia elaborates that he originally received about 300 tapes, 40 of which excited him. “There is a lot of variety in them. The music is professionally recorded.”
But considering that last year’s finale saw 7,000 people, the growing popularity of rock is clearly undisputed.
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