For 24 years, Independence Rock has propelled many an up-and-coming rock bands into national consciousness. On Wednesday, I-Rock held its Delhi round at Café Morrison, with five bands from the city belting out funk, progressive rock and heavy metal. “It is all about offering local talent a larger platform,” says Farhad Wadia, who founded the competition.

Among those who tried their luck at Café Morrison was The Airborne, which belted out Other Life Experience and Fire Exit. “The country’s rock circuit is small, so any stage that offers bands a chance to showcase their talent is good. To us, I-Rock means a chance to gain recognition,” says Gary Steele, manager of The Airborne.

Wadia, who adds that bands such as Zero, Pentagram and Millenium and Rock Machine were discovered at the competition, regrets that “despite the explosion of venues in the past few years for bands, there is still a dearth of places where heavy metal acts can play. I-Rock doesn’t discriminate among genres”. Ankit Kumar, vocalist of Under Seige, another Delhi band that performed on Wednesday, adds: “It is a chance to get noticed and winning makes a big difference to the band’s profile”.

This year, I-Rock received 350 entries of which 40 bands have been shortlisted from Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Delhi and Bangalore. The winner from each city will compete in a national finale in Mumbai on October 3. Who will win the Delhi round? Find out today at Attitude.

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