With I-Rock XXIV Mumbai pub competitions kicking off today, and the all-India finale slotted for the weekend,u00a0I wanna be a rockstar should be your anthem

Independence Rock is the annual rock event held every year for the last 23 years. It's the oldest and biggest rock festival in the country. The event has been the breaking ground for several bands and pop acts across the country, such as Orphean Revival, Indus Creed (formerly Rock Machine), Chakravyu, Brahma, Zero, Pentagram, Shiamak Davar, Suneeta Rao, Pythagoras & the Right Angles, Gary Lawyer, Parikrama and Agni.

Alternative Hindi rock band Safar

Naturally, making a debut at this fest is big news for any young band. There is a mad scramble among aspiring rockstars to win a chance to play at the final showdown of what is popularly called "The Woodstock of India".

Less effective than Rang Bhavan, but rock-friendly nonetheless, Chitrakoot Grounds will host the national grand finale and Pro Band Performance night, which features metal biggies Bhayanak Maut and Reverse Polarity.

With the Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune and Delhi I-Rock XXIV pub rounds over, it's now time for the Mumbai pub competition (eliminations). Eight Mumbai bands will lock heads today and tomorrow at Not Just Jazz By The Bay, to win a chance to perform at the finale. Only one gets it. The band that beats all the winners of the pan-India pub rounds walks away with the coveted I-Rock trophy.

Tonight
I-Rock XXIV Pub competitionu00a0
At: Not Just Jazz By The Bay, Soona Mahal, Marine Drive.
From: 8.30 pm onwards. Club rules apply

Zygnema: This multiple rock fest winning thrash metal band has a history of creating a moshpit whether the head count is 20 or 200.

Safar: Zygnema vocalist Jimmy also sings and plays the guitar for this alternative Hindi rock band. "So, you'll see me growling in one act and crooning softly in the next!" he says. Safar (http://www.myspace.com/safaronline) views songs as a combination of western music coupled with the flavour of Indian classical music.