The Great Indian Rock Festival started in 1995 and its inaugural show was held in Delhi at the Hamsadhwani Open Air Theater, Pragati Maidan, it featured some of the biggest names today ranging from Parikrama, Orange Street, and Indian Ocean. Over the years GIR became a platform for Indian bands to showcase their skills and talent and a variety of bands participated have gone on to become some of the most well known names in the country and abroad. The festival's primary home as been Delhi with an occasional foray into Mumbai.

The main aim of The Great Indian Rock was to offer a platform for musicians to express themselves. It slowly steered the scene away from playing covers and encouraged artists to write and perform their own music. The Great India Rock has been integral in the explosion of innovative and original music in India.

Many big bands today have credited The Great Indian Rock for their success. It has changed the way people look at Rock music in India. Bands have benefited from the exposure and that added push to play their own music which has also opened up new and exciting avenues in the realm of Indian Rock music.

This year the festival goes national with Big Gig's in seven major cities, namely, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad and Shillong. This is huge step for the festival as it literally tours the country and reaches out to the masses. It's another foot forward for the Indian Rock scene and it brings in a level of planning and execution never before seen in the country.