Shanghai bands finally accepted at China's biggest music festivals
Back in action after months in the studio, The Mushrooms test out their new material at MIDI Festival’s Song Stage.Shanghai bands have often been considered a bit of a disappointment compared to those in Beijing.
While Shanghai is considered a more developed metropolis, with a larger population and home to Mao Livehouse, arguably the finest rock club in the country, the city’s rock bands are regularly snubbed by rock festival promoters.
But this October, a handful of local groups are finally traveling to Beijing, Zhenjiang and Jinan to represent local rock.
“Modern Sky asked, we said yes,” explains Xiao Zhong (小中), drummer/vocalist for Shanghai noise-punk duo Pairs. His band has been included in Beijing's 2010 Modern Sky Festival at Haidian Park, organized by the indie music label Modern Sky and set to run from October 2-4. “Not sure how it will work out.”
It’s been a fast ride to the big stage for the highly lauded duo, but after recently releasing their debut EP “Pairs” on the newly christened Qu Records, touring to cities like Beijing, Wuhan, Hong Kong and Tianjin, this raucous boy/girl combo has rightfully earned their place on the festival’s Badhead Stage on October 4 (3:40 p.m.).
Joining Pairs at the Modern Sky Festival are alternative quartet, and Modern Sky recording artists, Boojii (Badhead Stage, October 4, 6:40 p.m.), Kraut-rock fusion group Duck Fight Goose (Badhead Stage, October 3, 3:40 p.m.) and elder statesmen of the Shanghai scene Crystal Butterfly (Sky Stage, October 2, 3:30 p.m.), fresh from their recent release “Illusion Forrest.”
(Article continues below photo)
A historic stage
While Modern Sky and their numerous Beijing festivals have grown to become the trendy choice for China’s trendiest music lovers, down in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, the MIDI Festival represents the tastes and attitudes of China’s rock, punk and metal masses, culminating in the country’s longest-running rock-festival franchise.
“This year we started [band selection] in January, with co-operation from MySpace China. More than 1,000 bands registered domestically,” explains MIDI festival booker Shan Wei. “At this [2010] MIDI Festival, two established Shanghai bands, Screaming Saviour and The Mushrooms will participate.”
There are exciting new sounds happening in underground club music in Shanghai. We are excited to finally have the opportunity to promote the music on a larger scale, and bring something fresh to the MIDI Festival— David Lin, Ice Cream Truck organizer
Screaming Saviour will bring their thrashing guitars and cookie-monster vocals to MIDI’s Song Stage on October 2 (2:30 p.m.), while emo/rap-rock quintet, The Mushrooms will be kicking out their jams on the festival’s opening day, October 1, also on the Song Stage, at 3:20 p.m.
It’s been quite some time since the heavily touted Mushrooms have made a public appearance, opting to spend the majority of 2010 in the studio after inking a demo deal with an unnamed Taiwanese label. So this MIDI Festival appearance is something of a field test for some of their newer material.
An electronic twist
Festivals like Modern Sky and MIDI have always placed an emphasis on live acts, but in addition to their multiple stages of rock, indie, punk, metal and reggae, these gatherings also offer electronic tents and stages.
Given Shanghai’s wealth of DJs and electronic artists, festival bookers have enlisted Shanghai promoters to book and manage these productions. Modern Sky has enlisted the services of Shanghai promotion group S.T.D. to pack out the Electronic Stage with DJs R3, Linfeng, Adept, Ssoso, Kniff and Lon.
Running a similar operation, MIDI has enlisted the services of Shanghai-based promotion group Ice Cream Truck Events to operate its Yuan Stage.
“There are exciting new sounds happening in underground club music in Shanghai,” explains Ice Cream Truck main man David Lin. “We are excited to finally have the opportunity to promote the music on a larger scale, and bring something fresh to MIDI.”
In addition to Lin, MIDI’s Yuan Stage will feature Shanghai talents like DJ Fish, Siesta, Heat Wolves!, Mau Mau, Trix, Acid Pony Club, Deville, Sal and Ben Thriller.
(Article continues below photo)
Something’s brewing in Shandong
Rock festivals have become a fashionable trend in 2010, with second-tier cities like Xi’An, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing and Hangzhou joining in to see if they can match Beijing’s prowess as the festival capital of China.
While these festivals are generally smaller, bookers tend to take more risks on up-and-coming bands looking for a chance to play to a bigger crowd.
This October, the city of Jinan, in Shandong Province, will host its first annual Forrest & City Music Festival, from October 1-5, inviting Shanghai groups like Pink Berry and Joker, both on the local Zhulehefeng label, to perform on the festival’s main stage.
It’s unsure how this inaugural festival will go, given the numerous obstacles involved with running a top-rate production. But at least, in their infancy, festival bookers are remembering that some Shanghai bands are worthy of their stage.
