Sleepy Suzhou roused by Holisland Rock Festival

Located less than an hour west of Shanghai in Jiangsu province, Suzhou's biggest tourist draw has arguably been the maze of ancient gardens built around Lake Taihu. Although the city is among the fastest-growing in the nation in terms of population and industry, it's often left in Shanghai's shadow. 

Cui Jian, the father of Chinese rock, headlines Suzhou's Holisland Rock Festival.

This might be changing though, as the country's emerging live music industry prepares to throw the Holisland Rock Festival on Huoli Island. Kicking off on July 16 and running for three days, some major Chinese and international acts are lining up to perform. 

Suzhou makes some noise

When they considered Suzhou's location near the geographical center of the Yangtze River megalopolis, veteran concert promoters Beijing Yidu International Media Company (BYIMC) could think of no better place to plot China's musical future than the cradle of its traditional culture. 

BYIMC has previously brought acts like Nine Inch Nails and Public Enemy to China's shores, and they'll be adding to that list at the Holisland Rock Festival with Sinead O'Connor and Simple Plan. These acts as well as local groups will be playing at the area's newly constructed amphitheater, meant to draw big names. 

"It was built solely for the purpose of outdoor live music performances," says a BYIMC representative. The amphitheater is at the center of the Huoli Island transportation hub in Suzhou's Xiansheng New District, part of the city's efforts to modernize its longstanding policy of arts stewardship, which dates back to China's three kingdoms period. 

Right now, music festivals are a fad in China -- every local government wants to sponsor one and whether or not those governments are committed to nurturing said festivals long-term.— Archie Hamilton, Split Works

The festival's line-up, organizers believe, will attract foreign visitors who wouldn't normally be drawn to a city mostly renowned for a quieter brand of culture. The numbers concur: latest projections put attendance figures well above 100,000 fans.

The festival fad

Holisland is not just about American superstars. Cui Jian -- often referred to as the "Father of Chinese Rock" -- will share the spotlight with emerging foreign bands like Japan's Ladies X and London-based Thirteen Senses.

"[The concert will] include a balance of talent from all around the world," says the BYIMC representative, "which will ensure a truly international crowd -- and the longevity of the festival."

Archie Hamilton of promotion company Split Works which, among other things, organizes the Shanghai Jue Festival, also believes the event could hold an important place in the nation's cultural landscape -- if it makes it past its first year. 

"Right now, music festivals are a fad in China -- every local government wants to sponsor one whether or not those governments are committed to nurturing said festivals long-term," he says. 

But BYIMC's media director doesn't foresee this being a problem in the case of her organization. "We have used the same model for rock festivals for the past 10 years that we have been holding music festivals in China -- and they have worked. We are certain that Holisland will become a fixture in Suzhou."

The amphitheater on Huoli Island.

The Suzhou Xiangcheng Holisland Rock Festival, July 16-18, 4 p.m. till late.

Holisland Rock Festival tickets can be purchased online for RMB 200 each day or RMB 500 for a weekend pass. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the entrance.

Getting there: Suzhou-bound trains depart Shanghai Railway Station every half hour. The journey is around 40 minutes and costs around RM B30 one-way.

Huoli Island: North side of Renmin Lu, near the crossroads of Renmin Lu and Huayuan Lu, Xiangcheng District, Suzhou 苏州相城区人民路北沿, 人民路与花园路交叉口 .