May's music mayhem
- By William Wang
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E-mail CRI, April 26, 2012
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Music festivals are excellent places to chill out. Photo by William Wang for CRI. |
Midi Festival
With a history of focusing on metal and hard rock acts, Midi continues to keep rock and roll at the forefront. Bands like Brain Failure and Subs remind crowds that despite the GDP, China still has much angst to voice. This may be underlined by a performance of China's godfather of rock, Cui Jian, amazingly just announced.
Hip hopper Yasiin Bey (the artist formerly known as Mos Def), will tackle politics in his own way. Yasiin Bey was one of the first artists to sing "socially aware rap music", which contrasted with the violence of gangsta rap, popular at the time. He is credited with two of VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip-Hop.
The festival is moving out to Shunyi district this year, where its four stages (named after different dynasties) will loosely focus on different flavours of rock and electronica.
Apr 29–May 1 Shunyi Olympic Park 100 yuan/day
Ditan Folk Festival
Keeping it real with the singular focus of one stage, the Ditan Folk Festival will also be a more chilled out festival where attendees will soak in sunshine while basking in waves of acoustic vibrations.
Though Ditan has less hype factor than Midi and Strawberry, there's no denying its downtown pull. Bands like Buyi, Shanren and Xiao He will still get kids off their blankets to bounce in front of the stage. Apr 30-May 1 Ditan Park 60-80 yuan/day
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