The 2014 Taihu MIDI Folk & World Music Festival will take place from October 5–7 at the Taihu MIDI Music Park (Greenland Country Park) by Taihu Lake. Launched as a new festival by MIDI since 2014, it features folk and world music as its main genres, setting itself apart from the rock-focused MIDI Festival with a unique stylistic identity and complementary listening experience.
The "I Want to Be on MIDI 2014" band competition has already kicked off ahead of schedule. Starting now, outstanding bands and artists from across the nation—especially those in East China—are invited to join the contest. The winning bands will perform on the stage of the inaugural Taihu MIDI Folk & World Music Festival alongside world-renowned gothic/medieval musicians Deine Lakaien (Your Servants) from Germany, as well as top Chinese acts such as Mo Shengzi, Chuan Zi, Zhou Yunpeng, Ma Muer and his IZ Band, and Da Wanggang.
The "I Want to Be on MIDI 2014" band competition has opened registration and interaction platforms on Baidu Musician and the MIDI forum on Baidu Tieba. Before September 15, artists or bands from all over the country can sign up via http://y.baidu.com/campaign/midi. All participants in the "I Want to Be on MIDI 2014" band competition must register with Baidu Musician, upload their entries according to the page instructions, and ensure that all submissions are original works. There are no restrictions on musical styles, though entries that align with the "folk and world music" theme will be given priority. For more details, please follow the official updates on Baidu Musician and the MIDI forum on Baidu Tieba.
The judging panel for this competition consists of professionals from the Beijing MIDI Music School, the Taihu MIDI Organizing Committee, as well as veteran artists, media professionals, and musicians. The selection process is guided by the principle of encouraging and discovering outstanding original folk music works, with comprehensive evaluations based on artistic quality, arrangement and orchestration, performance skills, and stage presence.
During the preliminary round, the competition’s organizing committee will conduct online reviews. In mid-to-late September, 16 bands selected to advance to the semifinals will compete through live performances in Suzhou, Changzhou, Kunshan, and Huzhou. The judges will then select 8 bands to move on to the finals in Suzhou. At the finals held in late September, the expert judges will once again evaluate live performances, ultimately selecting first, second, and third place winners. These champion bands will perform at the 2014 Taihu MIDI Folk & World Music Festival, realizing their dream of “I Want to Be on MIDI.”
Here, folk and world music enthusiasts from all corners of the country bring their passion, expert judges offer fair, impartial, and transparent critiques, and the allure of China’s most elegant music festival awaits on a dazzling stage. After multiple rounds of selection, only the truly exceptional musicians will stand on the stage of the inaugural Taihu MIDI Folk & World Music Festival. By the vast, rippling waters of Taihu Lake, they will share their most beautiful original music with thousands of music lovers.