Over 100 Chinese and international bands and artists delivered stunning performances over the three days on China’s largest music festival site spanning 250,000 square meters. Tens of thousands of live audience members enjoyed the passion and freedom brought by rock music. Even the muddy grounds after the rain became a paradise for celebration, with fans covered in mud visible everywhere, and many classic scenes from the history of global rock music were recreated at this moment.
Escape Plan lit up the night sky, while Suede delivered an epic extended set that brought their peak performance back to life
On the final day of the festival, bands and artists with diverse styles took the stage, including Taipei-based band Those Who Understand What I Mean (with a rather unique name), Subs fronted by China’s most rock’n’roll female vocalist Kang Mao, Loulan Box with strong Xinjiang flavors, world music act Da Wang Gang, and the Mauritian primal band Noukilla, sparking exciting cultural collisions across time, space, and nations.
Escape Plan, who have gained immense popularity in recent years and are now among China’s most renowned rock bands, have also seen their melodious songs become favorites on TV shows, earning them a large fan base. Before their performance, tens of thousands of fans had already gathered spontaneously singing along to their classic hits. As one of the standout acts among the new generation of rock bands, Escape Plan’s live show was full of contemporary energy, passion, and vitality. Their strong stage presence moved the entire crowd, turning several of their songs into massive sing-alongs. “The Brightest Star in the Night Sky” lit up the audience’s phone screens, with dazzling starlight swaying to the music, creating an incredibly romantic atmosphere.
The British classic Suede, invited jointly by MINI and Midi, closed the festival, marking the most unforgettable moment of the 2014 Shanghai Midi. On stage, Suede performed the complete tracklist from their iconic album Dog Man Star — a record that left indelible memories for countless people in their youth and is widely regarded as one of the most representative works of 1990s Britpop, as well as the band’s magnum opus. Fans stood in the mud, spending an unforgettable night with Suede. Deeply moved by the Shanghai audience, Suede returned for an encore, performing classics like “So Young” and “Beautiful Ones.” The over 70-minute performance rivaled a full solo concert, treating the audience to an exceptional musical feast. At the Beijing Midi Festival, Suede is expected to add even more beloved classic tracks to their setlist, promising another wave of surprises for fans.
The 2014 Shanghai Midi Music Festival draws to a perfect close — Reducing honking to sing for a greener China where rock lives on
With three days of spectacular performances now over, the 2014 Shanghai Midi Music Festival adds another shining chapter to youth culture in southern China. In its first collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, the festival, under the annual theme “Reduce Honking,” used music to spread positive energy, “sing for green,” promote environmental awareness, and encourage the building of a cleaner, greener future.
In addition, the “Broadcast Gas Station” jointly created by the Shanghai Midi Music Festival and mobile QQ Browser 5.1 Video Play Dominator added rich online interactive elements to the festival experience. Tudou’s live stream also broke the record for the number of viewers watching a music festival online. The Phoenix News app exclusively produced an electronic guidebook for the festival, making it easier for fans to access event information. These many new approaches to music festivals in the internet era have created innovative models for online-offline interaction.
After the performances, tens of thousands of audience members boarded Midi shuttle buses to leave the venue, taking with them the wonderful memories of the three-day event. China’s rock music, much like the Yangtze River rushing into the sea, continues to thrive here at Sanjia Port at the river’s estuary. The journey of the Midi Music Festival goes on, with the 2014 Beijing Midi Music Festival just around the corner. (Photos by Yan Min / Li Lewei)
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