1516The Shenzhen Midi Music Festival took place12on the31thand1th1ofat the Longgang Universiade Center in Shenzhen as scheduled. Co-organized by the Beijing Midi School of Music and the Kaisa Culture Group, this annual celebration has long become one of the most anticipated New Year’s events for music lovers across China. As in previous years, tens of thousands of fans from all over the country followed the Midi Festival here, arriving in this beautiful southern borderland where it remains spring-like warm and the air is clear and soft—Shenzhen.— Shenzhen.
2016TheMidi Festival’sannual theme: Stay Away from Drugs, Get Closer to Music. Starting with the first note played by Red Arrow Band, the runner-up of the “I Want to Be on Midi” Band Competition on the Tang Stage, the Universiade Center transformed into a utopia. Here, there were no drugs or violence, no daily worries or work pressures. Tens of thousands of fans escaped fear and anxiety, steered clear of the mundane and dull, got closer to music, and enjoyed a two-day New Year’s music carnival.“I Want to Be on Midi”Band Competition
Escape Plan was undoubtedly the star of the first day of the carnival. This band, hailing from the Midi School of Music, has been one of the most important names in China’s indie music scene in recent years. They became widely known on the stage of the Midi Festival, gradually winning over more and more people with their youthful melodies, lyrics full of the spirit of the times, and passionate stage presence, bringing indie music—once only whispered about within niche circles—into the public spotlight for the first time. But Midi remains the most familiar and brilliant stage for Escape Plan. At dusk as night fell, they appeared on stage to thunderous anticipation. Escape Plan has left behind many classic memories at the Midi Festival: those tear-jerking, star-studded, romantic, and mass-singing moments. On the last day of the year in2015, these moments unfolded one after another at the Midi Festival, like a review of the past year in fast-forward. In the process of getting closer to music, every youth that had been moved, inspired, or comforted in the past year had not been lived in vain.
The Kid’s Stage remained the cutest and most heartwarming spot at the Midi site. A lineup of child bands—Orange Orchestra, Spirit Zero, Rainbow Candy, and Red Doll—whose very names spark excitement—delivered performances that rivaled those of adults. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University bandToNickbrought the first day of the Kid’s Stage to a perfect close. The newly added Acoustic Stage showcased the impressive talent and potential of young bands from Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and surrounding cities. Toy Boat from Nan’ao Island in Chaoshan closed the Acoustic Stage with a playful and unconventional performance that turned the audience below into a sea of joy.
On the dimly lit Tang Stage,Wan Xiaolitook the stage to high acclaim.He is obsessed with meticulously refining his music, much like how we take care of each day of our lives. Immediately following him, the Reflector band delivered their always uplifting music, presenting a2015perfectperformancefor the last day of the year, with the entire crowd singing along to the festival’s theme song, “Only Music Is My Cure.”. In addition,the Tang and Zhanguo stages also featured performances by Suffocation, Jade Dragon Army,, SubversionCMCB、DisruptionMNorthern bands such as Dafantian, Xiang Yahan & Band, Island Mood, and Reban delivered stunning rock performances on-site; international acts included bands fromArms & Sleepersthe United States,Take TwoSingapore, who made their Midi debuts on the Warring States and Tang stages respectively.Bands from Guangdong like Mapang and Xiaoyu,Taiwan’sBeyond Cure,Hong Kong’sDeep Inside, Egg Steamed Meat Patty,and others also put on an especially eye-catching performance at their home turf in Shenzhen on the“Main Stage.”Their brilliant shows added a touch of southern gentleness to the Midi Music Festival, allowing music lovers who traveled from afar to bond through music as if they were family.After the final band on the Tang stage — the innovative and highly engaging classical choir, Pot Stone Choir — finished their performance,1516the first day of the Shenzhen Countdown Midi Music Festival came to a close. At midnight, many fans lingered in the venue or camping area, singing and playing music, hugging and greeting each other to celebrate the arrival of the new year.
1516The performances on the second day of the Shenzhen Countdown Midi Music Festivalcontinued,featuring top-notch musicians from both China and abroad, including the Sound Toy band — recipients of four Chinese Rock Midi Awards — and the wildly impressive Tongyang band from “China Star,” among others. Come and get closer to the music on the first day of the new year.(Text byChen Xiaobei; Photos by Yan Min)