As2015year's final stop and2016year's first Midi Festival, the1516Shenzhen New Year's Eve Midi Festival, organized by2015year12month31day to2016year1month1day, will be held as scheduled at the Shenzhen Universiade Center. The site will feature four stages—Tang, Warring States, Kids, and Acoustic—as well as the Midi Camp, with nearly 100...
The currently announced lineup includes not only influential Chinese rock bands of various styles such as Tang Dynasty, Reflex, Suffocation, Sound Toy,SUBS,King Ly Chee, Wan Xiaoli, Wan Zhong, SubversionM,CMCB, but also the southern Chinese world music group Horsemen making their first appearance at Midi, the rock band Heat Spot nominated for multiple Midi Awards, and original bands that stood out on China's Good Songs such as Xu Jun&Tree Band, Xiang Yahong and Band, and Island Mood.
Metal band Scar Tissue from Liaoning and Chinese electronic melodic metalcore band Fengtian will bring thePOGOhighlight of the night with their powerful metal riffs. Dafantian, Yulin Army, Flash Star, and Loulan Box are representative bands formed by outstanding recent graduates of the Midi School. Dafantian is a heavy band composed of veteran Midi alumni, which has received strong responses in several Midi performances. Flash Star just performed at this year's JapaneseSummer Sonicmusic festival, while Beijing alternative metal band Yulin Army has just released a new album. Among the younger bands are the all-girl indie band Egg Steamed Meat Patty,2013the champion of the "I Want to Be on Midi" band competitionDeep Inside, both from Hong Kong. They join local Shenzhen indie band Summer Grass, Guangzhou female-fronted metal band Little Rain, and Hainan Sanya's Great Scientists to form a representative lineup of Southern rock forces—definitely worth looking forward to.
The international lineup includes popular American electronic post-rock duoArms and Sleepers, Spanish melodic deathRise to Fall, Taiwanese deathcore bandBeyond Cure, the French bandScare the Children, Japanese hardcore bandAsAlliance, Dutch independent electronicFara, and the band from SingaporeTake Two. This year's Shenzhen MIDI lineup incorporates fresh musical elements, with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band drawing from African-American rootsGospel, blendingFunk,Rock, and other modern musical styles to interpret gospel hymns. We will witness and hear the perfect fusion of church music and rock performances.
. The Kids' Stage, designed for young rock fans, will shine with its own energy over the two-day festival. Over the past three years, the Shenzhen Kids' Stage has witnessed the growth of numerous children: Drum Tang Experimental Percussion Ensemble, Tornado Band, Little Rascals Family, Orange Band, Rainbow Candy, Spirit Zero Band... These children from all over, after honing their skills on the Kids' Stage, have become increasingly mature and impressive. This year’s newly added Kids' Stage bands such asMr.kidsand Red Dolls are equally highly anticipated. The headlining role models this year are the Changsha-based Damu Band and Hong Kong’sToNick. Listen to the Damu uncles chat about life, and let your imagination run wild withToNick. Beyond the performances, Corn Brother will join the kids for a fun dance party—pure joy. The Kids' Stage is a place full of energy.
. Little Acoustic SessionsLIVEis an event initiated by professional musicians and co-organized by the Longgang District Cultural Center, Longgang District Youth League Committee, Longgang District Social Work Committee, and Longgang Tian’an Digital City. It is a high-qualitylivecharity music performance featuring live band sets and acoustic duos. Currently held twice a month, it has successfully completed26seasons, attracting a total of nearly6million live audiences including citizens and Shenzhen’s builders, with participation from more than50bands. It is currently the most influential live music performance brand in Longgang and even Shenzhen. This year’s Little Acoustic Sessions stage at the Shenzhen MIDI Festival invites outstanding original bands from Shenzhen and surrounding areas. The lineup includes Toy Boat, Ruindou, Zisheng, Green Bus, and winning bands selected from the “I Want to Be on MIDI” competition.
. Currently, tickets for the Shenzhen MIDI Music Festival are on presale. Prices: Single-day ticket150RMB (presale) /180RMB (at the door); Two-day pass260RMB (presale) /320RMB (at the door). Tickets can be purchased through the official Taobao store “MIDI Produced” and Weipiaoer4001-100-100. Detailed schedules and transportation guides, including the MIDI shuttle bus, will be released soon—stay tuned.
2016. This year, another Chinese rock countdown celebration is about to begin. We invite you to gather at the Shenzhen Universiade Center to count down to the New Year and welcome the brand-new2016.
. Borrowing the eight words of CCTV host Bai Yansong,2016’s annual theme for the MIDI Festival is “Stay Away from Drugs, Get Closer to Music.” MIDI will continue to advocate for an optimistic, healthy, and friendly lifestyle—getting close to music, listening to the melodies of the heart, because only music is the true remedy.
wangjing@midischool.com.cn