With the full cooperation of various government departments in Beijing’s Haidian District, the 2014 Beijing Midi Music Festival unfolded over three days from May 1st to 3rd at Beijing Kangbao Park, drawing tens of thousands of music fans to this grand musical feast. The site also featured a variety of new youth cultural and entertainment activities such as gourmet food, wine, poetry, and extreme sports, making the three-day festival a true carnival.
Midi Festival Returns to Haidian; Painkiller Delivers a Stellar Performance on Day Two
The Midi School of Music and the Midi Music Festival were born in Beijing’s Haidian District. After many years away, this edition of the Midi Festival returned to Haidian, recommencing its journey at Kangbao Park. For many fans, it was also a homecoming. The long-running performance art “Walking the Cabbage,” which had appeared for years at the Midi School and Haidian Park, made a comeback, paying tribute to the good old days. Meanwhile, Painkiller’s headline performance on the second day brought fans back to the golden age of Chinese rock—Tree Village.
As pioneers of China’s new youth culture, Painkiller’s music style has evolved from early radicalism to today’s mellowness, mirroring the transformation of Chinese rock. Songs like “Highway Song” and “Let Me Sing a Song for You” sparked mass sing-alongs, while powerful early tracks like “No!” rekindled fans’ youthful fervor. At the audience’s request, Painkiller returned for an encore with “The Most Beautiful Day in Life,” prompting all fans to sit down spontaneously and savor the beautiful melody during this most beautiful moment.
Escape Plan vs. D.O.A – A “Clash of Old and New” as the 2014 Beijing Midi Festival Concludes
The third day’s performances were equally thrilling. In 2013, many emerging music artists gained public recognition through television, with Nanwu and Zhao Lei standing out among them. During their performances on the Tang-UN stage on the third day, they each performed their most iconic songs. Other Chinese rock mainstays such as Voice Break, Distorted Machine, Suffocation, Wan Zhong, SUBS, Reflector, and Sick Pupa gradually pushed the atmosphere to a climax.
The highly anticipated godfathers of hardcore punk, D.O.A., took the stage as night fell. Having been active for 30 years, they deeply influenced later bands like Nirvana and are considered legendary. Proving age is just a number, they lived up to expectations with their frenetic rhythms that stirred every fan’s heart. The audience experienced three decades of hardcore and punk evolution through what could be called a “living fossil of hardcore punk.”
On the Tang-UN stage, Escape Plan delivered the festival’s closing performance. Having rapidly risen to fame in recent years, their music carries a contemporary vibe with beautiful melodies full of passion and energy, creating a dynamic collision between Eastern and Western, new and old musicians alongside D.O.A. Songs like “Ten Thousand Sorrows” and “Apple” had the crowd singing along, while “The Brightest Star in the Night Sky” lit up the venue with shimmering lights as the music drifted through the starry sky, bringing a romantic and poetic end to the three-day musical celebration.
Midi Camp a Huge Success with Rich and Fun Activities
This year’s Beijing Midi camping area was a great success, with nearly 4,000 fans staying onsite, setting a new record for camping attendance at an outdoor music festival in Beijing. The Midi campsite maintained orderly management from fan check-in to tent setup and rental. Throughout the festival, no major safety incidents occurred in the Midi camp, and fans coexisted harmoniously. On the evening of May 1st, Phoenix Online specially organized a poetry reading event in the Midi camp, inviting Zhang Chu, Yu Xinqiao, and Luo Bing to read poetry and perform, creating a warm and lively atmosphere. The three-day camping life was filled with music, poetry, beer, friends, and care. Everyone gathered to talk about dreams and the future, spending an unforgettable and wonderful time together.
Festival activities were equally rich and exciting. In the United Nations exhibition area, fans participated in interviews and mini-games, learning about the UN’s work and Millennium Development Goals through interactive activities. Next to the Song-MINI stage in the MINI SERVICE tent, classic Minis and the new generation of MINIs were displayed side by side. Across from the Tang-UN stage at House of Vans, skateboarders put on impressive performances that drew crowds. The ultra-cool CUBE at Yuan-Yager became a haven for electronic music enthusiasts. The Zippo exhibition area also saw continuous streams of fans getting their lighters engraved or trying out instruments. The BoBa Gas Station and YiPu Space in the Warring States stage area offered online interactive experiences and creative exchange spaces, winning widespread popularity.
On May 3rd, despite fierce winds, the performances proceeded smoothly. Touchingly, fans remained steadfast in the gale until the very end. Thus concluded the three-day festival, where tens of thousands of fans spent their May Day holiday immersed in music. To facilitate travel to and from the festival, Midi buses faced a tough test on the first day under heavy passenger pressure. At one point, the park’s outer bike lane was blocked, preventing bus access and causing inconvenience for fans. Midi extends its sincere apologies. Traffic conditions improved promptly over the next two days, and with the full support of Haidian District public security and traffic departments, fans were able to board return buses smoothly and orderly after the performances. Thank you to the fans for your continued oversight and encouragement, helping make the Midi Festival better. (Photography: Yan Min / Backdrop)