The 2014 Shanghai MIDI Festival will be held from April 25–27 at Sanjia Port in Pudong, Shanghai, and the Beijing MIDI Festival from May 1–3. MIDI has now unveiled a stellar international lineup for both festivals, with outstanding bands from more than ten countries and regions converging on the Beijing and Shanghai stages. These acts represent some of the most popular genres in global music today—metal, punk, Britpop, funk, reggae, folk, jazz, electronic, and their various subgenres—bringing their best live rock performances to the MIDI Festival stage. Over twenty renowned international bands will deliver standout shows.
The British band Suede (also known as The London Suede) carved out a unique niche in the UK music scene throughout the 1990s, earning widespread acclaim both commercially and critically. This year, at the invitation of MINI and MIDI, Suede will make their first official festival appearance in Beijing and Shanghai under the band’s name. On the MINI stage at the MIDI Festivals in both cities, Suede will deliver two special performances—playing their iconic album *Dog Man Star* in its entirety for the first time ever, along with rare B-side tracks. This record is widely regarded as one of the most representative works of 1990s Britpop. Another act to watch is the American band Larry Graham & Graham Central Station. Larry Graham performed at the 1969 Woodstock Festival and collaborated with legendary artists like Prince. Among the various bands he was part of, Sly & the Family Stone was the most influential, and he contributed to several of their classic albums since the 1960s. Notably, Larry Graham is also the inventor of the slap bass technique—a crucial and distinctive playing style that has influenced countless bassists in the music industry.
SUEDE
American Larry Graham & Graham Central Station
Swiss percussion duo Bubble Beatz, who combine electronic dance beats with creative percussion using car parts, were a hit on the MIDI MINI stage last year. Their upcoming performance promises to be just as innovative and exciting. German gothic metal band Lacrimas Profundere, formed in 1993 under the leadership of bassist Oliver Schmid, has honed their craft over two decades and released ten remarkable albums, establishing themselves as one of the leading names in German gothic metal. Israeli band Orphaned Land seamlessly blends Middle Eastern folk with progressive metal. Fans who have seen Canadian funk/jazz band LMT Connection perform will understand why they were invited to play at B.B. King’s birthday celebration. Other international acts include Danish indie rock band BROKE, who rose to fame in Europe with their math + post-punk sound; Australian punk band The Bennies, who have toured Asia three times including stops in China and Japan; German power metal band Masterplan, formed by former members of the melodic metal band Halloween; German modern metal band Emergency Gate; French indie rock band LYS; Mauritian reggae band Noukilla; and Taiwanese band 那我懂你意思了, who have performed multiple times at MIDI. All these acts will join the Beijing and Shanghai lineups, delivering a truly “United Nations”-style musical experience.
German Lacrimas Profundere
Swiss Bubble Beatz
Israeli Orphaned Land
Additionally, the Shanghai MIDI Festival will feature Australian thrash metal band Truth Corroded. The Beijing MIDI Festival lineup includes Canadian hardcore punk pioneers D.O.A., who influenced bands like Nirvana; American folk act The Randy Abel Stable, formed by foreign musicians based in Beijing; Swiss indie + electronic band Bonaparte, who just finished recording their fourth studio album in New York; Australian indie rock band Elliot The Bull from New South Wales’ Central Coast; American alternative rock band Sonar Lights; Swedish retro rock band Flat Foot; German hard rock band The Ignition; Japanese punk band Smash Raid; Korean heavy metal band NATY; and Taiwanese dark metal band 幻日 (Phantom Sun), known for their authentic style—these acts form another key part of the international lineup.
Swiss BONAPARTE
With the international lineup now revealed, the full Beijing and Shanghai MIDI Festival rosters will soon be announced. In collaboration with the United Nations, the MIDI Festival will present a spectacular “Rock the Earth Village” experience in Shanghai and Beijing.
Tickets for the 2014 Shanghai MIDI Festival are now on presale: single-day tickets are ¥120 (presale) / ¥150 (at the door); three-day passes are ¥300 (presale) / ¥350 (at the door), with only 3,000 presale packages available. Presale pass holders can collect a limited-edition MIDI souvenir gift pack (1,500 available, first come, first served) at the festival. Tickets can be purchased through Damai.cn: http://item.damai.cn/64691.html, or by calling the national booking hotline 400-610-3721. For English bookings, visit http://www.247tickets.cn/tickets/shanghai-midi-festival-2014 (tel: 021-54562471). shanghai247 also offers a Ticketing Box service for overseas fans, with pick-up at Room 2&3, Building 2, Lane 637, Changle Road, Xuhui District, near Huating Road. More details about the MIDI Festival will be announced soon—stay tuned!