It’s a pity to say it, but it is more and more likely that Beijing will sit on the bench during this May Day. We have a hunch this will be the case, and while some are hoping for something to pop up to save the day (the Rye Festival just announced May 25-26, so they’re out), it might be wise to start looking for alternatives to make Get your festival fix this holiday season.
With our four-day holiday this year (or longer if you use your days off strategically), you’ll have the chance to escape the capital and enjoy one of the festivals popping up all over China – from the canyons of Jiaozuo to Metropolis Wuhan – Explore new regions while satisfying your need to rock in the sun.
My advice is to dig deeper, find a festival that suits you, discover some new bands, and have an adventure with your May Day break.
Strawberry Festival (Shanghai/Chengdu)
when: April 26-28
Where: Shanghai Rugby Club/Chengdu International Intangible Cultural Heritage Park
price: 320-450 yuan (per day) – Ticket link
WHO: RADWIMPS (JP), Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (US), Sons of an Illustrious Father (US), Yogee New Waves (JP), New Pants, never young beach (JP), Sugarcat, Sweet John, So Far So Good, IZ , Ob03, itsogoo, Lil Akin & Visudy, Cee, GDJYB, HUSH, NEOS (feat. Suss), Glow Curve, Mercader, Chen Li, Hebe Tien, Universal Youth Club, Ding Wu, Tizzy T, Low Wormwood, Mosaic, Rolling .
hot shot: For the sheer number of quality acts they’re able to attract, the Strawberry Festival still reigns supreme. This year was no exception, with camps set up in Shanghai and Chengdu and a huge lineup that seemed to cater to the growing demand for performances from independent children in China as well as Japan and Taiwan. It’s also massive, with 100 shows spread over seven stages over three days, meaning plenty of variation for fans of almost every musical preference. And don’t worry if you can’t make it to Shanghai or Chengdu, as the festival will likely be held in another second- or third-tier city in the coming months.
MIDI Taihu Festival
when: May 2-4
Where: Camp MIDI Taihu, Suzhou
price: 200-260 yuan (per day), 660 yuan (three days) – Ticket link
WHO: Chinese Football, Re-TROS, Hackberry, Wrangler, Betrayed Martyr, Motion sickness, Lonely Li Rui, Dazed Gatsby, Beyond Creation, Scarlet Horizon, Qi Hai, Zoo, Default, Iron Heart, Lonely Island Mood, Garbage Fill Buried, Silent Words, Demerits, Nine Treasures, Eggplant Eggs, Die of Sadness, Four Happiness, Happy Wheels, Nine Treasures, Star Club, Amber, SUBS, Railway Suicide Club, Paella (JP), Underground City Beijing, Grass eggs do not have parties, penicillin, red scarves, Zhao Wei, Yasha and so on.
hot shot: While Strawberry may have the stock, MIDI always has the spirit. One of China’s oldest festivals is held at Taihu Lake Midi Park outside Suzhou. Expect plenty of homegrown talent to rub shoulders with some smaller international acts.
Mount Emei Music Festival
when: April 27-28
Where: Mount Emei, Sichuan
price: 129 yuan (per day), 229 yuan (two days) – Ticket link
WHO: Re-TROS, STO.LEN, Jahwahzoo, Xie Chunhua, Caiyilin, Damaxi, Peng Tan, Angry Navel, Colorful Bar, Wu Qi, Ding Dang, Sha Nanjie
hot shot: If you want to tick off one of China’s four famous Buddhist mountains from your bucket list, why not reward the hike with a day or two of great tunes. While the lineup is definitely tighter and focused on Chengdu (and other Sichuan) shows, that’s a plus in my opinion – and may allow for some calm and tranquility (and less aggressive commercials) between scenes.
Yuntai Music Festival
when: May 3-4
Where: Yun Tai (near Jiaozuo and Zhengzhou)
price: 168 RMB (per day) – Ticket link
WHO: Second-Hand Rose, Mercard, Queen’s Sea Shark, Longjin, Da Vinci, Tragic Faith, Flower Boat, Xu Wei, Diagon Alley, Windsor Forest, Chen Gongju Please Take Care
hot shot: Another naturalistic getaway – this time in the Jiaozuo Global Geopark, complete with waterfalls, springs, picturesque peaks, deep valleys and gorges. The lineup of the biggest contenders in Chinese rock is complemented by a host of up-and-coming stars. It’s small, solid, and probably the closest one to Beijing.
Jianghu Music Festival
when: May 3-4
Where: Jieteng Jianjiu Music Sports Park, Wuhan
price: 158 yuan (one day) – Ticket link
WHO: Lonely Cookie, Peach Illusion, Happy Wheel, Peace & Wave, Echo Park, Star 69, Ming, DJ Shinoda, Suiki Lor, Silly Function, Ben Huang, Mariio’s, Lisa Ono, Air, Zhao Zhao, Mr. Lu, Pi Yiran, Renyimen, Zhang Busan
hot shot: This is a dark horse in my eyes – the funniest acts and events of the festival, all within the city limits on either side of the Yangtze River (though you’ll have to cross the beautiful East Lake to get there). Emphasis on urban pop, indie pop, and hip hop Music, there’s an understated charm to the show — breezy during the day, it feels like an extension of Wuhan’s musical personality.
YOLO Youth Cultural Festival
when: May 3-4
Where: Huabohui, Wuhan
price: 380 yuan (per day), 750 yuan (two days) – Ticket link
WHO: MC Hotdog, GAI, JONY J, J-Fever, MJ116, Bridge, C-Block, Dirty Twinz, K11, Blow Fever, DamnShine, Ranzer, X!GO, PACT, East, Pharaoh, Lee, Huang Xu, AiFuJieNi, Gui Bian, Wang Yitai, Wang Tianming, Pang Kung Fu
hot shot: If you really want to see the whole of Wuhan, or are a fan of hip-hop, then YOLO Festival might be for you, with some of the game’s favorite rappers bringing vibes and hard beats. You know what you’re getting.
Midou Music Festival
when: May 1-2
Where: Tianshengqiao, Lishui District, Nanjing
price: 280 yuan (per day), 480 yuan (two days) – Ticket link
WHO: NEXT, Gai, Escape Plan, Mister Lady, VIA, Hua Zhou, Re-TROS, Mr. Deer, Wang Yiren, Hao Meimei, Chef & Actor, Mao Buyi, Liu Laisi, Seabuckthorn Grass, Fool and Idiot
hot shot: A two-day world-wide indie pop and folk show, all performed in the suburbs of Nanjing. It’s a bit too mainstream for my liking, but Nanjing is still pretty beautiful this time of year, so if you don’t mind being stuck with raving fans, then you might find something you like here.
Happy Live Music Festival
when: April 27
Where: Xuzhou Olympic Sports Center
price: 420 yuan, 360 yuan (advance payment) – Ticket link
WHO: XTX, Second Hand Rose, Nine Treasures, Miserable Faith, Sophie’s Garden
hot shot: The least festive of them all—essentially a day of putting on some killer shows at big stadiums in coastal cities. So unless you’re already planning on being in the area, I wouldn’t bother. But you can’t deny the talent here.
Cream Fields 2019
when: May 1
Where: Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center
price: sold out – Ticket link
WHO: R3HAB, Kayzo, DJ Snake, Gammer, Holy Goof, Above & Beyond, Yultrom
hot shot: Shove the corpse of an EDM down the throat of a spoiled rich kid. It’s sold out, so we won’t judge you for not going.
Need something closer to home?Here’s our constantly updated guide to live performances in Beijing
Image: gobanma.com, courtesy of the organizers
