Beijing's festival season is upon us and you know what that means: amazing local acts, multi-day and multi-venue escapades, and running and raving on the Great Wall. Plus, this year marks the return of Strawberry Festival (the much-loved yearly fest was cancelled in 2017). Read on for the rest of our picks.
Apr 11-14: Sound of the Xity
Vibe:
While Modernsky Lab may have closed, the label isn’t giving up so easily. While Londoners Yuck are set to return to the city, expect a focus on homegrown bands. Expect a diverse range of artists and genres. It’ll be sweaty, loud and lots of fun.
Highlights:
Yuck (pictured above) is the highlight but for a more unusual choice give Heat Mark a go. The Manchester four-piece The Slow Readers Club are also making an appearance.
Wed Apr 11-Sat Apr 14; RMB80-120; Various venues - Yugong Yishan, Omni Space, Yue Space, DDC, School Bar, see event listing.
Apr 13: Thrash China Festival
Vibe:
Angry, sweaty, loud. Calling all metalheads for a raucous thrash metal night at Mao Livehouse.
Highlights:
Destruction (pictured above), pioneers of German black metal, is set to headline.
Fri Apr 13; RMB320-400; Mao Livehouse, see event listing.
Apr 21-22: Yugong Yishan Festival
Vibe:
A mix of international and local bands makes up the lineup of Yugong Yishan’s first-ever festival. The international bands really are international too. Forget British and American indie and try something new with German, Japanese as well as Chinese groups in the lineup.
Highlights:
German rockers Die Toten Hosen (pictured above) star alongside Chinese post-punk outfit The Rights of Statues.
Fri Apr 21 & Sat Apr 22; RMB560; New Great Wall Valley, see event listing.
Apr 29-May 1: Strawberry Festival
Vibe:
Three days, seven stages… and 117 artists from all over China, as well as a few international acts for good measure. A solid showcase of some of China’s best acts right now.
Highlights:
Chinese Football (pictured above) is a band on the rise. And as the band starts to gain attention beyond China, don’t miss out on the chance to say you were there from the start.
Sun Apr 29-Tue May 1; RMB240-780; Beijing Yuyang International Ski Resort, see event listing.
Apr 30: Grammy Festival Beijing
Vibe:
A big mainstream pop extravaganza. People from all over China will be heading to this one.
Highlights:
Pharrell Williams is the biggest name on the card, but for a more traditional festival sound check out French indie rockers Phoenix.
Mon Apr 30; RMB580-880; Changyang Music Theme Park, see event listing.
May 19-20: Great Wall Festival
Vibe:
EDM, dance, house, techno and lots of bros. Expect neon tank tops, caps worn incorrectly and testosterone aplenty. Ultimately though, this will be a showcase of top electronic music in a unique setting. Camping is the only way to go. There is also a 5K run beforehand for those who don’t mind a strong odour for their entire festival experience.
Highlights:
Keep it chill with Recondite’s minimalist techno vibes, while Nina Kraviz (pictured above) brings star power.
Sat May 19 & Sun May 20; RMB580-980; Badaling Great Wall, shuttles (RMB120) from Beijing Agricultural Exhibition Hall and Beijing Language and Culture University, see event listing.
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