Wooozy Weekender: Indie bands and electro DJs beat a path to the south

By Tom Lee and Jocelyn Richards

“I’ve had this idea for a long time that we should get our festivals out of Shanghai and Beijing,” says Hamilton, “but it’s really expensive to take the big format outdoor festival without sponsorship and government support.” To that end, he’s starting with something more modest. This month will see the first Wooozy Weekender, organized under Split Works’ Wooozy Offline events banner, which Hamilton intends to make an annual occurrence.

Hamilton has already put together several corporate events for brands like Adidas and House of Vans but is keen to do something that isn’t brand led. “[It’s] great as a beachhead, but tends not to create the strongest kinds of communities,” says Hamilton. “We’re definitely in the business of trying to create a community.”

Taking place in SD Livehouse, Wooozy Weekender kicks off with a big electronic and hip-hop party on November 28. Over the ensuing weekend, there will be interactive talks with musicians and producers, film screenings, an independent music and art market and indie rock gigs with local and international bands.

“The scene [in Guangzhou] is growing at a faster rate and is more self-perpetuating [than Beijing or Shanghai],” says Hamilton. “There’s lots of early stage stuff that we thought would be great to tap down.”

Backed by their long-standing reputation, Split Works has the experience to create a solid and highly enjoyable event, one which will hopefully contribute to a fuller indie scene down south.

// Tickets can be purchased presale through app 有演出 You Yanchu for RMB60 presale or at the door for RMB80 per night, or RMB150 for a three-day pass. For more information visit wooozy.cn/weekender or contact sp@spli-t.com

Highlights

Mumdance

When your music career begins with Diplo taking you under his wing to show you the ropes, it’s all smooth sailing from there. Mumdance – aka 26-year-old Jack Adams from Brighton – is a multi-genre DJ who has remixed high-profile hits from Santigold, The Whip, Radioclit, Maximo Park and more. After working as Vice magazine’s events manager in college, Mumdance first joined the industry as a DJ in 2008 and is now focusing on his own productions, which take listeners for a ride with punchy drums fused into Eastern string melodies and 8-bit effects. He’ll headline Wooozy Weekender’s opening night event. // November 28, 8pm start, RMB60 presale, RMB80 at the door.

Yang Haisong Workshop

Yang Haisong is a legend of China’s independent music scene.  His band P.K. 14 have been performing together for over a decade – no small feat for a non-commercial group in the Middle Kingdom – and are viewed as the godfathers of Chinese indie rock. Not only that, Yang is also well known as a producer, having worked closely with Beijing-based label Maybe Mars for many years. “He’s one of the most intelligent and brilliant minds in Chinese music,” according to Hamilton, “he takes on young bands, new bands… it’s not a money thing, it’s an art thing.” Yang will be hosting a workshop on how to make it as a band or small-scale label, in hopes of helping Guangzhou’s burgeoning musicians and producers flourish. // November 30, 3pm onwards, free.

Chinese bands

Groups from around the country will be performing on November 29 and 30, giving the PRD a taste of the music scenes in cities as diverse as Wuhan and Xiamen. Arguably the most exciting is Beijing-based Birdstriking, a trio who are leading the charge of a new generation of indie rock artists. Amongst the other acts appearing are Chengdu’s Stolen, playing upbeat electro rock, and Alpine Decline, a dark wave two-piece originally from LA but now calling Beijing home. And let’s not forget our hometown’s very own yourboyfriendsucks!, whose in-your-face name is matched by their bad-ass attitude.
// Novembers 29-30, 7.30pm start, RMB60 presale/night, RMB80 at the door/night.

For a full schedule and the latest information, click here.