As part of the 2017 Croisements Festival, La Fête de la Musique returns to Shanghai from June 23-25 and Ningbo on June 24-25. For those not in the know, it's series of free concerts that will heighten the festive atmosphere.
Massively popular, the festival is dedicated to all types of music, from Jazz to pop and rock, classical music and world music.
Created in 1982 by the French minister of Culture, Jack Lang, the Croisements Festival has been a great success since its inception. Now extended to the whole world, the festival is celebrated in more than 100 countries spread over five continents. There are over 450 participating cities worldwide including Beijing, Shanghai, Ningbo, Wuhan, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shunde and Shenyang in China.
In 2016, more than 3.8 million people attended La Fête de la Musique in China, both in person and via live streaming. Proud of this achievement, the festival shifts into high gear, with the renewal of the PPTV livestreaming partnership and the launch of La Fête de la Musique in different cities thanks to the support of Coq Sportif. The festival also fosters collaborations between French and Chinese bands, and takes the plunge into Chinese social networks.
This internationally renowned phenomenon plays a key role both in spreading new musical trends and in broadening access to artistic and cultural practices. June has thus become the month of musical discovery as well as the ideal time for the encountering of style and audiences
La Fête de la Musique in Shanghai
A wild opening night
For the 30th anniversary of Shanghai-Marseille’s twinning, three bands from the southern French city will come to Shanghai on 23 June for the opening concert in Hall B of the West Bund Art Center: King Krab with his captivating funk, Taiwan MC and his reggae notes, and the hypnotizing French 79, with his phantasmagoric electro. They will light up the stage from 6pm to midnight, together with three Chinese bands: Da Fresh, Duck Fight Goose and ChaCha & Dj Aivilox. Psychedelic pop, funk, electro, disco, rock, and hip hop—something for everyone!
A whole weekend dedicated to music
For the 8th consecutive edition, the Fête de la Musique will take place over three days of the weekend; it will lead the audience to hidden places of the city, for concerts and artists encounters. Nearly 70 bands, that is to say more than a hundred musicians, professionals and amateurs will be hitting the Shanghai stages on the occasion of the festival. Old or young, no matter what their musical style is, they will perform and celebrate music with the public for free!
La Fête de la Musique in Ningbo
The Ningbo opening concert will take place on June 24, at the Ningbo Culture Plaza. It will feature two French bands: King Krab and Las Aves, a mysterious avant-garde gang from Toulouse who will lead the audience through a futuristic musical trip, thanks to their album ‘Die in Shanghai’. They will perform together with the Chinese band 阿拉乐团.
Just as in Shanghai, the festival will carry on until Sunday evening.
French groups performing at the opening concerts
King Krab
King Krab is born out of two brothers’ passion for music. Having grown up in Marseille amongst their father’s vinyl collection, they now surf on the funk and soul wave. Their communicative enthusiasm nourishes their sensual groove and refined style.
Taiwan MC
Taiwan MC is the reggae branch of the Chinese Man Records Label from Marseille. The group’s albums blend Jamaican sounds together with those of London clubs or New York block parties. With a deep voice and a flow fitting any style, he makes light of the musical rules.
French 79
Embodied by Simon Henner (also part of the Nasser band), French 79 delivers electro-pop music, with a French touch directly from Marseille. The titles design a sonorous stroll, dark and dreamy where singing echoes sometimes appear, whispered or projected as heavenly voices. Electronic music with a strong emotional impact.
Las Aves
The electo-pop quartet from Toulouse is a phoenix reborn out of The Dodoz, a rock and post-punk band. Las Aves shines bright and invites us on a journey from Asia to the US, with its albums Die in Shanghai, L.A. – EP, blending genres and melodies, from pop to synth, from languid sounds to rock. On stage, they display an inflamed energy no one can resist.
Chinese bands performing at Shanghai's opening concert
Chacha & DJ Aivilox
Originally from Guizhou province, Chacha was revealed in the Shanghainese underground scene (The Shelter). Both a musician and a vocalist, she is idolized for her extraordinary tone and her own distinctive style.
Duck Fight Goose
Duck Fight Goose is a quartet formed in 2009 by Han Han, 33, Panda and JB (formerly Da Men). Their music, constantly evolving through time, mixes traditional-rock, experimental-rock and electronic music. Be ready for a psychedelic experience.
Da Fresh
Formed by five aspiring musicians after a big dinner in 2008, Da Fresh caught the public’s attention after their performance at a 2009 music festival held at Songjiang University Town, and has been performing in great venues and festivals since then. The band came up with a genre of their own: fresh music.
June 23-25, 6-11.30pm. West Bund Art & Design Center, see event listing.
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