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 New Flowers in Full Blossom will stage seven indie acts, including Carsick Cars (pictured) and Escape Plan. Provided to China Daily |
Promoters are taking the indie scene mainstream. Chen Nan reports.
As a growing list of international megastars like Taylor Swift and Akon are booking gigs in China, some local promoters are carving out a niche for indie bands and new singer-songwriters. Rockforward Entertainment Co CEO Li Hui says he shifted toward indie acts after hosting the sold out Back to Basics tour four years ago. The nationwide tour gathered a stellar collection of such stars and bands as Cui Jian, Zheng Jun, Xu Wei and Tang Dynasty.
The May 23 concert Xin Hua Nu Fang - literally translated as New Flowers in Full Blossom - will bring seven indie acts to the iconic Beijing Worker's Gymnasium, including singer-songwriter Hao Yun, and rock bands Carsick Cars and Escape Plan.
Performing in the 10,000-seat venue is a dream for Chinese indie acts, says Li, a rock veteran who has promoted the genre for over three decades.
"It marks a career apex for many performers," he says.
"Indie bands' problem is they can't always attract mass audiences. So it's challenging for local promoters to give them such a stage."
Qin Hao, a member of the new Beijing band Good Sister, says: "I was so jealous when I'd see big stars' concert posters outside the venue. Performing there is like fulfilling a dream."
Li is confident in the seven acts because they've played on mainstream stages. Hao Yun, for instance, performed on the 2014 CCTV Spring Festival Gala - the country's most watched TV program - while Escape Plan appeared on a Beijing TV Station variety show last year, since which their song The Brightest Shining Star has become a hit. Others like Carsick Cars, who've built a fan base abroad, and singer-songwriter A Si attract many young fans.
"Those young singer-songwriters have blurred the line between indie and mainstream music because their musical diversity and creativity have won them fan bases," says Li.
He has also observed in recent years that young audiences are willing to pay for live music, and companies want to sponsor the indie bands.
Established rocker Zheng Jun, who held his first concert at Beijing Workers' Gymnasium in 2005, showed the young indie musicians encouragement and recognition.
"I've listened their music and believe they represent the power of today's original Chinese rock," Zheng says. "Large-scale shows in Beijing are now mainly dominated by expatriate support," Li says.
"I know it might not be a good business, but it deserves a try."
The seven acts will tour the country after the Beijing show.
Universal Music will also bring three new indie groups to its Fresh Men concert. They are Li Xiangxiang, the winner of the popular Chinese Dream reality TV show contest; American-born-Chinese singer-songwriter Dawen; and Hong Kong rock band Mr.
Dawen appeared on the scene in 2007, launching his career by uploading his songs to YouTube. He was contacted by producers from Universal Music's Taiwan office two years ago and recently released his debut album, Hello.
"There are so many young people who love music and dream of performing onstage and sharing their music," Dawen says.
"You never know how long you have to wait but (must keep) paying the effort and staying true to the music you want to write."
Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn.
