2008 Apr 23 Confirmed: Midi is off
We've spent the day waiting around for Midi festival organizer Zhang Fan to come out and announce that Midi is officially not going to happen. He hasn't. Apparently he's being interviewed by the New York Times or something. We have, however, spoken to other people involved with organizing the event and they have confirmed, Midi will not be taking place this May.
They emphasize that this is not a cancellation and they're confident that they'll be able to hold the event sometime later this year, possibly over the October National Day holiday period. More news on the new date is likely to emerge soon. Organizers also point out that most of the smaller events associated with Midi, including Mini Midi and all the individual gigs that Midi performers had planned to hold at venues around town, will go ahead. Official after party spots include Yugong Yishan, MAO Livehouse, The Star Live, New Get Lucky, 13 Club, D-22, the Stone Boat, White Rabbit, and the new Boat Bar.
For more info about these shows, see the listings in the May issue (which is out today) of that's Beijing and keep an eye on that's 7 Days e-mail newsletter for updated event information.
Update: The Midi School's BBS is being flooded with messages of support for the festival.
Update 2: 5.30pm, Apr 23: Sina is reporting that the festival is definitely canceled. They say that although Zhang Fan has not made an official announcement, according to local bar owners, many of the out-of-town and foreign bands have already canceled their plans to come to Beijing.
Links and Sources
The Beijinger Blog: Midi 2008 is off!
The Beijinger Blog: Approved! Midi 2008 is on*!
The Beijinger Forum: Midi festival cancelled
Sina: Midi Announcement
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Re: Confirmed: Midi is off
latex
bwahahahahah!!!
i predicted it!
this city is going paranoid.