Despite Midi going south in May, Beijing's local music scene still prepares to embrace the beloved springtime in its full dynamicity, and it starts NOW.

Named after the famous Lou Reed track, the 2nd Sally Can’t Dance China Avant-garde Music Festival presented by Maybe Mars Record and D-22 club kicks off at D-22 tomorrow. Founded by saxophonist Li Tieqiao in 2008, this China’s one-n-only live-n-direct congregation for avant-garde music has successfully made it through to its second year. Some of the best sound experimentalists in town will play their own compositions, and newly formed bands like White Ensemble and Tea Exploding are actually playing for the very first time on stage. 

The 2-day festival starts at 2.30pm on Mar 21. Ticket costs RMB 80, RMB 60 (students). Call D-22 at 6265 3177 for more information.

Performing Schedule

Mar 21

2.30-6.30pm: Lao Wei, Yan Jun + Li Zenghui, Zhou Risheng, Tinnitus Movement, TAPE (Ma Meng, Ma Yuan, Zhu Wenbo, Simon Frank)

7.30-11pm: 718 (Sun Lei), Lin Chiwei, Hong Qile, Feng Hao, Sheng Jie, White Ensemble (Li Wentai, Shen Hai, He Fan, Wang Xu, Zhang Shouwang), Tea Exploding (Li Jianhong, Li Tieqiao, Huang Jin, Sun Mengjin)

11-12am: Free Improvisation

Mar 22

2.30-6.30pm: Wuna + Yan Jun, Liang Yiyuan + Li Daiguo, Wang Changcun, Mafeisan, Dawanggang

7.30-11pm: FM3, Torturing Blowjob (Cao Junjun, Zhou Pei), Lucky (Bruce Gremo, Zhang Shouwang, Li Tieqiao), Vagus Nerve (Li Jianhong, Vavabond), IZ (Mamur, Wu Junde, Song Yuzhe, Ye’er Boli)

11pm-12am: Free Improvisation

Main Lineups

Li Tieqiao (李铁桥): The Hunan native plays saxophone with a violent horn like never heard in China before. After his short stay in Oslo, he came back to Beijing and founded Bejing Free Improvisation Alliance (北京自由即兴同盟), aka Sheng Dong Ji Xi (声东击西). He’s also a founding member of Sally Can’t Dance Festival. Listen to his recordings here.

Lao Wei (老威): aka Liao Yiwu (廖亦武) or Liao Huzi (廖胡子). The Sichuan native was a social and cultural activist in 1980s’ China, publishing progressive poetries and modern literature works. His music projects mainly consist of the experiments on bamboo flute and harmonica sound. 

Yan Jun (颜峻): One of the most important figures in the Chinese underground music scene. Leaving his hometown of Lanzhou and came to Beijing in early 1990s, Yan Jun has been working as a performance organizer, music critic, poet and sound experimentalist. He now owns an independent label called Kwanyin Record (观音唱片), participates in a avant-garde music store/library called Sugar Jar (白糖罐) in 798 Art District, organizes regular experimental performances such as Waterland Kwanyin (水陆观音) and Mini Midi Festival. As a musician, he recently started to collaborate with various local/international musicians and released several experimental albumns. Read more about Yan Jun here, listen to his recordings here and here.

Zhang Shouwang (张守望): aka Shou Wang, is a founding member of the Chinese new music movement “No Beijing”, an avant-garde representation featuring Beijing’s new generation musicians. Best known for his lead vocal role in post-punk band Carsick Cars, Zhang Shouwang also participates in many other rock/experimental projects, while focusing his main dedication on experimental guitar compositions. Read more about Zhang Shouwang here, listen to his solo recordings here and Carsick Cars music here.

FM3: This duo formed by Christiaan Virant and Zhang Jian is recently best known for their production of Buddha Machine, a small musical loop player inspired by scripture chanting machine in Buddhist temples. Their on-stage performance contains a combination of visual effects and minimalism sound. Read more about FM3 here, and listen to the Buddha Machine loops here.