Bands to Look Out for at This Year’s Fête de la Musique

Huang Chenkuang | Jun 13, 2019 11:20 am | Add a comment | 283 reads

Fête de la Musique, the annual celebration of music now observed in more than 100 countries worldwide, touches down in Beijing this month with two days dedicated to the event.

Founded in France in 1982, the festival which also goes by the name World Music Day, takes place on the summer solstice and encourages people to come together and spread the love of music via free gigs and various musical events.

Fête de la Musique has been celebrated in Beijing since 2012, becoming an annual summer highlight for music fans, and this year the party heads to stages at 77 Theatre on Saturday, Jun 15 and at Omni Space on the following Friday, Jun 21.

Although there are fewer shows than last year's event, 2019's roster still boasts a diverse lineup of French and local bands. Highlights this year include rockers MNNQNS, electro geek Lewis OfMan, dance-pop duo KIZ, and local favorites Birdstriking, Endless White, J-Fever, and Gao Jiafeng. See the full lineups and times at the bottom of this blog.

The shows are free, but they require registration to limit the number of attendees. Sign up for Jun 15 here, and follow Omni Space (ID: jiangjinjiubar) on WeChat to keep posted for Jun 21.

MNNQNS

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a data-cke-saved-href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://mnnqns.bandcamp.com/album/body-negative&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://mnnqns.bandcamp.com/album/body-negative&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Body Negative by MNNQNS&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Since releasing their debut album in 2016, MNNQNS have steadily gained a following for their brand of explosive rock that incorporates pounding drums with heavy hooks, as well as tape manipulation and DIY pedals. Exuding a sense of controlled chaos, we'd say they're the one to watch this year. It doesn't hurt that they look the part too.

Lewis OfMan

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a data-cke-saved-href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://lewisofman.bandcamp.com/album/yo-bene&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://lewisofman.bandcamp.com/album/yo-bene&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Yo Bene by Lewis OfMan&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Youthfully sincere yet also heavily indebted to '70s Italo disco, 21-year-old Lewis OfMan's synth-laden, orchestral pop is simultaneously melancholic, romantic and joyful. If MNNQNS are the ones to rock out to, OfMan's got the smooch set.

Gao Jiafeng

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a data-cke-saved-href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://jiafeng.bandcamp.com/album/--3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://jiafeng.bandcamp.com/album/--3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;温デイス玉コ by Jiafeng&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Self-styled Shanghai musician, prankster, and "karaoke/alternative pop/comedy project" Gao Jiafeng isn't everyone's cup of tea but the youngster has certainly turned heads with his tongue-in-cheek brand of hip-hop-meets-TED talk style. Expect the unexpected draped in a knowing, vaporwave aesthetic.

Birdstriking

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a data-cke-saved-href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://birdstriking-official.bandcamp.com/album/birdstriking&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://birdstriking-official.bandcamp.com/album/birdstriking&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Birdstriking by Birdstriking&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Finally, many of us Beijingers will already be acquainted with Birdstriking, one of the city's best rock bands who never fail to draw a crowd. Coming up on a decade together, Birdstriking have gained a diehard fanbase around the country for their masterful combination of calculated psych meltdowns and brash lyrical frankness, best seen live for their energetic chant-alongs.