The 2014 Shenzhen Midi Festival will be held Dec. 31 to Jan. 2 at Shenzhen Universiade Center in Longgang District, featuring a string of domestic metal, rock, electronic and folk bands.

Highlighted bands include Tang Dynasty, Queen Sea Big Shark, Toy Captain, Reflector and Carsick Cars.

Tang Dynasty is a veteran rock/metal band formed in 1988. It is often credited as being the first heavy metal band in China. Tang Dynasty rose to fame with its first major album “A Dream Return to Tang Dynasty” in 1991. The album sold about 2 million copies throughout Asia and abroad. The band’s sound is part progressive rock and artistic metal and part traditional Chinese vocal technique. The lyrical poetry and musical arrangements are meant tohearken back to the glory days of ancient Chinese civilization; in particular, the art and cultural epitome of Chinese history as popularly represented by the era of the Tang Dynasty.

   

Queen Sea Big Shark is a Beijing-based indie rock band, consisting of lead singer and keyboardist Fu Han, guitarist Cao Pu, bassist Wang Jinghan and drummer Xiao Wu. The band released its debut LP in 2007 under the Modern Sky label. In 2009, Queen Sea Big Shark released a song and music video, entitled “Let’s Play.” Also, that year, the band embarked on a short tour to the United States entitled “Sing for China” with other Beijing bands.

 

Guangzhou-based folk band Toy Captain consists of four natives of Shantou City’s Nan’ao Island in eastern Guangdong Province. Toy Captain’s songs are written in the Nan’ao dialect. Most Toy Captain songs start off light and quick, but soon show urban scars and ailments underlying the happiness. Toy Captain’s musical elements are inspired by traditional folk culture from Nan’ao. Their music mainly portrays stories about people on the island and the seas and is traditional but not dull, popular but not vulgar. With its poetic style, Toy Captain shows a new way for traditional culture to merge with world music.

Reflector is a rock band that formed in Beijing in 1997. It has been featured on CNN and in Newsweek magazine. Reflector lists among its English-language musical influences the bands Green Day, NOFX and Lagwagon. In 2001 Reflector became one of the first bands from China to tour the United States. The band performed in seven West Coast cities, including Sacramento opening for punk band Anti-Flag.

Carsick Cars was established in Beijing in March 2005 and has played every major venue in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou. Made up of guitarist and vocalist Zhang Shouwang, bassist Darkland and drummer Zhong Qiu, the band has developed a unique and attractive style based on their thorough understanding of music. Influences include Western bands such as Velvet Underground and Sonic Youth.

Time: Dec. 31, 4 p.m. till late; Jan. 1-2, 2-11:30 p.m.

Tickets: 120-150 yuan/per day, 300-350 yuan for three days

Reservations: 400-610-3721

Venue: Shenzhen Universiade Center, Longxiang Boulevard, Longgang District (龙岗区龙翔大道深圳龙岗大运中心)

Metro: Longgang Line, Universiade Station (大运站), Exit D