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Today is the first of three days of jazz music in Fuxing park, and if you aren't into jazz then perhaps the enticing prospect of being allowed to sit on the grass field is enough reason to show up. Yes, folks, you heard it right- an outdoor music festival on a lawn, in China. The last time they had a music festival here, the grass was covered with some protective hard lego-like pieces of plastic that fit together and were more uncomfortable to sit on than concrete. It appears that this time things will be a bit more like the music festivals of yore, with food and drink, picnic style enjoyment of music, and a mellow sunny atmosphere.
Now, of course, we just have to pray that the rain shower predicted for today is short and isolated. It would be just like Shanghai to have perfect sunny weather for two weeks before the outdoor festival and then rain all weekend. Today only three bands are featured for the opening evening of the jazz fest, which starts at 7 pm with the Latin Percussion band, continues with the JZ All-star Big Band led by Rolf Becker, and the concludes with the Latin Project who finish around 10. Then they rush back to JZ Club to play their regular friday night set.
Luckily, the forecast is back to mostly sunny for Saturday, which will exclusively feature bands based in Shanghai and Beijing. Starting it all off is the Red Groove Project at 3 pm and finishing up will be the band Coco Zhao brought to the Montreal Jazz Festival earlier this year, his Possicobilities Band, from 9-10 pm.
Sunday is the day we're both waiting for and dreading the most, because it will feature all the foreign acts. Since we're acting as stage manager, that means a lot of very picky musicians for which every little thing on stage will have to be perfect. But as a musician, we can't wait to hear festival closer Wallace Roney's band and some of the other foreign groups that all promise to inspire.
In any case, it will be lots of fun, and perhaps the last fun outdoor event before the icy winter wind moves in to take over for five months. Tickets for individual days are 150 RMB, and there is a slight discount for buying three tickets at 400 RMB. The tickets are not marked with specific days so you can buy one first and decide later which day to go. For more info about the bands playing, call 5403-6475 or check out the page on JZ's website about it. The festival is located inside Fuxing Park, which has entrances on Yandang Lu off Nanchang Lu, Gaolan Lu by Park 97, and the corner of Fuxing Lu at the raised highway. The grassy area where it will take place is next to the long building that houses Cashbox (Partyworld) and other restaurants and bars on the east edge of the park.
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hmm... music is/was good. we enjoyed it today (sat) from the VIP area outside the embarassing fence - on the comfortable bench(tm) with beer and snacks from Lawsons. Coco was amazing as always.
To come to a point. Seriously, why would i want to pay rmb150 for sitting on grass, when i can pay nothing and sit on a bench? We came at 5... we had a peek through that shit white plastic fence around the place, laughted at the 4 people sitting inside on the wet grass and joined other people on the comfortable seats outside.
I am sorry, but the organization failed to understand the concept of a fest and it was far far away from a "festival". I don't see a point to pay rmb150 for a entrance fee for sitting on grass and getting wet, when i can go to JZ club or any other jazz place in town and just pay for the beers - some sun would not have changed anything... who knows maybe i am a spoiled little brat from having great, free, international jazz festivals in my home town in germany every year.
...next time just charge for the beers - maybe some more people would bother to come and see.
Well I will agree that perhaps one reason the attendance has been pretty low so far is because the of ticket pricing. However you have to give them credit for having the vision to make a great international jazz festival, even if it isn't perfect yet. Maybe it will be free eventually? This year I think the problem is they didn't get much sponsorship so they thought they could make up for it by charging an arm and a leg for tickets. Lesson learned I'm sure.
The fence IS flimsy, the grass IS wet, and the seats outside probably are more comfortable, but I don't see anyone else putting on great outdoor music festivals yet. I doubt the first year any of the now-great free festivals in the West happened turned out perfect. There's just no precedents established here yet (at least none that have lasted past the "first annual").
And today (saturday, 2nd of 3 days), cloudy as it was, turned out fantastic! Everyone who I talked to who came in had a great time, they handed out plastic rain gear to sit on and some people were dancing. The sound system is one thing the festival has gotten right this year, it is exceptional. And the music is solid. A sunny day will just be the icing on the cake for the last day. Come support the cause and pay the 150 for an entire day of world-class music. That's not such a different price from many other concert tickets.