First week of October; Golden week for music in Shanghai

Shanghai, typically a live music wasteland, is preparing for a gaggle (Shanghaiist has the hippest vocabulary) of music festivals, all scheduled for the normally dead October Golden weekend. Get ready for 4...yes, count'em....f-o-u-r....music festivals, with some pretty damn exciting bands.

October 2nd-4th - 1234 Beach Rock
Last year the Beach Rock festival was a blast for the few people who braved the weather and long 2 hour bus ride. This year the location has changed, but the distance from town is the same. Being held in Zhujiajiao, many of China's best punk, metal and indie bands will descend upon the countryside for 3 days of campfires, moshing and sleeping bag hankie panky (or so we have been told). Some of the better known bands will be Brain Failure, AK-47, Top Floor Circus and Demerit. But with the schedule still being worked out, there are sure to be many (pant wetting) surprises.

October 3rd - Rock-ing Festival
Being organized by one of the founders of Yuyintang, this festival is slated for the often forgotten green space of Zhongshan Park. Two well known (supposedly) European metal bands, Negative and Malice in Wonderland. If metal isn't your thing, don't worry, indie folk band Cold Fairyland is also scheduled to perform. We have always felt Cold Fairyland would be perfectly suited for an outdoor festival, and obviously we weren't the only ones. Bring your frisbee and long haired wig. Short haired people head banging just looks silly.

October 4th-7th - Fuxing Park Jazz Festival
Don't let the name fool you. This festival has WAY more than just jazz. Cui Jian and Xu Wei two of China's biggest rockers will perform along side the stellar Jazz lineup. Also given generous space in the park is I-Mart, the creative market, where DIY'ers sell there interesting handicrafts and hangout with fellow creative minded people.

October 5th - Shanghai Hop Festival
Shanghaiist isn't exactly sure what the name is supposed to mean, but the big name headliners have got us excited. Latin/rap/indie band Ozomatli, Rapper Talib Kweli and UK due Faithless are all headed to Zhongshan park for this one day music extravaganza.