In with the Music: The InMusic Festival

Lisa Liang | Jul 31, 2009 11:00 am | 1 comment | 6753 reads

SUBS – one of many bands you can catch at the InMusic Festival, more below; photo by Doug Kanter

What may be the last of its kind of the season, the InMusic Festival (Aug 7-9) at the Zhangbei Grasslands (230km outside of Beijing; see photo, right) is a three-day, Woodstock-esque music orgasm with none other than Tricky headlining. Plus, horseback riding, kite flying and a chance to play football with rock stars (Joyside is already registered) … How can you say no? End summer with a bang – or a Bigger Bang, if you want to.

(Ticket prices, transportation options and accommodation info below.)

Here are 25 bands you can catch at InMusic, in no particular order ...

1. Tricky (check back on the blog tomorrow for our interview with the trip-hop pioneer)

2. The Soundtrack of Our Lives (check back on the blog this weekend to read the transcript of our conversation with the spiritual Swedes)

3. XTX 谢天笑

4. Snake and Jet’s Amazing Bullit Band

5. New Pants 新裤子

6. Queen Sea Big Shark 后海大鲨鱼

7. Casino Demon 赌鬼

8. Joyside

9. SUBS

10. Brain Failure 脑浊

11. RE-TROS 重塑雕像的权利

12. Ourself Beside Me

13. Muma & Third Party 木玛&T.P

14. Xu Wei 许巍

15. Desert Zhang 张悬

16. Miserable Faith 痛仰

17. Omnipotent Youth Society 万能青年旅店

18. The Fire Balloon 火气球

19. Little Dragon

20. Pet Conspiracy 宠物同谋

21. Twisted Machine 扭曲的机器

22. Zuoxiao Zuzhou 左小祖咒

23. Sand 刘冬虹与沙子

24. ELVIS.T

25. Lucky Monkey 跳猴

More bands …

The InMusic Festival takes place at the Zhangbei Grasslands from August 7-9. Visit www.inmusicfestival.cn (Chinese only; English version available soon) for full details.

Tickets
RMB 80 (one day),
RMB 135 (two days),
RMB 180 (three days)

Transportation
Buses depart every 15 minutes from pick-up stations scattered throughout the Second and Fifth Ring Roads, between 9am and 4pm. Return buses to Beijing leave every half hour from Zhangbei Grasslands after the last performance until as late as 2pm (RMB 25 for a one-way ticket, RMB 40 for round-trip).

For a map and detailed driving directions, click here.

Accommodation
It’s a music festival! Bring a tent. Or rent one for 10 kuai when you get there. Student hostel beds are also available for RMB 20-30. More info here.

You can also stay at one of the local hotels listed for your convenience here.

Performance Times
Aug 7: 2.30pm
Aug 8 & 9: 1.30pm

Questions? E-mail inmusic@126.com or call 5870 0215.