A golden autumn is looming, and with it a host of great music festivals. Of these, the third West Bund Music Festival is taking the lead, bringing a range of original music to the Xuhui Binjiang area over the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday (September 6 to 8).

Established in 2012, the festival has quickly risen to become one of the most significant music events in the city. According to its organizer, last year it drew a crowd of 60,000, double that of its debut year.

This year, the event is coming back with an even more stellar lineup. Highlights include Chinese-American singer and songwriter Wang Leehom, Taiwanese pop band May Day, Chinese rock'n'roll veteran Zheng Jun, and Taiwanese singer and actor Wakin Chau.

Foreign acts include Japanese singer and songwriter Jin Akanishi (pictured below), a former member of group KAT-TUN who went solo in 2010; celebrated Russian rock band Mumiy Troll, who have won a string of awards since their first album was released in 1997, including Best Rock Group 1997 from Russian Music Academy and the Legend of MTV at the MTV Russia Music Awards in 2006; and Portuguese indie rock band The Fingertips (pictured below), who have topped radio airplay charts in Portugal with their heart-touching melancholy ballads.

Jin Akanishi

The Fingertips

"West Bund Music Festival has always worked to promote international musicians. We want to make use of the platform to not only introduce foreign musicians to Chinese fans but also attract expat fans working and living in China," said Li Lin, artistic director of the festival.

The music festival also aims to promote emerging artists, selecting them from across the country through a national campaign.

From July 1 to July 30, a total 113 bands applied online. According to their ranking by fans as well as professional judges, 30 were selected to put on street performances in the city earlier this month. Of these, 18 were selected to participate in the West Bund Music Festival. They include Hard Candy Revolution, Longjin and Time Street from Beijing; Psyclopus and Nonplus of Color from Shanghai; Stolen Joy and Zhou Chen's band from Hangzhou; Kabuki and Mayuan Poet from Yunnan Province; Orange Ocean from Shandong Province, and Sulede from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The criteria used to select participating bands, according to Li, were that each band should have original songs, that their music and singing should be of a high standard, and that they have a good stage presence.

Chinese rock'n'roll veteran Zheng Jun Photos: Courtesy of the event organizer

"Live street performances have helped us in evaluating the overall quality of each band. They have to put on a good show that makes the audience enthusiastic," said Li.

Tickets have been divided into different categories this year, costing 300 yuan ($48.79) per person for tickets in the front area and 180 yuan per person for the rear area.

Date: September 6 to 8, 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Venue: Xuhui Binjiang Greenland 徐汇滨江绿地

Address: Dongan Road, by Longteng Avenue

东安路龙腾大道交汇处

Tickets: 180 yuan to 300 yuan per day

Call 400-880-2880 for details

Up-and-coming Chinese bands to check out at the festival

Name: Sulede

City: Ordos

Genre: Funk, Metal

Self-description: "We want to let people know that rock is not only about long hair and yelling. It can also relate to primitive folk culture. We want to do music that combines traditional culture with pop cultural elements."

1

Name: Stone Lion

City: Tianjin

Genre: Indie rock

Self-description: "We want our music to be pure. Mostly, we sing about our life experiences, and we want to keep our feet on the ground to present good work."

2

 

Name: Time Street

City: Beijing

Genre: Pop, Rock

Self-description: "We emphasize melody and usually we like to add some 8-bit game music, which the older generation may find interesting while the young ones will also be uplifted by it."

2

Name: Orange Ocean

City: Qingdao

Genre: Britpop

Self-description: "We are independent and have a Britpop sound, with upbeat melodies and unrestrained stage manners."

2

Name: Mayuan Poet

City: Kunming

Genre: Alternative rock

Self-description: "Our distinctiveness is in that we are sincere in our attempts to pluck at the heart strings of the listener."

2