6 acts not to miss at Concrete & Grass Festival
Concrete and Grass Festival gets underway at Shanghai Rugby Club this weekend with an excitingly diverse line-up, a host of food and drink stalls, fun activities across the site and a chilled out, family-friendly vibe. And there's still time for you to grab those pre-sale tickets - do so by clicking 'read more' below.
Here's who you don't want to miss at the two-day Mid-Autumn Festival fest:
For electrifying hip hop
The powers that be may have decided that they don’t want Nelly getting hot in herre, but Concrete and Grass still has a hip hop star on the bill – and this one’s on the rise. Trap Lord A$AP Ferg has had a huge year on the back of his Always Strive and Prosper album, which marries club-ready trap-influenced beats with some raw and personal rhymes. Read our interview with A$AP Ferg on his love for kung fu movies and 'magical Chinese culture' on our music page.
Stage Wooozy Dimension
When 5.50pm, Friday 16
See also DJ Premier, formerly one half of Gang Starr (7pm, Friday 16, Wooozy Dimension)
For '90s indie-rock reminiscing
The Malkmus is coming to Shanghai. Yes, fans of ’90s indie-rock will be salivating at the sight of Pavement legend Stephen Malkmus on the bill; he’ll be heading up the highlights for day two with his band The Jicks. He's now been with The Jicks longer than he was with the seminal slacker-rock act, but Concrete and Grass attendees will still be hoping he'll treat us to a couple of classics - will he oblige? Regardless, their set ought to be a treat.
Stage Echo Stage
When 5.30pm, Saturday 17
For out-there J-pop
Whether you've heard of them before or not, Sekai No Owari promise to be one of the more interesting acts on the bill. The Tokyo quartet mix elements of jazz, rock and classical music into their J-pop sound, while member DJ LOVE has a penchant for only appearing in a giant clown mask. Here's some of them:
https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=d0316hziwqo&width=500&height=375&auto=0
Stage Echo Stage
When 8.20pm, Saturday 17
See also Japanese pop-rock pin-up Miyavi (Echo Stage, 6.50pm Friday 16).
For in-your-face noise-rock
After making their China debut in a Shanghai car park five years ago, LA noise-rockers HEALTH make a welcome return to the city. Their most recent record was perhaps their most accessible yet, with a more electro-pop bend, but you can still expect an intense, visceral live show. Read our archive interview with HEALTH bassist John Famiglietti online.
Stage Stage Left
When 8.30pm, Saturday 17
For fast-paced, glitchy bass
You might know Travis Stewart as one half of Sepalcure or perhaps as erstwhile beatmaker for Azealia Banks, but it's under his Machinedrum moniker that he'll be sparking frenzied dancing at the Wooozy Dimension stage for Concrete and Grass. Signed to Ninja Tune, his solo sound mixes psychedelic bass with the upbeat rhythms of juke and trap for what are often whirlwind sets.
Stage Wooozy Dimension
When 7.20pm, Saturday 17
For straight-up garage-rock
The Jarman brothers, aka Yorkshire-born trio The Cribs, will be bringing their catchy, scuzzed-up garage-rock sound to northern Pudong, pulling tracks from a 12-year, six-album back catalogue that features the likes of 'Men's Needs', 'Leather Jacket Love Song' and 'Hey Scenesters!'
Stage
Stage Stage Left
When 4.50pm, Saturday 17
Best of the rest
Cantopop star Edison Chen is the main headliner for day one. Chen is best known in the English language sphere for his central role in the infamous 2008 pop star sex photo scandal and still comes with plenty of bad boy connotations.
Beijing psych-rock outfit Chui Wan and indie-rockers Chinese Football and Mr Graceless are the other highlights for Friday.
There's more top-notch Chinese talent on show on the Saturday, as Chinese acts Wang Wen (post-rock) and Birdstriking (indie-rock) help make day two a good one for anyone who likes their music guitar-driven; you can also witness post-punk stalwarts Re-TROS’s ongoing transformation into an electronic act.
Shanghai techno producer MHP will be performing with a live band, and Do Hits luminary Jason Hou will be there along with good times dance-pop group The Go! Team. And finally, keep an eye out for Thug Mills, a rock ’n’ roll trio from Australia who feature former Pairs drummer Xiao Zhong on guitar.
And then there's the food...
So much food. The beauty of Concrete and Grass lies not just in the music it's serving, but also in everything else that comes with it: the family-friendly activities, the games and non-musical entertainment (come and find Time Out for a free yoga class!), the chilled out vibe... and then there's the food and drink.
This year they've got Pie Society, Beef & Liberty, El Willy, Gracie's, Happy Buddha, GumGum, Bumbu, La Coyota, Strictly Cookies, Spread the Bagel and more on site to fill your belly. Plus, the Calypso Bar will be back slinging cocktails along with the Essential Mix, and there'll be a stall from Goose Island to ensure you remain well inebriated throughout.
It's going to be a great festival - we'll see you there.
More from Time Out Shanghai