After a festival-filled summer, Beijing usually takes a few weeks off from multi-stage outdoor events in order to prepare for the monolithic Modern Sky during the October vacation. So when posters started cropping up for a new festival inside the city limits with a heavy payload of Chinese and international performers, we were certainly intrigued.
Firstly, because the acts were so varied. With Ludacris lining up next to PK14, and Carsick Cars billed alongside Grandmaster Flash, all topped off by US pop-metal group 30 Seconds to Mars, there was certainly something on offer for everyone. Also, considering the prohibition that has been the scourge of more than a few events this year, potential festivalgoers were perhaps a little unnerved by the fact that it was taking place just outside the 4th ring road, at Chaoyang Park Sports Ground – safely within the grasp of city administration.
With a head full of curiosity, I arrived at the festival around two hours after its somewhat ambitious 11:30am start. While it wasn’t exactly packed, the subway station marketing campaign had obviously been worth it. Each of the three stages had at least enough afternoon head-nodders to keep the artists in good spirits, particularly Marianne Dissard, the charmingly loopy French-American folk singer who closed her performance on the Oblivion stage by slinking through the crowd blowing soap bubbles.
Moving to the main stage, where a decent crowd had gathered in anticipation of American pop-rock outfit Yellowcard, cheers went up for baffled roadie after baffled roadie. When the band finally emerged, they played a tight set of perfectly digestible music that, while failing to get the astroturf rocking, was exactly the right billing for the time of day. Outside the stage gate, food and drink were available at average festival prices and slightly-above-average festival quality, and were munched and slurped under a languid early evening sun.
Carsick Cars then took to the Oblivion stage, with a performance that was perhaps the only hint of the raw, excitable spirit that tends to define a good Beijing festival. PK14 went some way to continuing the momentum on the main stage, but by 5 o’clock, the atmosphere had drifted from anticipation into relative boredom. It was beginning to seem as though the mix-and-match line up had perhaps alienated any one specific crowd, save perhaps for the hip-hop faction at the NBA Street Jam stage, where pick-up basketball games were set to a solid hip-hop and breakbeat soundtrack.
The appearance of Ludacris, who later drew the throngs to MIX, was a welcome dose of star value for the festival, although he tragically overlapped with one of the day’s most honest performances, the noisy yet melodic post-rock of Dalian’s Wang Wen. (Plenty of closed-eyed full-body swaying going on in the crowd for that one.) By now, concerns over poor attendance were quelled by a very impressive turnout split evenly between Chinese and foreigners, who packed the main sports ground to its wire fences on all sides.
30 Seconds to Mars, as expected, whipped the crowd into a frenzy with their catchy, powerful riffs, instigating a legitimate mosh pit with their passionate closer, ‘Kings and Queens’, leaving the legendary ‘godfather of hip-hop’ Grandmaster Flash to go one better on the Street Jam stage with a dazzling DJ set worthy of his reputation.
While it won’t go down as the festival of the year, Black Rabbit was a good opportunity to see some top-quality international musicians alongside some of China’s best old and new talent, without having to go very far out of town. Booze was readily available, but there was nothing rowdy about the atmosphere, in fact, no-one even seemed to be drinking. It can’t compete with the likes of MIDI or Strawberry, but Black Rabbit will very likely be hopping back into town in 2012, although hopefully with a slightly lower price tag.
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There was totally beer there - it was being sold in the center of the field in the area where Ludacris and PK 14 played. ¥20 per can.
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I was disappointed by 30 Seconds to Mars. Whine and moan on stage and call it music? No thanks. Especially in a mullet. Eek. Grandmaster Flash was the star of the show, and since two laowai women scaled the stage and had to be escorted off by guards it was all the more awesome.
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Grandmaster Flash was the BEST! Wish he came to Beijing ALL the time! I'm really not a music festival connoisseur, but I thought everything was run very well. The drinks were weak but tasty and very easy to get, and the food was pretty decent. Toilets were easy to get to. Atmosphere was really positive. I had a great time, and hope Black Rabbit comes back next year with even better acts -- although they should definitely bring Grandmaster Flash back again, and let him play longer!
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Saw BR in Shanghai and have to agree that Grandmaster Flash was the best act at the festival by far. Well-run festival overall though high ticket price probably deterred Modern Sky or Midi sized crowds.
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I second the lack of beer. Followed the map to the drink concession stands and all they were selling were cocktails and juice. Who drinks cocktails at a music festival? Ludacris was good fun, and 30 Seconds to Mars whipped the crowd into an absolute frenzy. Shame more people didn't come out, the crowd at the main stage only looked four or five people thick in places when the headliners finally made their appearance. I'd definitely go again next year, so here's hoping the turn-out was good enough to warrant it.
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1. 30 Seconds to Mars accoustive version of The Kill - wtf? 2. We went up to the security, asked if we could bring in our own beer, they said yes, so we bought 4 cases from carrefour and brought it in? 3. We started that 'legitimate mosh pit' 4. Perfect 'zaijian' to summer!
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Good job Alextaggert. I think you pegged the vibe right. Yeah i saw a lot of people bringing in beer and snacks from Carrefour. Beer was there, food and drink was expensive. Q bar stands selling "cups" of water for 10 kuai? what the hell was that? And sorry, 30 Secs to Mars blew. Seriously. Why was Leto surprised that his brand of baby wiener-rock wasn't giving the crowd any boners? And they could have released all the balloons and confetti in the world on the crowd, it still wouldn't cover that fact. Ludacris was fun but felt scripted, Yellowcard, PK14 were decent. Overall, I don't feel anybody brought their best on the mainstage. The Oblivion stage, however, was a little mini festival in itself. The lineup was more cohesive and interesting. And the bands rocked - I should have camped out there instead of huffing it for a 5 min walk every 1/2 hour to give the main lineup another chance. All I have to say is - Thank God they brought Grandmaster Flash - I would have left Black Rabbit a little bitter without that closer. Plus, nobody gave any love to rapper Weerd Science, who unlike Ludacris, freestyled and was intense. Too bad he went on at noon. Lots of foreigners and less locals than other fests - talked to a lot of people and many cited ticket price, a lineup of many bands Chinese didn't know about, or that college kids were preparing for exams before the October holiday (which kept some of my friends at home).
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Interesting to see so many differing reports. In all honesty, I wasn't expecting much from Black Rabbit. Considering the location, the price, the mix-and-match line up and the summer festival overkill, I was sure it would be a disappointing flop. While I definitely wouldn't pay 300 RMB for it (someone I know bought their ticket from a scalper outside for 80 RMB and got in, by the way), it was a pleasant way to spend a Saturday. Oh yeah, and why can no-one ever spell my surname even though it's written right there at the top of the page? Sigh.
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BR had some good music, but I was so disappointed that no beer was available--just really watered-down cocktails. And no outside drinks allowed in! (I jealously eyed some international students that clearly were able to smuggle some cans in!)