Since MIDI moved outdoors in 2002, the Woodstock comparison has been inevitable. Some play it down, others, like Zhang Fan, head of the MIDI Music School, swear by it. Regardless, playing an outdoor stage in front of thronging fans is an experience like none other. MIDI vets share their thoughts.

Kou Zhengyu (Suffocated)

MIDI? This year is my 5th time to perform at MIDI. We are on a promotion tour currently, but still, I make time to perform at MIDI. I’ve performed at a lot of other music festivals but MIDI is always something special, because the audience knows what rock and roll is all about. It’s a lot easier to communicate with the crowd than at the Chaoyang Pop Festival. It’s also the only place where the spirit of rock and roll music is 100 percent expressed and delivered. Maybe some of the kids in the crowd today will grow to be big rockers in the future after watching one good live performance. Is MIDI the Chinese Woodstock? I really don’t know much about Woodstock. I think what they have in common is their theme of peace and music (dove and guitar).

Li Nan (Voodoo Kungfu)

MIDI? Nowhere else in china can you find such huge audience like MIDI. Nowadays the equipment at MIDI gets better and better, too. Compared to other music festivals, MIDI is easily the most liberal one. I once performed at the Chaoyang Pop Festival and halfway through the security turned off the loudspeaker because I got a little too excited. It wouldn’t happen at MIDI because people understand our style there. I have been working out lately to look good on the stage. Is MIDI the Chinese Woodstock? No, MIDI doesn’t have as big a reputation as Woodstock … YET. Woodstock is the peak of the hippie and anti-war movements. In China we take it slow. Woodstock only happened once and MIDI happens every year. MIDI is growing slowly and steadily and remains the best music festival in China.

Yan Jun (experimental musician)

Is MIDI the Chinese Woodstock? Ever since MIDI moved to open grassland people started comparing it to Woodstock. There’s nothing to compare. MIDI is MIDI and Woodstock is Woodstock. People speak about Woodstock only because they dream about having it all over again, which is never going to happen. Woodstock was defined by its times: The war, the hippies and the invention of new drugs. That time is long gone and nobody can copy it anywhere in the world. I hate to call MIDI the Chinese Woodstock, just like I hate to call the Chinese music awards “Chinese Grammies.” MIDI has its own unique history and let’s just leave it alone. People need music and a place where they can meet their kind and be without masks. MIDI provides this because it has roots deep in culture and the spirit of rock and roll. There are no big stars or big money but only a bunch of pure-hearted people. At MIDI the audience is huge and really communicates with you. It provokes creativity. This year at my Mini MIDI stage musicians are going to bring on passionate, improvised performances. Experimental musicians have as much youth, power and spirit as any rocker.

Zhang Youdai (DJ)

Is MIDI the Chinese Woodstock? What? Why Woodstock? Woodstock is not the first open air music festival. In China some people have a thing for Woodstock because that was the first music festival that they knew of. Let me see … maybe add some rain, tons of mud and naked bodies and even then MIDI has nothing to do with Woodstock. Organizers of music festivals have been abusing the name of Woodstock for many reasons, but MIDI doesn’t need that. MIDI speaks for itself. Hey, do you think Woodstock is the American MIDI? MIDI? The greatest fun is to watch the audience. They have a much stronger desire to perform than the musicians. The level and quality of audience involvement is amazing. This year I have very special surprises prepared for my fans–expect Youdai’s MIDI specials.

Main Stage

The Face Founded in 1989 as China’s first pop metal band. They only come back together for big shows.

AK47 MIDI veterans since 2000, this neo-industrial metal band has a huge fan following.

Voodoo Kongfu The can’t-miss Mongolian rockers put on one of the best live shows anywhere.

Brain Failure Founded in 1997, this ska punk hardcore band has toured the U.S. and Japan many times.

YAKSA Five consecutive MIDI’s and over 300 live shows under their belts.

New Pants Punk/new wave band, named by Channel [V] as the best rock and roll band in 2002.

Locksley Named best new band in 2005 by Billboard, Locksley hits Beijing after touring the U.K. and U.S. Chinese fans know them from the last season of "Lost."

Hatesphere This Danish thrash death metal band is going to initiate a screaming frenzy of death like MIDI’s never seen before.

Soundtrack of Our Lives Space folk rock from Sweden, proving that not all good festival music is dragons and demons.

Dave Stewart Yes, it is the guy from the Eurythmics. He’s bringing his new popwave sound to Beijing.

Gibson Stage

Hades Founded in 1993, one of the oldest thrash metal bands around. Screaming and long hair.

Mishkin Happy-go-lucky group of five people in their early ‘20s. MIDI is their last gig before a month of touring in the U.K.

8mm Overdose These U.S. west coast thrash metal rockers just came out with a new album entitled Execution Style.

Gammalux One month before release of the band’s first album in Germany, they released it in China with lyrics translated into Chinese. Do you love China as much as they do?

Demerit These seven scruffy punks redefined Chinese “street punk.” Last year they showed the MIDI crowd what “demerit wave” was all about. This year?

Billows Fairy Tale Brit-pop plus baroque noodlings, specialized in capturing the subtle moods of urban life in Beijing.

Last Chance of Youth Easily the most popular indie hardcore band in Beijing. Live performance is life and blood for them.

Hedgehog Noise pop band which has been gathering steam on the local rock circuit this year.

Recycle Young, successful local Beijing band with a lot of energy.

Slap Founded in 1998 with the goal to redefine folk music. Each song is imbued with a deep love for Chinese tradition.

Hip Hop Stage

CMCB The Chinese MC Brothers are straight outta Beijing.

DJ Shougo Rolled to Beijing from Japan in 2003 and fans loved his RnB and reggae freestyle.

UFO Yepha Virgin performance in Asia for this popular Danish hip pop group.

Mini MIDI

Fish Riot in Bed Created accidentally when singers, guitarists and other musicians bumped into each other one night backstage.

FM3 Named “best experimental group” by Grooves Magazine.

Ma Fei San Combines rock, experimental and noise. Fans love their improvised live performance.

Yen Dance

Zhang Youdai One of Beijing's legendary dance music figures.

Ben Huang Up from Shanghai spinning house Beijing crowds have never heard before.

Dio Veteran Beijing DJ throwing driving techno made famous at Morse and Yen parties.