Why Shanghai bands aren't opening for international shows
During my latest nightlife show, the subject of local bands being included in the large international concert bookings in Shanghai was brought up. After the Bjork show, I couldn't help but think what a perfect addition Cold Fairyland would've been. I know having a local band play is possible since Flying Fruit opened for The Go! Team and Carsick Cars went on tour with Sonic Youth. I put in a call to the promoters to see what, if anything, could be done to help our local guys.

"The ticket buyers for the most part only want to see the international artists," says Steve Sybesma of China West Entertainment. So what's the danger in putting a band on beforehand? "If the show starts at 8pm and we put on an act at 7pm, then no one's going to go see them," he explains. "Another issue is that there aren't enough dressing rooms for an opening act."

"We like the idea of Chinese acts as openers," says Emma Entertainment's Robb Spitzer, who booked Beijing's Thin Man to open for Linkin Park. "But the challenge lies with the technical production. The headliner's equipment is already set up and checked for the show, so another set of equipment would be needed."

"It's pretty simple," explains Archie Hamilton from Split Works. "Pure laziness … All the promoters care about is booking international bands that'll sell loads of tickets. They're not interested in developing a local scene–there's no money in it. As far as I am concerned, much of this is bollocks–we have an obligation to China's young artists and should do our utmost to choose the right local support acts for the show."

I then rang a few of Shanghai's top bands to see if no dressing room would dissuade them. "If we have a chance to play with a big international band," says rockers Banana Monkey, "a dressing room wouldn't matter." 21 Grams agrees. "The important thing is the scale of the show, quality of sound and lighting equipment." The thought that no room could be found in such locales as the Yunfeng Theatre made Cold Fairyland laugh. "If a promoter couldn't find us a room to change in, we'd doubt their professionalism," they said. And, per the equipment issues, I rang Lulu Ye of Gibson Guitars. "We're always willing to help," she says, "be it with either instruments or equipment."

It's time we started making demands–it'll only take one more Icelandic encore to ensure that local music is all we have anyway.

• Aric S. Queen