Finally, and likely with no small relation to last year's earthquake, Chengdu residents can crane their necks at a big-deal music festival of their own. Move aside, MIDI, Modern Sky, and Notch—just in time for the May holiday, here comes the Zebra!

And unlike those others, Zebra Music Festival will be broadcast on a newly launched, national music TV station. Which to the average citizen means not only can you skip the fees (and potential fun) of making the trek to the way-out-of-town Panda Base festival site, but that it should also equate to a commercially successful festival. And where's there's money, there's more, so Zebra has the potential to make a significant impact on the city's music and nightlife scene.

But really, after a year of not much going on in Chengdu, who in the city wouldn't want to check out a groundbreaking event like this? The festival organizers mean business, and they've lined up three days, three stages, and dozens of local, national, and international acts spanning genres from Mandopop (headliners S.H.E.) to jazz (locals Boss Ma Band), all kinds of rock (punky Subs to local psychedelic rockers Proximity Butterfly), and electronic music.

Graffiti by Jef Aerosol

The jam-packed music schedule will be accompanied by all sorts of artistic and cultural activities and performances, including live graffiti art by Jef Aerosol from France (high cool factor) and local cosplay performances (high cheese factor).

Other headliners include Ashura, Brain Failure, Carsick Cars, New Pants, Muma & Third Party, Soundtoy. Plenty of our favorite local bands and DJs will also be on the smaller stages. For a more complete list of acts, go here.

Organizers are predicting up to 100,000 attendees, although even one-third of that would spell a profit, ensuring that another festival will follow some time in the future.

Hightone. Photo courtesy JiF 2007

OK, stop reading and go get your ticket to cheer on High Tone and MC Jin.

Line up
Center Stage
Army of Freshmen (U.S.) > Carsick Cars > Chloe Wang (U.S.) > Electroboys (Sweden) > High Tone (France) > MC Jin (U.S.) > S.H.E. > SUBS > Ashura > Brain Failure > Casino Demon > Mosaic > Muma & Third Party > New Pants > Soundtoy > 刺猬 > 地下婴儿 > 反光镜 > 嘎调 > 果味VC > 刘力扬 > 龙门阵 > 万能青年旅店 > 汪峰 > 王啸坤 > 嘻乐门 > 信

Rock Stage

BIG ZOO > DB魔方 > Falling Cookies > STORYLINE > Idolum of Eddy > Proximity Butterfly >Mr. Turtle > Boss Ma Jazz Band > The Trouble > The Trees > 超人田田 > 欢庆与王睿 > 降临乐队 > 麻醉剂 > 太空船 > 太阳飞船 > 童党乐队 > 巫师来了 > 细路啪 > 愚人船

DJ Floor
Andy Mac (U.K.) > D. Bassman (U.K.) > Braedon (Canada) > Dave K > DJ Charlie (U.S.) > DJ Dutsie Wilde (Holland) > DJ Miss Mixit (U.K.)> Future K > Geezer > Harry Ho > Hi banana lab > Ixindamix (France) > DJ Joe (Germany)> Marty B (Germany) > Meltdown Mickey (U.K.) > Sulumi

Information
Tickets cost RMB80 per day (RMB50 with student ID) or RMB160 for a three-day pass and are available online or by phone with an RMB8 delivery surcharge. Call 028-86154702, 4008101887, or 008101887.

The festival will be held at the Chengdu Poly 198 Tulip Park on Shulong Lu near the Third Ring Road northeast section, Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, and Chengdu Zoo.
保利198郁金香公园(熊猫基地旁边)

You can get there on bus lines 107 and 902 (get off at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Stop - 大熊猫基地站) For the outdoorsy types among you, the venue has designated camping areas to allow overnight stays.

Check back for festival updates, posted as we get them. We will be on the grounds and backstage at the event providing daily coverage as well.

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