May Day celebration kicks off with live music
WUHAN: Chinese indie rock band Miserable Faith gave an online concert on May 15, 2020. In itself, not that unusual. After all that is what rock bands do, right?
Except this was their first show since the Covid-19 pandemic hit and the location was something special.
It had been kept a secret until leading vocalist Gao Hu revealed it that night.
“The Yangtze River is right behind us. We are performing in Wuhan,” Gao said to about 400,000 people who watched the online concert.
Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province, was the hardest stricken city when the pandemic hit.
“It was a very emotional moment for all of us.
“Though we didn’t know when live music could come back to normal at that time, we were still full of hope and excitement about giving the virtual concert,” recalled Gao.
As people embrace the return of their usual daily life, thanks to the government quickly bringing the pandemic under control, Gao, along with his band members are on the road again touring 24 cities.
They returned to Wuhan on May 1 to perform during the Strawberry Music Festival.
“With my eyes closed, I love listening to the sounds of the audience at an outdoor music festival.
“The air, the wind, the noise of the crowd and the music, everything makes the moment of attending an outdoor music festival meaningful.
“It’s about people getting together and sharing great music. I am so happy and grateful that we have made it happen again,” said Gao.
As one of the largest outdoor music festivals in the country, the Strawberry Music Festival has returned during the May Day holiday.
From May 2 to 4, the Strawberry Music Festival is being held at Beijing Expo Park.
Pu Shu, Escape Plan, Miserable Faith and Queen Sea Big Shark, some of the bestselling rock bands and singer-songwriters, are featured in the festival.