Ditan Folk Festival 2012 Announced: Standing Toe to Toe with the Big Boys

I’m fine haunting smoky livehouses, listening to loud dirty boogie rock n roll, getting down and dirty… but i also like me a beautiful day, sitting on the grass, soaking up the sun and picnicking the afternoon away while enjoying relaxed music and that is what makes the Ditan Folk Festivals one of my favorite events of the year. Even my non-muso friends come out to play for that one! This year, I’m hoping the weather will not get in our way..

Event Douban: http://www.douban.com/event/16197716/

So, the dates were unleashed today and looks like the good old Dong party is gonna stand toe to toe with the two big boys of music in Beijing for the may holiday! That is one hell of a ballsy move and it makes a lot of sense.. it might even hurt attendance on the other festivals ever so slightly:

– Ditan is family friendly with a an open air chilled athmosphere
– Ditan Park is more conveniently located than any of the other venues… those of us who tried getting to tongzhou many times before know about this.
– Bring your own booze/food: with the big two having all kinds of scrutiny and extra security/mafan, this might turn out to be a winner
– Good acts, foreign and Chinese alike

Seriously folks, this is gonna be a tough call this year… with MIDI still not getting their shit together, I like the alternatives more and more. Day one looks like a winner with Shan Ren, one of Jean-Sebastian‘s incarnations, Randy Able Stable, Xiao He and Dolan among others. Day 2 sees Lidong, Traveler, Buyi and Yerboli along with the likes of Nancy Brown.

Tickets remain cheap and affordable at 60rmb/pop