The Bacardi Sino Sessions is proud to announce the lineup for the inaugural show of its 6-month series.  Coming all the way from the UK, one of the finest bands in the world, the mighty MAXÏMO PARK.

Archie Hamilton of SPLI-T Works said, “We are incredibly happy to be able to announce that Maxïmo Park will be opening our series of events here in China.  Maxïmo is exactly the kind of band we need to raise the overall standard of artists coming here.  They are edgy, a la mode, and superb songwriters and live musicians.  We know that everyone who comes to either of these shows will go away hungry for more: more Maxïmo and more amazing live experiences.  Maxïmo are a great bunch of guys and it is typical that they were the band most prepared to take on an adventure like this; we are really excited about having them here…”

Bacardi Sino Sessions is pleased to announce that the first act, MAXÏMO PARK, will be playing the following dates:

7PM, 7th December at Star Live in Beijing
7PM, 9th December at 4 Live (Fabrique) in Shanghai

Having released their critically acclaimed debut album A Certain Trigger in 2005, which received a nomination for the Mercury Prize, MAXÏMO PARK continued into 2006 with a sold-out headline tour supported by the Arctic Monkeys and headlined festivals from Bangkok to the seminal Reading & Leeds Festival in the UK. As has been written in the rock press, “the real MAXÏMO PARK is in their live show, where they play with an intensity that is unrivalled…an awesome spectacle.”

For the Bacardi Sino Sessions, each monthly show will also feature support from China's most promising young bands. MAXÏMO PARK support bands will feature Beijing-based dance band Queen Sea Big Shark, who are completing their debut album for Modern Sky Records and Shanghai-based band Flying Fruit, who are one of Shanghai’s most energetic live bands.

Samples from the bands are available for press to download from this website. If you can access the BBC, there are some tracks and a video, as well as the interview. Please click here.

NOTES:

MAXÏMO PARK was signed to Warp Records in 2004 after producing and releasing their own 7 inch red vinyl pairing of Graffiti and Going Missing.

2005 was an exceptional year for MAXÏMO PARK: they had five Top 20 singles, Apply Some Pressure (twice) Graffiti, Going Missing and I Want You To Stay; toured the world; appeared on the BBC’s Top Of The Pops (three times); saw their critically acclaimed debut album A Certain Trigger shoot past Gold status in the UK and receive a nomination for the Nationwide Mercury Prize.

In 2006, amongst other things, they sold out their own headline tour within two hours of it being announced and played to 100,000 at the biggest rock festival in Asia - Bangkok 100.

The Bacardi Sino Sessions is an initial 6-month partnership with a view to creating a long-term platform for both parties to promote uplifting live music for China's youth market. It will run from December 2006 to June 2007 with shows every month.

Interview with MAXIMO Park's Paul Smith (the vocal)

1. So, you're off to China ­ what are you expecting? Do you have a mental picture of what it¹s going to be like?

Obviously, there are iconic landmarks, such as the Great Wall, but China seems to be developing at a quick rate in the bigger cities, so I'm not sure what to expect, architecturally. A friend of mine recently visited an artist's workshop for 6 weeks, on the outskirts of Beijing and he sent me emails with photographs. He had a wonderful time and his hosts were kind and generous.

2. Has any of the band been to China before?

None of us have been. We never thought we would get the opportunity.

3. Many music fans in China are not familiar with Maximo Park ­ how would you describe your music?

Unruly, emotional pop music.

4. Can you give the people in China an insight as to what they should expect from Maximo Park live?

We play every show as if it was both our first and our last, with an urgency and commitment to our music and, of course, the audience. In short, we jump around a lot!

5. Do you know any Chinese bands?

Not really, it will be good to see a couple of them live, supporting our shows

6. You've played to some pretty big crowds recently.  The venue in Shanghai is going to be small and very intimate. Tell us the difference being on stage in front of 100,000 people and being in front of 500 in a packed club?

They are both amazing feelings, but in smaller venues, it feels like you know the people in the audiences. I love looking at people when they are closer because their emotions are more tangible and I feel a more personal connection. I also enjoy the challenge of trying to impress new people with our music in the same way that I go and see new bands and want to go away having experienced something special.

7. You've got a second album coming out soon.  What can we expect fromMaximo Park Part 2?

The new music is bigger, sonically, with the songs being a bit more ambitious. It feels like we have progressed, but the songs retain their edge and the topics are still things that anyone can connect with and empathise with.