More Than Music: The First Annual InMusic Festival
August 7, 8, 9, the Zhangbei Grasslands Come Alive

On August 7, 8 and 9, 2009, InMusic magazine, the most influential music and culture magazine in China, held the first InMusic Festival on the Zhangbei Grassland. A diverse collection of musicians, including British Trip-Hop legend Tricky, Swedish rock icon The Soundtrack of Our Lives(TSOOL), Little Dragon and local rock hero Xu Wei, along with entertainment of all kinds made the InMusic Festival the highlight of the summer.

The Perfect Summer Getaway

Though the Zhangbei grassland is only two hours from 40°C Beijing, the average summer temperature is a cool 18°C. Cows and sheep graze nearby, and the grassland landscape goes on uninterrupted for miles. When the sun sets, the night sky lights up with a million stars.

Star Power: Trip-hop legend Tricky, Swedish rock giant TSOOL, and many more

Sixty domestic and international acts from a range of genres will grace the festival’s stages over three days, filling the one million square metre festival grounds with a range of great music from around the world. Headliners Tricky and Xu Wei will be joined by a host of great artists from China and abroad, including The Soundtrack of Our Lives (Sweden), Little Dragon (Sweden), Snake and Jet’s Amazing Bullit Band (Denmark), Xie Tianxiao, Zuoxiao Zuzhou and many more. For up to date info visit the festival’s website: www.inmusicfestival.cn

Entertainment: Beyond Music

Though the stages will provide the main source of entertainment, there is much more than music: Horseback riding, kite-flying, and various sporting activities --- including the InMusic Festival Rock Football Invitational Tournament, which gives fans a chance to challenge their favourite artists at soccer --- are a few of the more active ways to while away the day. The iMart marketplace and outdoor cinema are less intensive activities to while away the day.

Music for Your Belly

You can’t rock on an empty stomach, and so the Festival is aiming to offer a range of culinary options. The Zhangbei Grasslands are home to legendary lamb, sweet potatoes and corn; meanwhile, chefs from Chongqing, Taiwan and elsewhere will be cooking up a range of foods. And, of course, what music festival would be complete without BBQ…

Spend Less, Do More

August is the perfect time of year to visit the grassland, and the RMB80 daily ticket to the festival beats any travel agent’s deal. Shuttles to and from Beijing leave every 15 minutes in either direction, allowing you to tailor your own visit.

InMusic Festival’s debut is only the beginning: With the strong support of the government of Zhangbei County, the festival will be held annually for at least the next ten years. See you on the grassland!