OUTTAKES
Beijing blitz
Local music fans whose ears are still ringing from last month's Fuji Rock probably won't be interested, but if you weren't able to make it to Japan, it's not too late for a bit of summer festival action.
On September 9 and 10, Chaoyang Park hosts the Beijing Pop Festival. The lineup includes Brit-rockers Placebo, Supergrass, and former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach.
Other artists appearing on the festival's three stages are Norwegian electro-rockers Don Juan Dracula, New Yorkers Johnny Hi-Fi, Swedish singers Karin Park and Japanese techno DJ Ken Ishii. Some of China's most innovative and influential musicians, including Muma and Xie Tian Xiao, have been asked to share the stage with the international acts.
Dirty work
Post-rock is developing a healthy following in the capital of Canto-pop, with Mogwai's well-received 2004 appearance paving the way for this year's mind-altering show by Icelanders Sigur Ros.
For the uninitiated, Wire reporter Simon Reynolds has described the sound as music 'using rock instrumentation for non-rock purposes, using guitars as facilitators of timbres and textures rather than riffs and power chords'.
Rumour has it that Hong Kong can expect an appearance by Australian post-rockers the Dirty Three on October 28. Comprising violinist Warren Ellis (left), guitarist Mick Turner and drummer Jim White, the trio have won global acclaim with their beautifully sparse instrumental music. Definitely a gig to watch out for.
Take the Mickey
Hong Kong has a new turntable champion: DJ Mickey. At last Friday's local finals of the DMC World DJ Championships, Michael Li Man-tao blew away the competition. He will represent Hong Kong in the world finals in London on September 10 and 11.
