Well, we said there'd be festivals this month and we weren't kidding: the Ninth Annual Beijing Music Festival, the Song Zhuang Arts Festival, the HZ 13 Metal Music Festival, the NO+CH Festival, Sounds like Suomi, The World Battle of the Bands, and the recently announced Beijing Rock and Beer Fest all hit Beijing this month, mostly happening over the October Holiday (with the exception of the month-long BMF and WBOB) – so if you’re out of town, you’re missing out! 　

Hopefully you didn’t miss out on last month’s Beijing Pop Festival, which took over Chaoyang Park on a perfectly temperate fall weekend. As predicted by Xie Tianxiao (XTX) in our coverage last month, the tickets were expensive and the security guards were many. Unexpectedly, the hardest rocker was Sebastian Bach. He may not be in the first flush of youth, but his set got everyone on their feet – including XTX, who made a special appearance onstage for some screaming, sunglass throwing and looking tiny compared to Bach’s hulking frame (see for yourself in Closet Freak). Maybe Skid Row isn’t so wusuowei after all? Speaking of which, Placebo and Supergrass were there as well, but erm, ho hum. 　　　

Nevertheless, it was good to see some international draws here in Beijing while we could, because it seems as though capital city is back to getting the shaft – while Shanghai receives Macy Gray, Jay-Z and probably Beyoncé as well. Actually, there have been rumors of a star-studded AIDS benefit on the Great Wall, but a visit to the website reveals that it should have happened September 2 … at the Forbidden City. Hmm, don’t recall that happening. The severely out-of-date press release also lists plans to have U2, Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani, The Eagles, Yo-Yo Ma, and Lang Lang performing, not to mention appearances from “ambassadors” Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Richard Gere, Penelope Cruz, Yao Ming, and even Bill Clinton! Let’s not get our hopes up. Updated whispers of info say that the event has been rescheduled for this month, pointing to the presence of Damon Albarn in town, as well as new photos of Kelly Rowland and 13-year-old rapper Lil J Xavier posted on the site. 　　

Then again, maybe the reason Beijing doesn’t get good music is due to the lack of proper venues (other than the always popular Great Wall and Forbidden City, of course). Wait, wasn’t that problem solved already? tbj had high hopes for the new Star Live, but after flopping on their Victor Wooten gig for reasons unclear (though possibly due to amateur mistakes in visa planning and such), we’re quickly losing faith. First the Midi debacle (see June 2006 issue), and now this – some event planners still won’t go near the place. Let’s note, however, that they do have another international act planned for this month – Swiss goth duo Lacrimosa. 　　

Cancelled shows aren’t always the venue’s fault, of course – in some cases, it’s due to the band’s unreasonable whims. Like, for example, the requirements of Zi Yue (Confucious Says). tbj sensed trouble brewing with the aging rockers beginning with their coming-out-of-retirement gig at 2 Kolegas back in August when the band arrogantly refused to perform with any of the planned supporting acts. And last month’s planned performance at South Gate Space fell apart when the band demanded the venue’s door profits in addition to their performance fee. South Gate simply instituted their “no-diva policy” and closed their doors to the band. 　　

Still, big stars (or those who just think they are) aside, we all know the ‘Jing is where it’s at. This month sees D-22’s Michael Pettis hosting underground producer Martin Atkins (adding to his previous avant-garde guests Alvin Curran and John Myers, not to mention Elliot Sharp earlier this year) as he comes to check the scene, and November may see an even more legendary producer, Lee “Scratch” Perry, coming to town. If you don’t know these names, get out of town and go to Shanghai. Berwin Song