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This article is about Pauline & George Magnus' son
JASON MAGNUS
 
China's most influential rock 'n' roller, Cui
Jian.
Photo courtesy of Chinadaily.com
Capital gains
A young chap with a British public
school accent and a Harvard degree is rocking Beijing
Beijing has
long been the Cinderella of mainland cities when it comes to foreign bands
touring Asia. Despite being home to the most varied and vibrant live music
scene on the mainland, Beijing's rock fans have grown used to international
acts bypassing the capital in favour of Hong Kong and Shanghai. Those who
have made it to Beijing in recent years have been mainstream and
bland, such as Norah Jones, or long past their prime, such as Sonic Youth.
But since 2005, the Beijing Pop Festival has been doing its best to put
the capital on the world music map. For two days each September, Chaoyang
Park has hosted the likes of Ian Brown, Placebo, Supergrass and the best of
local bands in an atmosphere that might be tame compared with
Britain's Glastonbury Festival but is radical enough for conservative
Beijing.
Now in its third year, the festival is the brainchild of London-born,
Hong Kong-raised Jason Magnus. Organised under the auspices of his Rock for
China company, the festival this year features its strongest line-up yet:
the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Public Enemy, Brett Anderson, New York Dolls
and Marky Ramone. And Chinese rocker Cui Jian will make his first outdoor
concert appearance in Beijing, leading a 30-strong contingent of bands from
as far afield as Sweden and Britain.
- SOUTH
CHINA MORNING POST 2007 August 23
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