We don’t know about you, but we are counting down the days until this year’s Belt & Road Food Fest! All set to take place over the Mid-Autumn Festival from Sep 15 to 17 it’s going to be a three day extravaganza filled with food, culture, entertainment and more.
To get you as excited as we are about the fest, we’re going to take a look at the banging entertainment we’ve got in store! Later on in the week, we’ll also be revealing our first rundown of vendors so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for that, too.
This year we have not one but two stages at the fest: the main stage and a smaller stage, allowing us to bring you even more fantastic entertainment.
Main Stage
TroVanda
Performing on Sunday afternoon, TroVanda specialize in an authentic mixture of Caribbean and Latin American styles of music. The ensemble combines traditional and modern sounds, the beauty of Spanish lyrics, and enchanting rhythms that will transport you to La Habana. TroVanda was created in Beijing in 2019 by musicians from Cuba, Chile, and Venezuela. Their repertoire includes a variety of genres: Boleros, Cancion, Salsa Guaracha, Changui, Bachata, and Cumbia to name a few. The band is made up of Baltazar “Fido” on Bass, Eduardo Barroetabeña on Percussion and Redis Hinojosa on Keys.
Cold Summer
Taking over the stage on Monday afternoon is Cold Summer. Born from a shared love for rock music and a thirst for creative expression, Cold Summer emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Hailing from Colombia, Greece, Australia, Ecuador and Russia, this band of friends united their diverse backgrounds and musical influences to craft a sound that is both familiar and refreshing. From electrifying covers to soul-stirring originals, Cold Summer expects to captivate audiences with their raw energy and unwavering passion for the craft.
Voguish
Voguish will be performing on Tuesday afternoon and they are a band known for its soulful soothing music which fuses jazz, soul, neo-soul, RnB, blues, pop, reggae-soul, afro-soul, soft rock. The band plays Chinese hit songs from famous Chinese artists as well as famous and great cover songs from all over the world, always leaving its audience in awe. Besides this, Voguish also performs its own original music making its performances unique and rich, giving fans an experience they can’t find anywhere else.
The band performs in different languages including English, French, Spanish, Shona, Zulu, Swahili, and many more, making their performances super diverse. Vougish has appeared at a number of big events including the Beijing International Film Festival, CCTV shows and the National Centre for Performing Arts, Beijing. They’ve also been the resident band at various international 5-star hotels such as the Hyatt Hotel, and have also played at music venues across, Beijing, China and abroad.
The Weekend Fever
Performing each day of the fest, The Weekend Fever is a band that likes to mix fresh pop, blues, and other driven genres to entertain their audiences. They’ve performed on various stages all over China and have made a commitment to bringing fresh genres to Beijing, promising to bring something new and contemporary to music lovers.
DJ Arquitect
A regular at Beijinger events, Dairon Cardona, aka DJ Arquitect, is a Cuban DJ and Music Producer and will be closing out the festival on Sunday. One of Beijing’s most popular Latin Music DJs, he plays a mix of Latin, Afro, Caribbean and house music to create great energy on the dance floor. Formerly a resident DJ at Nuo Hotel, the Inercontinental and Martini Terrace, he is known for his banging DJ sets and great charisma.
Greymatter
Tshepo “RealManyMore” Mpatane and Tyron “Tyz” Naude are South African producers and DJs who have been making music together since 2012. They crossed paths while studying at North-West University in South Africa, where their shared passion for music led to a creative partnership.
Their collaborative efforts have resulted in a unique blend of electronic beats, Afro-house rhythms, and urban influences. As South Africans, they draw inspiration from their cultural heritage, infusing their tracks with soulful melodies and energetic vibes.
Whether performing at local clubs, festivals, or on international stages, Greymatter continue to captivate audiences with their dynamic sound. Their commitment to pushing boundaries and celebrating their roots has solidified their place in the global music scene.
Don
Bringing the festival to a close on Tuesday is Don, a talented musician who is versed in a range of instruments including drums, piano, bass guitar, turntables and samplers. Introduced to music and instruments at a very young age, he started playing music from the age of six and began DJing when he was 16 years old while living in his home country, Ghana.
In China he cofounded the now defunct CEO band (est. in 2013), and 7O2Media China (est. in 2015). His range of music spans across all dimensions and genres including hip-hop, reggaton, afrobeat, pop, trap, dancehall, EDM, hardstyle, dubstep, grime and drill . With his experience and energy he brings, you are guaranteed to have a banging time!
SHAKTI
Closing out Monday’s festivities is Shakti, a DJ with a boundless passion for electronic music, particularly captivated by Indie House and vocal sounds that evoke a deep connection to nature. Her sets are known for their groovy, soulful, and rhythmic beats that never fail to energize the dance floor. She draws inspiration from renowned artists such as Space Motion, Rüfüs Du Sol, Keinemusik, ZHU, and WhomadeWho.
Having previously held a residency at the prestigious LEGEND bar, Shakti has established herself as a prominent figure in the electronic music scene. Throughout 2023 and 2024, she has been a regular performer at WildKats’ HOUSE ON THE ROOF, DEJAVU, and SECRET GARDEN events, consistently delivering unforgettable musical experiences.
DMC RK
DMC RK began learning the erhu when he was aged five which has brought him a unique quality and style to his music. While he was studying in the US he regularly did DJ sets at parties and following his return to China began performing as DMC RK in various places around Beijing. His music style is tropical house, hip-hop and funky soul and he loves to build up emotion in his sets to get the audience pumping.
Daameng
Originally hailing from northeast China, Daameng then spent many years living in Tianjin but now calls Beijing home. She specializes in future garage, melodic house and tribal folk music and hopes you’ll enjoy her beats as much as she does.
Sazon
Bringing an interactive set to the stage each day of the fest is SAZON Cuban Dance School, who have been delivering the most up-to-beat Cuban dance culture and trends to China since 2016. Sazon consists of professional Cuban dancers whose expertise is not only limited to Cuban dance but popular dance from around the world. When they perform there’s sure to be plenty of laughs and fun.
Small Stage
Traditional Indonesian Music and Dance Performances
Throughout Monday and Tuesday, there will be traditional Indonesian music and dance performances. You’ll embark on a journey through the beauty of Indonesian traditional music and dance, featuring two famous traditional Indonesian instruments in particular: the Angklung and Jaipong Drum. Both instruments have been recognized by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage instruments. The performance will also include various Indonesian folk music such as Dangdut, Keroncong, Gamelan, and Campur Sari.
At the same time, they will present spectacular Indonesian traditional dances, such as the Pendet dance from Bali, the Jaipong dance from West Sumatra and the Javanese style of dancing. Each dance embodies a perfect combination of body, mind, and senses. During the dance performance, the teachers will invite the audience to interact and dance together.
Through these diverse and vibrant Indonesian traditional dances and musical showcases, you will experience the unique diversity of Indonesian culture firsthand.
String Quartet by F Space Chamber Orchestra
F Space Chamber Orchestra will be bringing a performance made up of three themes: The Silk Road, Exotic Cultures and the Mid-Autumn Festival. They’ll take listeners on a musical journey along the Silk Road, incorporating exotic music from different ethnic groups and countries to form a colorful landscape. At the same time, they encourage listeners to embrace the beauty of the full moon in honor of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
F Space Chamber Orchestra is composed of musicians who graduated from professional music colleges and are high-level orchestra musicians. Guided by the artistic concept of “Real Music”, the F Space Chamber Orchestra has always been active at the grassroots’ level, bringing familiar music to all kinds of listeners while maintaining a high artistic standard, so that high art can truly be integrated into the lives of ordinary people.
You can check out the full entertainment schedule below!
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The Belt & Road Food Fest will be taking place at Langyuan Station Riverside Cultural Plaza from Sep 15-17 from 11am to 8.30pm each day. Early bird tickets are RMB 19.9 and can be purchased by scanning the QR code in the poster above.
Langyuan Station 郎园Station
53 Banjieta Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区半截塔路53号
READ: Get Your Tickets! Belt & Road Food Fest Returns Sep 15-17!
Images: the Beijingers, Uni You, courtesy of the entertainers