Asia

Shanghai concert becomes China’s biggest post-COVID music event

China has seen its biggest music show since the COVID outbreak with 10,000 spectators at a sold-out Re-Tros gig in Shanghai.

The Live Nation-organised event was held at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, with fans enjoying the veteran post-punk band’s biggest hits during a two-hour performance.

Re-Tros, who once toured with Depeche Mode, became the first Chinese rock band to perform at the AEG-OPG-operated 18,000-capacity arena, which opened in 2010 and has hosted Ed Sheeran, The Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift.

Roger Field, Live Nation Asia-Pacific’s president, celebrated the role his company played in the show in a LinkedIn post.

“Congratulations to the Live Nation China team for delivering the country’s largest rock show since the beginning of 2020!” Field wrote.

The ‘After The Applause’ show was Re-Tros’ first since a tour of Japan in 2019.

Edward Liu, managing director of Live Nation China, said: “The show was a momentous celebration of sound, and there is no greater joy than that of live music and seeing fans connect with their favourite artists.

“It’s been four years since the last time we saw Re-Tros on stage for a headline show and tonight was and unprecedented, ingenious and a spectacular display of Chinese rock music that will go down in history. The show tonight was just a beginning for Re-Tros and all of us who are here for the return to live.”

Other recent events in China include the Strawberry Music Festival series, which welcomed thousands of spectators in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan and Nanjing. Veteran rockers such as Cui Jian and Miserable Faith will next week gather at Taihu Lake in Li Yang for MIDI, one of China’s most popular music festivals, from June 12-14.

Earlier this year, Live Nation expanded its global artist discovery platform, Ones to Watch, to mainland China.

Ones to Watch China will showcase new talent within the country including musicians, bands, and producers who will be provided with professional support to help kickstart their careers.