MAYBE MARS & FAR OUT DISTANT SOUND PRESENT:
MAYBE MARS LABEL SHOWCASE TOUR
Featuring Carsick Cars, Birdstriking and White+
plus Art Exhibition and Film Screening
China’s leading purveyors of alternative music, Maybe Mars along with Far Out Distant Sounds are thrilled to announce that they’re bringing a snapshot of their roster to Melbourne and Sydney this February for a number of live performances, plus a special exhibition and film screening!
For the past decade, Beijing’s thriving underground scene has seen rock bands spilling out of China. This, in part, is thanks to Maybe Mars. Deeply rooted in the local underground scene, Maybe Mars has built a reputation for fostering and inspiring young Chinese artists, while releasing the best local records across rock, punk, experimental and noise. Their recognition within the Western world has been ever increasing and this February they head to Australia, together with a number of their artists, including Carsick Cars, Birdstriking, and White+
One of the many ground-breaking artists spilling out of China is Carsick Cars, “a nervy, constant euphoria” according to Jon Pareles of The New York Times. Their knack for combining brilliantly textured distortion with hard open chords that explore and tear apart their intelligently crafted songs has seen the band tour Europe supporting Sonic Youth, numerous trips to the United States and a previously extensive Australian tour. The band, many believe is China’s best indie-rock band, will return to play Sydney Psych Fest, along with a handful of shows in Melbourne.
Listen to Carsick Cars’ album, “3”
Joining the entourage will be noise-rockers, Birdstriking. They’re playful and hooky, but also wildly experimental at times, wrapped in the scratchy, grey noise. Their 2012 self-titled debut was re-issued on Anton Newcombe of Brian Jonestown Massacre’s, A Records in 2015 following China’s Central Propaganda Department restricting its distribution. The terrific release, sought no favours from CPD, containing tracks like “Monkey Snake” (‘You have the lies, the media/It doesn’t mean you can transform my mind’), which ultimately deemed the release unharmonious within the territory. Set to release an album later this year, this will be Birdstriking’s first Australian visit.
Listen to Birdstriking’s album, “Birdstriking”
Also excitedly headed down under are electronic experimentalists, White+. Drawing influence from German avant-garde and minimalism, they produce a swelling web of effects and ethereal melodies, while Wang Xu’s drum beats are the driving pulse that propels the songs forward. Their ability to create delicate structures surrounded by a field of noise recently saw HEALTH personally invite White+ to be their opening act on their tour of China.
Listen to White+’s album “White+”
As part of the Maybe Mars Australian visit, the label will also host an art exhibition from Chairman Ca at The Old Bar and film screening of Which Way is China? at the Curtin.
Visual artist, Chairman Ca (pronounced sah) has been redefining the visual identity of Beijing’s underground rock scene for the past decade. His work is iconic, having produced many classic posters of the scenes most notable artists and venues. Chairman Ca is also the founding member of China’s Cult Youth Comics who’ve published several volumes of collections of Chinese comic art. Their one-off art show will be accompanied by a performance from White+ at The Old Bar on Feb 21.
And the final cherry on top comes in form of the debut screening of Which Way Is China?, a documentary of Primitive Calclulators’ 2015 tour of China which includes many major figures from the Chinese underground music scene.
Don’t miss your chance to see a select few of China’s best independent alternative artists as they perform a number of shows in Sydney and Melbourne, full dates and details below.
MAYBE MARS LABEL SHOWCASE TOUR:
Tue. Feb 21
The Old Bar, Fitzroy
Chairman Ca Art Exhibition
with performances from: White+, JP Shilo, Xiao Zhong
tickets on the door
Wed. Feb 22
The Curtin Hotel, Carlton
Which Way Is China? Film Screening
Live performances TBA
tickets on the door
Thur. Feb 23
The Curtin Hotel, Carlton
Birdstriking, White+, Lowtide
tickets
Fri. Feb 24
The Tote, Collingwood
Carsick Cars, Birdstriking, White+, Primo
on sale Monday 23 Jan
Sat. Feb 25
Sydney Psych Fest – The Factory Floor, Sydney
Carsick Cars, White+
with Mere Women, Flying Colours, Buried Feather + more
tickets
Sat. Feb 25
Greville Records, Prahran
Birdstriking
(all ages) // free
