New York City hitmakers Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Tim Goldsworthy headline the first Modern Sky Festival, which promises to be a 3-day banquet of rock. The festival is backed by the renowned Chinese indie label Modern Sky, and will see a slew of some 120 acts take to 4 different stages at Haidian Park from October 2.

Indie rock outfit Yeah Yeah Yeahs mix retro style with heavy rock and punk guitar, synthetic sounds and melodic and bluesy vocals.

Tim Goldsworthy is a British record producer, DJ and recording artist. Originally a drummer for U.N.K.L.E., Goldsworthy co-founded James Lavelle's Mo?Wax label. He later worked with James Murphy, as part of LCD Soundsystem and is joint owner of DFA Records. Goldsworthy started in the electronic genre, but now produces dance-punk bands like The Rapture. He also produced David Holmes?Let's Get Killed.

Modern Sky's Chinese drawcards include the active bands Re-TROS, Joyside, PK14, Car-sick Cars, and Snapline. Car-Sick Cars were established in Beijing in early 2005. Comprising guitarist and vocalist Zhang Shouwang, bassist Levis and drummer Zhongqiu, the band began performing in bars across the city from April.

Another artist worthy of mention is Sandee Chan, an alternative singer from Taiwan. She won best producer and best album for her release Then We All Wept in Silence, at the 2005 Golden Melody Awards.

Modern Sky Festival, Oct 2-4. 120 yuan for 3-day pass. After Party on Oct 4, 11pm at Club Cargo. 6846-9898, 6530-2899.

(China Daily 09/27/2007 page12)