Introducing Techno

China held its first-ever major electronic music festival, Intro 2009, May 23 at the D-Park outdoor plaza in Beijing.

The 10-hour concert, which attracted 20 international and local electronica musicians, visual artists and DJs, was the inaugural event in an ongoing cross-cultural festival called Meet in Beijing, sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Culture.

The promoters predicted that 20,000 people would attend and afterward claimed 10,000 actually showed up, although the China Music Radar blog estimated the crowd to be between 2,500 and 3,000.

Among the artists performing were Chris Liebing, M.A.N.D.Y., Philipp, Italoboyz, Shin Nishimura and Dimitri. The festival was mainly organized by Acupuncture Records, a local minimalist electronica and dance music label, which also contributed many of the performing DJs.

Some reports complained of a serious lack of food, beer and, especially, water, which many complained was overpriced.

Also, police shut down the concert at 10 p.m., which was six hours before the advertised ending time. No reasons were given.