More than 180,000 fans attended the Strawberry Music Festival in Beijing and Dongguan during the May Day holiday. The event, organized by Modern Sky, brought together international acts like Pixies and Johnny Marr with leading Chinese rock bands.
Pixies headlined the Beijing shows on May 2 with a 60-minute set of 19 songs before performing in Dongguan on May 4. The band closed its Dongguan appearance with the rarely played track Motorway to Roswell.
Domestic performers including Omnipotent Youth Society, Second Hand Rose and Sound Fragment shared the bill. Their sets highlighted the evolution of Chinese rock over four decades and its connections to global influences.
Modern Sky founder Shen Lihui, who started the label in 1997 after being inspired by Johnny Marr, noted the personal significance of hosting the English musician. Pixies' visit also marked the 40th anniversaries of both the band and China's rock scene.
The three-day gathering served as a living record of rock history, linking generations of musicians and fans across borders.
