Culture, Community & Chocolate Fountains: JUE Music + Art Festival Begins

Death Cab for Cutie. Triple-Major. Susan Philipsz. Electric Shadows. Rob Swift. These are just a few of the names participating in the fourth annual JUE (Mar 9-25), a music and art festival in Beijing and Shanghai that is dedicated to highlighting the best of our local creative communities. Last year its 91 events drew over 32,000 attendees; this year they are aiming even bigger in scope. It all officially starts this Saturday, March 10 with a market fair that promises a taste of all the events to come in 2012.

Warm Up to JUE: Arts + Music Market will be a full-fledged affair, featuring specialty vendors touting everything from creative handicrafts to the latest fashion designs by local designers. Besides retail, the kick-off event will showcase interactive artwork installations (think live body/face painting demonstrations), delectable food and drink (including a bountiful chocolate fountain) and surprise musical guests (word has it they'll be performing on a glass stage). Over 50 partners have already confirmed their attendance, including The Bookworm, NLGX Design Store, A Food Affaire, AnyShopStyle.cn, Great Leap Brewing, Shangrila Farms, Nuandao and more. Best of all, entry is free and it runs from 11am to 6pm.

A couple of JUE events are already in progress, such as the OSPOP New Gen Photo Competition. The Nuandao Spring Design Expo will deliver another shopping experience on March 17, though this one will be primarily focused on celebrating domestic design (more to come on this soon). And the Bike to JUE event (Mar 10-24) commences this Saturday alongside Warm Up to JUE.

Warm Up to JUE Market. Mar 10. 11am-6pm. Free. Yuanfen Flow (5978 3896) http://juefestival.com/12/en

Photo: Courtesy of JUE