Exclusive: Cow Confirmed for 'dazeFEAST 2013

The Beijinger is pleased to bring you exclusive news about Saturday's 'dazeFEAST event: in addition to its traditional grilled lamb, this year's edition will feature grilled beef, Beijing Daze and 'dazeFEAST Founder Badr Benjelloun has confirmed.

"It's a 35-kilogram piece of meat – roasted and sacrificed," he said, noting that this process happened in the opposite order.

'dazeFEAST, now in its third year, could be called the anti-festival. Entrance is free, but that doesn't imply a lack of bands, a lack of good bands, or amateur sound. It's so good, you'd probably pay to attend. But 'dazeFEAST isn't about the money.

"It's specifically for that reason: music was never meant to be about money. It's about telling stories, having fun, and building memories – wasn't that what songs were supposed to be about in the first place? Romantic tales of faraway lands?" Benjelloun said.

For people who produce music events for a living, the event is "an idea of maybe how to do things better," he said.

'dazeFEAST is also different because it is "community-based. It wouldn't happen, without the bands, who play for free, without 2 Kolegas, without the sound guys, without the people who just come and hang out."

Among the 12 or 13 bands currently expected to take the stage are the Randy Abel Stable, who have chosen 'dazeFEAST as the occasion and site to launch their debut CD, Stable Condition. The group provided one of Benjelloun's "most memorable musical moments of my life." After a roaring set at last year's Feast, the group returned for an encore of "House of the Rising Sun" that turned into a sing-along for all those crowded into 2 Kolegas during 2012's rain.

Also expected are SUBS, Residence A, and the Amazing Insurance Salesmen. Benjelloun expects "lots of surprises" and a number of collaborations, stating that bands have been jamming together ahead of the event.

He had no comment on completely unfounded rumors that I started about Metallica appearing in their recent secret identity, Dehaan.

The curtain goes up at 3pm, rain or shine, at 2 Kolegas. Admission is free. Benjelloun requests that no outside drinks be brought in, "please support [2 Kolegas'] business," and that in addition to grilled beef and lamb, there will be pizza from La Pizza. The curtain falls at, well, no one really knows.

Full disclosure: Badr Benjelloun, founder of 'dazeFEAST, also serves as True Run Media's CTO.

Image: Beijing Daze.