Chongqing: 4-5 March 2003, Chongqing University Amphitheatre
Beijing: 8-9 March 2003, Yan Club Arts Centre
Shanghai: 14-15 March 2003, Super Brand Mall, Pudong, Shanghai
Guangzhou: 19 March 2003, Friendship Theatre
Shenzhen: 21 March 2003, True Colour Music Restaurant
'Between every two songs, the whole hall was overwhelmed by applause and cheers.' XinMin Evening Post
Organised and managed by the British Council as part of the Think UK campaign, UK band Morcheeba toured China in March 2003. This campaign brings the best of British originality, creativity and innovation to China in 2003, with a series of high profile events, new exhibitions and other exciting activities running through the year. Morcheeba have sold four million albums worldwide and their latest album Charango went to the Top 5 in twelve European markets including the UK.
In Chongqing, a city with a population of approximately 30 million, Morcheeba performed two free shows for 16,000 university students. In Shanghai, the band was invited by the Shanghai International Fashion Festival to open the event, celebrating the relationship between music and fashion. The band also met and chatted with their young Chinese audience in a number of informal ‘meet the band’ sessions.
Costumes for Morcheeba's China tour were kindly provided by Vivienne Westwood, one of the UK's most prestigious and innovative fashion designers.
British Council Shanghai office led on this project, with support from our UK music unit. We helped on UK promotion for the event, financial support and logistical arrangements, including arranging contracts and payments to the band, making international travel arrangements and pre-briefing the company.
The British Council specifically invited Morcheeba because we wanted to achieve maximum impact by working with a group whose music would be accessible to the widest possible audience across China (i.e. not just to dedicated Western music fans, but to a much broader range of young Chinese people with different music tastes). We also wanted to offer credible music that is different from the Western groups already well known in China, such as Oasis, Suede, Blur, and numerous boy bands and manufactured pop acts. Morcheeba offer an alternative to the average four-piece guitar band and draw on a multitude of influences; combining DJ scratching, sound samples and live instrumentation. Blending an eclectic mix of styles, Morcheeba reflect the multicultural nature of UK culture and society today.
On a more practical note, we chose to work with Morcheeba because we needed a band that could adapt comfortably to venues that ranged from vast, open air arenas to intimate clubs and seated theatres. Furthermore, the band was able to inspire and excite a local audience whilst not frightening the Chinese authorities, who can be very wary of large crowds of excitable young people spurred on by loud rock music.
'Different from other rock and roll bands' dispirited images and shouting performance styles, Morcheeba has founded a reputation for their pacifying slow tunes and healthful vision.' Shanghai Afternoon Post.
More information about Morcheeba.
Visit the British Council China arts webpages to read their report.
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