UPDATE: Yuyintang is apparently back open for business. Let’s hope these are the last problems for Shanghai venues this year. Somehow we think not…
Shanghai Expo is almost upon us. Our “excitement” about this 6 month jamboree (with the most awesome lineup imaginable) has been tempered somewhat by the oh-so-predictable noose-tightening that in now in full flow in Shanghai.
First, we had the ruffling of LOgO feathers last weekend. This weekend just past, we’ve seen the even more autocratic raid on YuYinTang, a little venue that is both the heart of Shanghai’s music scene, and the focus of much of the Shanghai based international artist activities over the next 6 months.
Put simply, many of the artists coming in for shows on the Expo site are looking to actually lay down a relevant marker during their stays in China by playing extra gigs. YYT has and will continue to be a beneficiary here, picking up or hosting many of these bands. Of course, this works well for the artists, who can tap into a genuine promotional network, and who can play in front of genuine Chinese music fans in Shanghai. It also works well for the aforementioned genuine Chinese music fans who will (more than likely) be unwilling to stump up the RMB160 for a day pass into the Expo grounds. Put like this, we suppose that Expo are trying to keep the talent under their control, in the hope that visitor numbers (and ticketing revenue) both go up.
The most disturbing thing about all this though is the manner of the raid on YYT. No only were posters and flier removed and management warned, but cash tills and all the front-of-house gear were confiscated.
Apparently we should find out today what these raids/ confiscations mean. We sincerely hope for the best (not least because we have 3 shows booked at YYT in May). Shanghai needs YYT, LOgO and the like if it has any pretensions of being a real international city with real international culture.