China’s Zhao Dai On Leave returns later this month and unveils full lineup
Zhao Dai On Leave is returning later this month for its fourth edition.
Slated for May 31 to June 2, 2024, the three-day festival will be held in the coastal city of Qinhuangdao, Beidaihe New District, just a few hours from Beijing.
The festival was founded in 2020 by the Beijing club Zhao Dai and has since grown to become one of the most influential electronic festivals in the region. According to the festival organizers, "Zhao Dai On Leave emphasises community gathering: here, crowds meet, ideas collide, and different music genres blend, forming a cohesive force."
Artists confirmed for this edition include Chinese DJs like Illsee, DJ Truck, Knopha, and Sanyo. The festival will also feature artists from across East and Southeast Asia, such as Hanoi’s Di Linh and Manikk, DOTT from Bangkok, Emel Rowe and Saint Guel from Manila, and many more. International guests include France’s Amor Satyr, Kimmah from the Netherlands, Peachlyfe from Denmark, and DJ SWISHA from the US, among others.
According to the press release, Zhao Dai On Leave is committed to showcasing a vast array of regional music culture hubs, including clubs, listening bars, record labels, radio stations, and collectives. It aims to provide a platform for new talents and ideas to emerge, interact, and flourish.
“In 2020, there was a period when the COVID-19 policy in China was effective. We couldn’t open the club during that time, but we could organize an outdoor festival. That’s how Zhao Dai On Leave started,” Zhiqi from Zhao Dai told Likdo. “We never intended to create a huge festival; in the first few editions, we focused on showcasing local DJs from all over China.”
“The festival connected club scenes from cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Chengdu – each city had its community, radio, clubs, and residences. We brought them all together, which had never happened before. We wanted to foster these connections, and it just happened to be the right time and place.”
In other news, Bassis Asia and .TAG Chengdu recently collaborated for the Pleasures of Anomaly event at iKi in Singapore. The event was headlined by American-born, Berlin-based DJ Lawrence Lee, you can read more about it here.
Tickets for the Zhao Dai On Leave are on sale now, starting at 55 USD. You can secure yours here.
