Music becomes a kind of travel if bands from all around the world, representing different musical styles and inspirations, assemble in a sufficiently interesting place. This situation is exactly what is being planned for a music-themed carnival to be held in Pudong New Area's Century Park.

Ten bands from different countries will take the stage to deliver more than 12 hours of musical entertainment every day over the seven days of the May holiday.

The carnival is to be composed of three distinct theme performances -- "Orange Fashion," "Blue Romance" and "Red Enthusiasm" -- which will take place in different parts of the park.

Red energy

Ebullient samba dance and percussion music featuring in the "Red Enthusiasm" will provide the opening programme at the carnival. Flamboyant images and a backdrop portraying gradually changing colours will adorn the red stage, built on the South Hill Lawn inside the park.

"Samba Docoracao," a professional dancing troupe from Brazil will display its astounding samba skills in an uninhibited emotionally expressive style, accompanied by percussion instruments such as tom-toms, tambourines and atabals.

The American percussion band "Procrastinators" will display its magic by transforming ordinary items into percussion instruments, using bottles, cans, pans and bar benches to express their energetic music and incessant rhythms, integrating African and Latin styles as well as hip hop.

A local girl band called "T String" will present the charms of modern electronic music. These three girls from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music derived their musical inspiration from rock and roll, pop and classical music, adapting it for their performances with the electric violin and cello.

10-11:30 AM, 1-2:30 PM

Blue feeling

The atmosphere will be calmer and more relaxed when "Blue Romance" sets the mood on the Gingkgo Lu Lawn. The stage is painted with blue sky melting into the ocean, in front of which typical Irish music and American country music will be played.

Molly's Revenge, composed of four brilliant and accomplished musicians playing the guitar, mandolin, bagpipe, piccolo and violin, will bring their highly original sound to the stage.

Laurie Lewis, one of the most acclaimed blue grass singers in the world, will delight listeners with her beautiful voice. A successful singer, composer and violinist who can also play guitar and bass, she is considered one of the most splendid artists in the United States, winning numerous awards for her country music.

10:45 AM-12:15 PM, 2-3:30 PM

Orange fashion

Orange is a popular colour among youngsters who are always chasing after fashion. The orange site in the Music Square will host Prince Eyango from West Africa, acclaimed as the "Father of African country music". They will be joined by US band "Imagine" which is regarded as the best imitator of the Beatles.

"Irresistible" is a family band - also from the United States - composed of five sisters, a talented mother and two other players (both men). This 10-year-old family band often performs in the United States, adopting various musical elements from country, rock and roll, disco and big band music into their diversified music.

11:30 AM-1 PM, 3:30-5 PM

Comic relief

The Circle City Sidewalk Stompers Clown Band from the US will be a distinctive floating participant among all these international bands.

Famous for their funny costumes, weird gestures, improvisational acts and orchestral music, the band infuses humourous elements and acrobatics into their joyful music and dances. The tuba player dresses in colourful costumes and performs fluently while madly running among the crowds and making a wide variety of faces.

The coming music carnival will be accompanied by an unprecedented night show, under landscape lamps as well as the moon and starlight.

May 1-7

The Century Park

Tel: 5833-5621

50 yuan (US$6)

(Shanghai Star April 29, 2005)