It’s more than just beer and music at this Cheung Chau event! Find out how the Shi Fu Miz Festival manages to raise awareness on reducing our environmental impact in an artistic setting
There are countless options for underground gigs, concerts and art exhibitions in Hong Kong. One of the many that we are looking forward to is the Shi Fu Miz Festival, an art project created by two passionate teams – the collective La Mamie’s (from Paris) and the FuFu team (based in Hong Kong). Taking place on Cheung Chau from 27-28 October, the festival promises to bring more than just music and food, but also modern and sustainable cultural activities to the city. Florian Melinette, co-founder of the festival, gives us the lowdown on what to expect at the festival other than musical performances.
An interview with Florian Melinette, co-founder of the Shi Fu Miz Festival
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmiKT4whzpQ/?hl=en&taken-by=shifumiz
Hi, Florian. What’s the Shi Fu Miz Festival all about?
The Shi Fu Miz Festival hopes to convey the best values that unite both collectives: curiosity, encounter and conviviality, musical eclecticism, ecological awareness and accessibility. There are a variety of programs, ranging from worldwide music to electronic music. It combines live music, DJ sets and activities around art in a human-sized festival, where the spirit of the well-being will be the keyword. The event is part of a DIY approach by inviting the public not to be a spectator but also the actor.
Are there particular acts that you most look forward to seeing this year personally?
We’re excited to have British DJs like Ben UFO, Dan Shake, the Norwegian electronic master Skatebård, legend from Chicago house music Glenn Underground, the French duo Le Camion Bazar and the Japanese producer Sauce 81. Well, the entire line-up is super cool!
The Shi Fu Miz Festival is more than musical performances, so what else can we expect?
The festival is set to showcase a range of activities, including ecology talks, street art displays, a football tournament and yoga workshops that incorporating mindfulness, meditation. And for those who want to relax, there’ll also be a farm and chill area.
A big part of the festival is about sustainability, why is that so important to you?
It’s very important to us that fun and social responsibilities go hand in hand. The festival aims to raise awareness on reducing our environmental impact, and to influence public behavior in an artistic and experiential setting.
Partnering with Green Is The New Black (GITNB) who advised us on their ecology strategy, we will organise sport and well-being activities and workshops where people can come to discuss eco-related subjects. There will also be events like beach cleaning session (with gloves and plastic bag provided by the Hong Kong Government). It is not mandatory but participants will be rewarded with a free beer if they take thirty to forty minutes of your time to clean the environment.
How did you guys first come up with the idea of holding a music festival in Hong Kong dedicated to the underground DJ scene?
After our first meeting at Clockenflap 2015, both crews were interested in building something together, FuFu with his knowledge of Hong Kong and Asia market, and La Mamie’s with their skills and knowledges in music events in Europe, as La Mamie’s also holds a festival in Paris for the past six years called Macki Music Festival.
Shi Fu Miz Festival was born in the hopes to celebrate the art and to bring something unique and different to Hong Kong, like a festival you see in Europe with international, Asian and local artists. With Shi Fu Miz, it’s more oriented groovy and soul music, from disco and funk passing by world music to house, deep and techno music.
What’s the advantages of having the festival held in Cheung Chau?
The island permits us to have a special approach of our Shi Fu Miz Festival. In Cheung Chau, there are no cars but a clear sea and a quiet place in comparison to crazy Hong Kong central. The Sai Yuen Farm who welcomes us is a very beautiful place. You can escape the madness of the city and relax with your friends in a natural and idyllic spot.
What do you want people to take away from Shi Fu Miz?
A special memory filled with music, love and happiness. And also for people to feel very close to a big city such as Hong Kong but very far away at the same time…
Shi Fu Miz Festival, Sai Yuen Camping and Adventure Park, Cheung Chau, 香港長洲西園特色露營歷奇樂園
Want to discover more cool music and artists? Give shoegaze musician Tamaryn a listen, find out why Mellow Fellow makes awesome lo-fi music or check out these popular bedroom pop albums in 2018.
