In 2000, the Chinese rock band Second Hand Rose was formed, and it quickly challenged a marginalized and detached rock music scene. By boldly combining traditional folk music elements with solid rock and roll fundamentals, Second Hand Rose became one of China's most popular rock bands as it rejected the countercultural aesthetics of underground rock music. In 2002, Second Hand Rose became the only foreign band to be invited to play at the Swiss Snow Mountain Music Festival, an annual event attracting some of Switzerland's most established musicians. They were also one of the few Chinese rock bands invited to perform in Shanghai at the 2003 China-Japan Pop Music Exchange Concerts, an event organized by Japan's public broadcaster NHK. In 2004, the band performed at the Amsterdam China Festival in the Netherlands.

In the ten years since the band's formation, rock music has become increasingly accepted by Chinese mainstream media; the proliferation of music festivals, televised talent shows, and social media have made it possible for aspiring bands to showcase their music to an ever larger audience. Second Hand Rose has grown with this movement, and last year, it became the first Chinese rock band to give a concert at the state-owned Workers' Gymnasium. The concert was called Useless Rock摇滚无用, which they are now bringing to the United States on their first ever North American tour.

In advance of their concert at Webster Hall on October 19, this lecture and discussion will explore the changing significance of rock music in China - including its critical potential - in a debate between Liang Long, the lead singer of Second Hand Rose, and Dr. Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau, the band's percussionist and a scholar of Chinese Studies. The debate will be moderated by Eric de Fontenay, founder of MusicDish and MusicDish*China.

Modern Sky Festival in Central Park
Sunday, October 5, 2014 at 5:10 PM
Rumsey Playfield (5th Avenue and 69th Street entrance to Central Park)

The Modern Sky Festival was first produced in Beijing in 2007. Today, the festival is one of 20+ large-scale music festivals produced in cities throughout mainland China by Beijing-based Modern Sky Entertainment. The Modern Sky Festival will take place in the US from October 4-5 and will feature musicians and bands, such as Cat Power, Atomic Bomb! The Music of William Onyeabor, Stars, Liars, The Blood Brothers, The Both, Lenka, along with some of the biggest names in Chinese rock/electronic music, including Zhang Xuan, Re-TROS, Queen Sea Big Shark, Second Hand Rose, and more. For more information, please visit http://modernskyfestivalnyc.com.

Webster Hall Presents Second Hand Rose
Sunday, October 19, 2014 at 8 PM (7 pm Doors)
Marlin Room at Webster Hall
125 East 11th Street
New York, NY 10003

Second Hand Rose will be performing at Webster Hall's Marlin Room as part of their debut #UselessRockUSA tour. Indie garage and blues-rock band 88 Balaz, one of the most popular and emblematic indie bands in Taiwan, will be opening for Second Hand Rose, introducing audiences to a broad range of Mandarin Rock. This concert is organized by MusicDish*China. Advance tickets are available for purchase at http://tktwb.tw/1kSK1Bx.