Music festival shows spirit of band of brothers

Shen Lihui can still vividly recall the moment when Chinese rock band Omnipotent Youth Society's trumpet filled the air at Central Park in New York in 2014. Standing there, it felt as though he had stepped into an American movie, weaving together a magical scene. Around him, New Yorkers jogged, read newspapers, and walked their dogs.

That moment occurred during Modern Sky's first overseas music festival in iconic Central Park. The event in 2014 blended Western and Chinese indie music, featuring an impressive lineup, including artists like Cat Power, Lenka, and Chinese bands like Rebuilding the Rights of Statues and Second Hand Rose. With 6,500 attendees — 60 percent from China and 40 percent from New York — Shen, the founder of Modern Sky, China's indie powerhouse, saw the event as a testament to the potential for cross-cultural musical exchange.

"A festivalgoer approached me and thanked me for bringing the event to New York. I'd never heard those words at our festivals in China," Shen recalls. "One person told me their friends had flown in from all over the United States to attend. That moment reinforced my belief that music has the power to unite people across borders."