The 2024 Aranya Xiami Music Festival, a collaborative production between Xiami Music Entertainment and Aranya, proved to be massive success. Now in its 3rd year, the festival continued to focus on the themes of warmth, companionship, and connection.

From 30 August to 1 September, the Aranya Golden Coast was abuzz with the excitement of tens of thousands of music enthusiasts who gathered for the eagerly awaited musical celebration. The 3-day affair offered an array of experiences including a vibrant pre-party night, enchanting sunrise session, and 2 full days of performances. Although the overall format has been maintained, the content has been creatively refreshed each year, with the 2024 edition of the festival seeing substantial enhancements in program scheduling, artist curation, and the overall aesthetic experience.

On the pre-party night, Lei Zhao, accompanied by the No Signal electro-acoustic orchestra, delivered a remarkable performance lasting over 110 minutes. This exclusive event featured a setlist of popular tracks, including 'Chengdu', 'Our Time', and 'Teen on Shuqian Street', which together crafted an immersive and emotionally resonant experience for the audience.

During the sunrise session, Taiwan's "Father of Folk Music", Ara Kimbo, roused the daybreak at Aranya with his signature melodies. Classics such as 'Pacific Wind' and 'Blowin' in the Wind' encapsulated the essence of eras past, captivating the audience and leaving an indelible mark of enchantment upon their spirits.

The 2024 Aranya Xiami Music Festival also showcased a diverse and internationally-influenced lineup. This year's roster featured 28 musical acts, including 8 global artists such as Norwegian electronic duo Röyksopp, Grammy Award-winning R&B artist Corinne Bailey Rae, Belgian ensemble Hooverphonic, American singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata, British talent Griff, a rising star from the 2000s generation, the Japanese-English rock group DYGL, Swedish post-rock outfit pg.lost, and Swedish indie sensation The Royal Concept. The festival's musical palette spanned electronic, folk, rock, R&B, and indie, with over half of the acts making their China or Chinese music festival debuts, providing a refreshing experience for music fans.

During the festival, Corinne Bailey Rae enchanted attendees with her soulful jazz renditions of hits such as 'Been to the Moon' and 'Like a Star', creating a captivating and nuanced atmosphere that resonated deeply with the audience. Röyksopp infused the event with their dynamic brand of electronic music that oscillated between a pulsating fusion of energetic beats and hypnotic sonic layers, electrifying the crowd. Hooverphonic's set was a cinematic experience from the outset, blending the classical melodies of 'Mad About You' with serene vocal stylings, instantly casting a spell over the audience.

The festival's finale featured an impressive line-up of Chinese musicians, with Wei Xu and Cheer Chen headlining the closing performances across 2 days, enchanting the audience with a selection of their most popular hits including 'Free as the Wind', 'The Blue Lotus', 'Travel is Meaningful', and 'A Box of Rain'. Complementing the closing acts, a cadre of distinctive and rising young artists, including Default, GriffO and Fayzz, graced the stage as the opening acts, infusing the festival with their dynamic and fresh energy.

Yin Liang, the Head of Xiami Music Entertainment and the chief producer of the festival, said, "The essence of a music festival lies in its bespoke curation, tailored to the distinctive characteristics of each locale. The Aranya Xiami Music Festival is conceived as an artistic masterpiece, boasting a diverse and ever-evolving lineup that has remained unique for three consecutive years. While some people may not be able to name the bands, aficionados with a penchant for a specific genre can rest assured that the festival's roster includes at least five acts that cater to the eclectic tastes of its audience. Embracing the novel rather than the monotonous, the festival celebrates the myriad facets of beauty."

The bands also had high praise for this year's edition. Röyksopp said, "Obviously, the dance floor here is made of sand, but we like to go out of our way to find the exotic and rare experiences. We like the fact that each time we perform is a unique experience, so this adds to the list I think, so we are happy to be here."